Chapter I THE PROBLEM Introduction Most young people are healthy. However, more that 2.

6 million young people aged 10 to 24 die each year. A much greater number of young people suffer from illnesses which hinder their ability to grow and develop to their full potential. A greater number still engage in behaviours that jeopardize not only their current state of health, but often their health for years to come. Nearly two-thirds of premature deaths and onethird of the total disease burden in adults are associated with conditions or behaviours that began in their youth, including: tobacco use, a lack of physical activity, unprotected sex or exposure to violence Adolescence is a very delicate period in one's life. It arouses various internal conflicts, as an adolescent is neither a child and nor an adult yet. It is a very challenging period for the parents too, as parenting teenagers involves coping with their moods and behavioral changes. Adolescents young people between the ages of 10 and 19 years are often thought of as a healthy group. Nevertheless, many adolescents do die prematurely due to accidents, suicide, violence, pregnancy related complications and other illnesses that are either preventable or treatable. Many more suffer chronic ill-health and disability. In addition, many serious diseases in adulthood have their roots in adolescence. For example, tobacco use, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, poor eating and exercise habits, lead to illness or premature death later in life.

The behavioral patterns established during these developmental periods help determine young people's current health status and their risk for developing chronic diseases in adulthood. Because they are in developmental transition, adolescents are particularly sensitive to environmentalthat is, contextual or surrounding

influences. Environmental factors, including family, peer group, school, neighborhood, policies, and societal cues can either support or challenge young peoples health and well-being. Addressing the positive development of young people facilitates their adoption of healthy behaviors and helps to ensure a healthy and productive future adult population and thus some adolescents struggle to adopt behaviors that could decrease their risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood, such as eating nutritiously, engaging in physical activity, and choosing not to use tobacco. The leading causes of illness and death among adolescents are largely preventable. Health outcomes for adolescents are grounded in their social environments and are frequently mediated by their behaviors. It is worth listening to the vices of Filipino adolescents on these issues particularly since it is widely believed that there is current liberalizing trend in the sexual norms among the youth, brought about by a confluence of factors in their rapidly changing environment. By knowing their perceptions and attitudes, one hopes to provide a glimpse of their sexual and related risk behaviors, thus imparting a fuller understanding of the possible antecedents of their observed risk behaviors. This research will examine the attitudes of Filipino adolescents ages 15 21 towards a range of non sexual and sex related issues. In particular, it will examine attitudes towards premarital sex, abortion, and union formation (live in, out of wedlock

birth and divorce) and the extent to which these vary across selected background characteristics. It will further look in to the major health risk behaviors including smoking, drinking, substance use and abuse and obesity. This study will also make an attempt to shed light on related problem behaviors such as depression and suicide and hopes that it will contribute to an understanding of adolescent mental health. The major causes of mortality and morbidity among teenagers have shifted from infectious to behavioral etiologies. Those shifts were accompanied in the 1980s by a rising national concern over adolescent pregnancy and parenting, teenage, substance abuse and a range of health risk behaviors. Hence, this study prompted the researcher to conduct this study.

Statement of the Problem This study determines the health risk behaviors among adolescents currently enrolled as 3rd year and 4thyear High School Students of the during the School Year 2013 2014 in selected schools in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of the following: a. socio demographic variables: a.1 age, a.2 sex, a.3 parents occupation,

a.4 family monthly income; b. c. common health problems, and health related practices: c.1 vices c.1.1 smoking, c.1.2 drinking alcoholic beverages, c.1.3 gambling, c. 2 medications, c.3 seeking regular medical check up? 2. What is the perception of the respondents in terms of the following health risk behaviors: a. non sexual risk behaviors: a.1 smoking, drinking and drug abuse, a.2 obesity a.3 depression, and a.4 suicide and domestic violence; b. sexual risk behaviors: b.1 premarital sex, b.2 abortion and b.3 live-in, out of wedlock birth, divorce? 3. Is there a significant relationship between the socio demographic profile of the respondents and their perceptions along the following:

a. non sexual risk behaviors and, b. sexual risk behaviors?

