FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEGATIVE SELF-PERCEPTION OF HEALTH IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

Résumé

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of negative self-perception of health and associated factors in schoolchildren. This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional study, part of a monitoring of health risk behaviors with high school students living in Jequié/BA, Brazil. The sample was random, proportional by clusters in two stages. The dependent variable was negative self-perception of health, and the independent variables were sociodemographic and lifestyle. A total of 1,170 schoolchildren participated in the study and the reported prevalence of negative health perception was 37.6% higher for females (n=261). After regression analysis, the variables that remained associated with negative health were: being female with a higher probability of the outcome for those with higher inadequate consumption of vegetables (1.5; 95%CI: 1.21-1.87; p=0.00). Among males, the increase in negative health perception is for those who are insufficiently active (1.41; 95%CI: 1.01-1.96; p=0.04) and who spend more than two hours in front of a computer/ video game (1.54; 95%CI: 1.14-2.1; p=0.00). Therefore, inadequate consumption of vegetables by girls and low levels of physical activity and screen time longer than two hours for boys are associated with a negative perception of health. These findings demonstrate the need to develop actions aimed at promoting healthy habits in the school environment.