Adolescent Risk-taking Behaviour in India: The influence of socio economic characteristics and living arrangement.

Background: There is an increasing trend of risk-taking behaviour among adolescents in India but little empirical evidence exists on its determinants. Aims: We examined the effect of socio economic characteristics and living arrangement on adolescent's risk-taking behavior. Methods: Cross sectional data of 1,11,077 adolescents aged 10-19 years included in India's second National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2,1998-99) were analysed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used for analysis. Risk-taking behavior was assessed in terms of tobacco chewing, tobacco smoking, and alcohol drinking and a combination of these three as 'any risk behaviour'. Results: Prevalence of chewing, smoking and drinking among adolescents was 3.3%, 1.2% and 0.9% respectively. Adolescents who had dropped out of school (OR:6.6;95%CI:6.08-7.20) or had never been to school (OR:7.32;95%CI:6.65-8.06), adolescent living in a female headed household (OR:1.19;95%CI:1.07-1.33), or in households where more than three related adults stayed (OR:1.52;95%CI:1.37-1.68) were more likely to indulge in any risk-taking behavior than their counterparts. Female adolescents, belonging to scheduled tribe, other backward class and other category (ORs ranges from 0.79 to 0.89) and belonging to household with a medium or higher standard of living (ORs ranges from 0.45 to 0.87) were less likely to indulge in any risk-taking behavior. Conclusion: The findings of this study calls for a comprehensive prevention and control programs for all adolescents in general and adolescent never been to school or dropped out from school in particular for addressing risk-taking behavior in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]