Scope and Delimitation This study focuses on the health risk behaviors of adolescents enrolled as 3rd year and 4th year high school students at selected schools of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Purposive sampling will be used in identifying the respondents. The researcher looks into the socio demographic profile of the respondents, common health problems and health related practices. It also determines their perception on non sexual and sexual risk behaviors by the adviser and the panel members. However, questionnaire on the sexual risks behavior will be adopted from the study of Savella (2005) entitled Reproductive Health Awareness among Adolescents in Selected Coastal Region of Ilocos Sur. Frequency counts, weighted mean, and simple correlation analysis will be used to analyze the data.

Theoretical Framework Adolescence is defined as it is a transitional stage

of physical and psychological human development generally occurring during the period from puberty to legal adulthood (age of majority) by Macmillan Dictionary for Students Macmillan, 1981. The period of adolescence according to Merriam - Webster is most closely associated with the teenage years,although its physical, psychological and cultural expressions can begin earlier and end later. For example, although puberty has been historically associated with the onset of adolescent development, it now typically begins prior to the teenage years and there has been a normative shift of it occurring

in preadolescence, particularly in females. Physical growth, as distinct from puberty (particularly in males), and cognitive development generally seen in adolescence, can also extend into the early twenties. Thus chronological age provides only a rough marker of adolescence, and scholars have found it difficult to agree upon a precise definition of adolescence.[7][8][9][10] A thorough understanding of adolescence in society depends on information from various perspectives, most importantly from the areas of psychology, biology, history, sociology, education, and anthropology. Within all of these

perspectives, adolescence is viewed as a transitional period between childhood and adulthood whose cultural purpose is the preparation of children for adult roles. Expert opinion about the age range for adolescence varies by organization and agency. For example in Bright Futures, the Health Resources and Services Administrations guidelines for health supervision, the age range for adolescent is defined as 11 21 and subdivided into stages: early (11-14), middle (15-17), and late (18-21). During the transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescents establish patterns of behavior and make lifestyle choices that affect both their current and future health. Serious health and safety issues such as motor vehicle crashes, violence, substance use, and risky sexual behaviors can adversely affect adolescent and young adults. Some adolescents also struggle to adopt behaviors that could decrease their risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood, such as eating nutritiously, engaging in physical activity, and choosing not to use tobacco. Environmental factors such as family, peer group, school, and community characteristics also contribute to adolescents' health and risk behaviors.

Young people's behaviors are influenced at the individual, peer, family, school, community, and societal levels. Because many sectors of society contribute to adolescent health, safety, and well-being, a collaborative effort that engages multiple partners is necessary. Such joint efforts can also help to promote a more comprehensive approach to addressing adolescent healthone that views each adolescent as a whole person, recognizing and drawing upon his or her assets and not just focusing on risks. To have the most positive impact on adolescent health, government agencies, community organizations, schools, and other community members must work together in a comprehensive approach. Providing safe and nurturing environments for our nations youth can help ensure that adolescents will be healthy and productive members of society. The psychometric paradigm used by Severson, H., Slovic, P., and Hampson, S. (1993) in their work provides a rating across a wide range of activities and evaluates dimensions of an adolescent's perception of risk. Results show that adolescents who engage in high risk activities differ significantly on a wide range of perceptions from adolescents who do not engage in frequent high risk activities. When scales of risk are entered into a step-wise regression, the prediction of engagement in high risk activities is .78 (p<.001). The methodology of risk perception can provide a useful instrument for assessing an adolescent's view of risk taking and as a dependent measure of response to preventive interventions. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings from 2006, Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. Tobacco use causes approximately 440 000 deaths annually, which is twice the number

