Authors : Asghar Mohammadpoorasl , Ali Fakhari , Rezagholi Vahidi , Fatemeh Rostami and Mahnaz Talebi
Abstract: There is currently limit information about self-injury among adolescent population. The aim of this study is to estimate the incidence rate of substance abuse among the sample of 10-grade male students in Tabriz city and to evaluate the associated factors. Of all grade-10 male students in Tabriz, 1785(13.7%) were randomly sampled and were assessed twice. A self-administered questionnaire with 48 questions was distributed to students in February and March 2005. The questions aimed to obtain information on self-injury, substance abuse, smoking, self-esteem, attitude toward smoking and risk-taking behaviors as well as demographic information. After one year (February and March 2006), another questionnaire with 10-items was distributed to those students for determine the incidence rate of self-injury. The influence of different factors on incidence of self-injury was evaluated with a logistic regression model. At the beginning of the study among 1785 students 70 (4.0%, CI 95%: 3.1-5.0) had self- injury. At the end of follow -up, 4.8% of students reported incidence of self-injury. The results of logistic regression model indicate that transition in smoking stages (OR = 2.81), incidence of alcohol drinking (OR = 2.27) and having smoker friend (OR= 1.78) were factors associated with incidence of self-injury. This study has shown higher incidence rate of self-injury and determined some of its risk factors among students. More studies about adolescent population are necessary to approve the observed results of this study and thus allow for a certain generalization of the observations.
Asghar Mohammadpoorasl , Ali Fakhari , Rezagholi Vahidi , Fatemeh Rostami and Mahnaz Talebi , 2007. Predicting the Incidence of Self-Injury in Iranian High School Students . Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 427-430.