of deaths attributed to alcohol, homicide, illicit drug use, and suicide combined. There are more than 60 million daily smokers in the United States. Each year, approximately 1 million additional people become daily cigarette users, 44.2% of whom are younger than 18 years. Every day, more than 4000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years try their first cigarette, and 1300 of them go on to become daily smokers. Given these statistics, it is clear that preventing initiation of tobacco use among adolescents is crucial to reducing adult-onset disease and mortality. A prominent explanation for adolescent smoking is that adolescents have poor decisionmaking and risk-judging skills, leading them to believe they are invulnerable to harm (Weinstein, 1980). This explanation is consistent with major theories of health behavior, including decisional balance theory, the health belief model, and the theory of planned behavior (Prochaska, 1983). These theories serve as the basis for many tobaccouse intervention programs that aim to decrease initiation and increase cessation by giving adolescents information about tobacco risks (Bymes, 2003). However, it is unclear whether the practice of communicating tobacco-related risk information to adolescents is evidence-based, because most of the research providing evidence to support this strategy is based on cross-sectional data. Cross-sectional research has shown that adolescents who smoke perceive tobacco-related risks to be lower than do adolescents who have not smoked (Halpem, Ramos, & Comell, 2007), adolescents' perceptions of tobacco-related benefits play a role in smoking (Slovic, et. al, 2005) and adolescents who have smoked perceive more tobacco-related benefits than do adolescents who have never smoked (Halpem, et. al, 2005)

Adolescents' substance use, violence, and suicidal behavior were related to their friends' substance use, deviance, and suicidal behaviors, respectively. Friends' prosocial behavior was negatively associated with adolescent violence and substance use. Family dysfunction, social acceptance, and depression altered the magnitude of association between peers' and adolescents' risk behavior. In cumulative risk factor models, rates of adolescent health-risk behavior increased twofold with each added risk factor (Prinstein, Boergers & Spirito, 2000) Only 2 studies have used longitudinal data to examine whether perceptions of risks actually predict future tobacco use. One of these studies found that the belief that smoking is generally risky to one's health predicted levels of 30-day smoking 1 year after high school (Rodriguez, et. al, 2007) The other study used data collected over 3 years to demonstrate that the belief that cigarettes cause cancer or heart disease deters smoking onset (Krosnick, et. al, 2006) No studies have been conducted to determine whether beliefs about different types of harmnamely, short-term risks like smelling bad, developing a cough, or having shortness of breathinfluence adolescent smoking. Moreover, no longitudinal research has included perceptions of tobacco-related risks and perceptions of tobacco-related benefits in a single analysis examining their impact on smoking. Alcohol use by persons under age 21 years is a major public health problem according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs, and is responsible for more than 4,700 annual deaths among underage youth according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Although drinking by

persons under the age of 21 is illegal, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. More than 90% of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinks. On average, underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers (Bonnie & OConnell, 2004) In 2010, there were approximately 189,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. The 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey by Eaton, et.al found that among high school students, during the past 30 days

39% drank some amount of alcohol. 22% binge drank. 8% drove after drinking alcohol. 24% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

Other national surveys

In 2011 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health

reported that 25% of youth

aged 12 to 20 years drink alcohol and 16% reported binge drinking.7

In 2011, the Monitoring the Future Survey

reported that 33% of 8th graders and

70% of 12th graders had tried alcohol, and 13% of 8th graders and 40% of 12th graders drank during the past month.8 Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience

School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades. Social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities.

Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk.

Physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses. Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity. Disruption of normal growth and sexual development. Physical and sexual assault. Higher risk for suicide and homicide. Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning.

Memory problems. Abuse of other drugs. Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects. Death from alcohol poisoning. In general, the risk of youth experiencing these problems is greater for those who

binge drink than for those who do not binge drink.9 Youth who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21 years (Hingston, et. al, 2006) As children move from adolescence to young adulthood, they encounter dramatic physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. Developmental transitions, such as puberty and increasing independence, have been associated with alcohol use. So in a sense, just being an adolescent may be a key risk factor not only for starting to drink but also for drinking dangerously.

Risk-TakingResearch shows the brain keeps developing well into the twenties, during which time it continues to establish important communication connections and further refines its function. Scientists believe that this lengthy developmental period may help explain some of the behavior which is characteristic of adolescencesuch as their propensity to seek out new and potentially dangerous situations. For some teens, thrillseeking might include experimenting with alcohol. Developmental changes also offer a possible physiological explanation for why teens act so impulsively, often not recognizing that their actionssuch as drinkinghave consequences. ExpectanciesHow people view alcohol and its effects also influences their drinking behavior, including whether they begin to drink and how much. An adolescent who expects drinking to be a pleasurable experience is more likely to drink than one who does not. An important area of alcohol research is focusing on how expectancy influences drinking patterns from childhood through adolescence and into young adulthood (Dunn, et. al.). Beliefs about alcohol are established very early in life, even before the child begins elementary school (Noll, 1990). Before age 9, children generally view alcohol negatively and see drinking as bad, with adverse effects. By about age 13, however, their expectancies shift, becoming more positive (Dunn, 1996). As would be expected, adolescents who drink the most also place the greatest emphasis on the positive and arousing effects of alcohol. Sensitivity and Tolerance to AlcoholDifferences between the adult brain and the brain of the maturing adolescent also may help to explain why many young drinkers are able to consume much larger amounts of alcohol than adults (Johnston, 2003) before experiencing the negative consequences of drinking, such as drowsiness, lack of

coordination, and withdrawal/hangover effects (Spear, 2005). This unusual tolerance may help to explain the high rates of binge drinking among young adults. At the same time, adolescents appear to be particularly sensitive to the positive effects of drinking, such as feeling more at ease in social situations, and young people may drink more than adults because of these positive social experiences (Spear, 2005). Personality Characteristics and Psychiatric ComorbidityChildren who begin to drink at a very early age (before age 12) often share similar personality characteristics that may make them more likely to start drinking. Young people who are disruptive, hyperactive, and aggressiveoften referred to as having conduct problems or being antisocialas well as those who are depressed, withdrawn, or anxious, may be at greatest risk for alcohol problems (Zucker, 2003). Other behavior problems associated with alcohol use include rebelliousness, difficulty avoiding harm or harmful situations, and a host of other traits seen in young people who act out without regard for rules or the feelings of others (i.e., disinhibition). Hereditary FactorsSome of the behavioral and physiological factors that converge to increase or decrease a persons risk for alcohol problems, including tolerance to alcohols effects, may be directly linked to genetics. For example, being a child of an alcoholic or having several alcoholic family members places a person at greater risk for alcohol problems. Children of alcoholics (COAs) are between 4 and 10 times more likely to become alcoholics themselves than are children who have no close relatives with alcoholism (Russell, 1990). COAs also are more likely to begin drinking at a young age and to progress to drinking problems more quickly.

Whatever it is that leads adolescents to begin drinking, once they start they face a number of potential health risks. Although the severe health problems associated with harmful alcohol use are not as common in adolescents as they are in adults, studies show that young people who drink heavily may put themselves at risk for a range of potential health problems. Brain EffectsScientists currently are examining just how alcohol affects the developing brain, but its a difficult task. Subtle changes in the brain may be difficult to detect but still have a significant impact on long-term thinking and memory skills. Add to this the fact that adolescent brains are still maturing, and the study of alcohols effects becomes even more complex. Research has shown that animals fed alcohol during this critical developmental stage continue to show long-lasting impairment from alcohol as they age (White, 2002). Its simply not known how alcohol will affect the long-term memory and learning skills of people who began drinking heavily as adolescents. Liver EffectsElevated liver enzymes, indicating some degree of liver damage, have been found in some adolescents who drink alcohol (Clark, 2001). Young drinkers who are overweight or obese showed elevated liver enzymes even with only moderate levels of drinking (Strauss, 2001). Growth and Endocrine EffectsIn both males and females, puberty is a period associated with marked hormonal changes, including increases in the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone. These hormones, in turn, increase production of other hormones and growth factors (Mauras, 1996), which are vital for normal organ development. Drinking alcohol during this period of rapid growth and development (i.e., prior to or during puberty) may upset the critical hormonal balance necessary for normal

development of organs, muscles, and bones. Studies in animals also show that consuming alcohol during puberty adversely affects the maturation of the reproductive system (Dees, 2001). Drug and alcohol use during teen and young adult years can lead to many problems for teens and their families. Teen AOD misuse can lead to skipping school, bad grades, conflict in relationships with friends and peers, rocky family relationships, and can cause poor brain function, concentration, and other areas of brain development (NIAAA, 2009). Some teens also get in trouble with the law and end up in court, involved with police and Social Services, and may spend time in juvenile detention (USDOJ, 2003). Teens that begin using AODs earlier are more likely to be heavy users and may become chemically dependent on substances later (NIAAA, 2009). These problems have a negative impact on the life of the teen and on their future work life, family relationships, friendships, and overall health. Many experts have pointed to AOD misuse as a family issue, not an individual problem. When it comes to teens, it becomes even clearer. Teens copy what they see the adults in their lives doing, and will use AODs to feel more grown up or to rebel against adults. AOD use is something teens learn to do from their parents and other adults who misuse alcohol and drugs (Rowe, 2012). It is helpful for parents to give clear messages about the dangers of teen AOD use and pair those messages with rules and consequences that are firm but fair. Following their own rules in the home as an example of responsible, legal, and safe use of alcohol is another important hint for parents. Modeling what you want your child or teen to do in terms of drug and alcohol use is key. Researchers also have found a genetic link that puts people at higher risk for addiction, but they also now

know that there is no single alcoholism gene that causes addiction (Epps & Wright, 2012). We now know that many risk factors act together to add to a persons risk of becoming addicted. Experts have found that there are a number of risk factors that make a teen more likely to have problems with AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) use in the future. These include individual, family, and community risk factors (Goldstein, 2011). Individual risk factors including being male, having an untreated mental health issue (especially ADHD, mood disorders, learning disorders, and PTSD), having low self-esteem, poor grades in school, and poor social and coping skills. Family risk factors include family history of AOD abuse, poor modeling from parents, chaos at home, and poor communication between parents and children. Community risk factors are high incidence of AOD abuse and availability of drugs in the community. Obviously if a teen never encounters AODs, they have no opportunity to use, thereby reducing their risk of addiction to zero. For this reason, experts believe limiting teens access to AODs and individuals who use AODs is the very best protective factor for long-term health. While this abstinence approach makes sense, it is not likely that teens exposure to substances will be extinguished entirely. Experts also focus on the factors that protect teens from AOD abuse. These include factors involving parents, peers, community, and school (Goldstein, 2011). Parents who model positive behaviors, have good communication skills, set limits, and supervise their teens can improve the chances that their children will avoid AOD use. Having friends who do not abuse AODs helps protects kids, as does having a zero

tolerance policy in the local community. Schools help by providing after school activities, sports, teachers and coaches who are good role models, and quality education. Recent trends in adolescent sexual behavior offer mixed messages. It is very encouraging that teenagers' overall rates of sexual activity, pregnancy and childbearing are decreasing, and that their rates of contraceptive and condom use are increasing (Abma, et. al, 2005). However, the proportion of young people who have had sex at an early age has increased (Terry & Manlove, 2000) Moreover, while adolescent females' contraceptive use at first sex is rising, their use at most recent sex is falling. There is general consensus that the proportion of teenagers who engage in behaviors that put them at risk of pregnancy and of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains too high. Each year, approximately one million young women aged 15-19or one-fifth of all sexually active females in this age-groupbecome pregnant; the vast majority of these pregnancies are unplanned (Allan Gutmatcher Institute, 1997). In the United States, the risk of acquiring an STI is higher among teenagers than among adults (Centers for Disease Control, 2000). Moreover, rates of unprotected sexual activity, STIs, pregnancy and childbearing continue to be substantially higher among U.S. adolescents than among young people in comparable industrialized countries (Singh & Daroch, 2000). Research has also begun to highlight an alarmingly high rate of involuntary sex among young people. In the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, 13% of 15-19year-old females reported that they had been forced to have sex (Abma, et.al, 1997). When asked about their first sexual experience, 22% of 15-44-year-old women for whom it occurred before age 15 reported that the act was involuntary, as did 16% of those who

first had sex before age 16. Involuntary sexual activity is typically unprotected and thus puts its victims at very high risk of pregnancy and STIs. Finally, recent research and clinical observations suggest that a substantial proportion of teenagers, including those who report having never had vaginal sex, are engaging in oral sex (Schouster, Bell & Kanouse, 1996). This trend has negative implications for teenagers' sexual health because many seem unaware that STIs can be acquired through unprotected oral sex. Adolescent health professionals are faced with the dilemma of how to refine programmatic and research efforts to maintain the progress that has been made while reducing those risk behaviors that remain too prevalent. The solution may lie, in part, in bridging the gap between research and programs. For more than 30 years, researchers have studied the antecedents of teenagers' high-risk sexual behaviors, and service providers have designed programs to prevent those behaviors. Their efforts have typically proceeded independently, however, and each professional community's work has not routinely informed that of the other. This lack of communication is understandable, given the differences in professional backgrounds and training, work settings and day-to-day activities.

Conceptual Framework The study revolves around the paradigm below. Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Socio Demographic Profile

Health Risk Behaviors

Age Sex Parents occupation Family monthly income

1. Non Sexual Risks

Common Health Problems

Smoking, Drinking, Drug Abuse Obesity Depression Suicide and Domestic Violence

2. Sexual Risk Behaviors

Health Related Practices

Premarital sex Abortion Live-in, Out of Wedlock birth, and divorce

Operational Definition of Terms To ensure better understanding of this study, the following terms were defined operationally: Health Risk Behaviors. In this study, it is categorized as non sexual and sexual risk behaviors. The major non sexual risk behaviors include smoking, drinking, drug abuse, obesity, depression, suicide and domestic violence. Sexual risk behaviors examines attitude towards premarital sex, abortion, live in, out of wedlock birth and divorce.

Adolescent. WHO defines as person belonging from 10 19 years of age. Socio demographic factors. This refers to the statistical, financial, and social status of the population. In this study, the indicators were age, sex, parents occupation, family monthly income. Health Problems. This refers to the individual experiences which demonstrates difficulty in maintaining stability that may adversely affect his or her health including physical as well as emotional consequences. Health Related Practices. This refers to the habits, behaviors, deportment, conduct, action and respondents related to health. In this study, it includes: Smoking and Drinking. This refers to the act of consuming cigarettes and alcoholic beverages Self Medication. It refers to the practice of taking in medications or drugs without the prescription of a doctor, Medical checkup. This refers to the procedure whereby a person is examined by a dctor and makes suggestions about his care and management.

Hypothesis The researcher posited on the following hypothesis: There is a significant difference relationship between the profile of the respondents and non sexual and sexual risk behaviors.

Methodology This section presents the research design, population and sample, data gathering instrument and the statistical tools that will be used in this study. Research Design. This study employs the descriptive-correlational method of research. Population and Sample. The respondents of this study will be the 3rd year and 4th year high school students of selected schools of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur during the School Year 2013 2014. Purposive sampling will be utilized in choosing the respondents at Laboratory School of University of Northern Philippines and Ilocos Sur National High School. Table 1 shows the distribution of the respondents from the two schools. Table 1 Distribution of the Respondents of the Study School Laboratory University Philippines Ilocos Sur National High School Total School of of Population Sample

Northern

Data Gathering Instrument. Questionnaire checklist will be the main instrument that will be used in the study. Items on non sexual risk behaviors are

formulated by the researcher and will be content validated by the adviser and panel members while items on sexual risk behaviors will be adapted from the study of Savella (2005) entitled Reproductive Health Awareness among Adolescents in Selected Coastal areas of Ilocos Sur. The questionnaire will contain the following parts: Personal Profile (Part 1) which elicits the profile of the respondents and Perception (Part II) which will cull out the perceptions of the respondents toward non sexual and sexual behaviors. Data Gathering Procedure. The researcher seeks permission from the school administrators prior to the conduct of the study. The researcher personally floats and retrieves the questionnaire. Statistical Treatment of Data. The data gathered will be treated by the following statistical tool: Frequency Counts and Percentages will be used to describe the socio demographic profile of the respondents, common health problems and health related factors. Weighted Mean will be utilized to determine the perception of adolescents on health risk behaviors. Simple Linear Analysis will be used to determine the significant relationship of the socio demographic profile, common health problems, health related practices and the perception on health risk behaviors.

PERCEPTIONS ON HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS OF VIGAN CITY, ILOCOS SUR

A Title Proposal Presented to Mr. Ferdinand Lamarca and the Faculty of the Graduate School University of Northern Philippines Vigan City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Masters of Arts in Nursing

by Richmund Earl A. Geron