Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has launched a national survey of school children’s health behaviour.
The Health Behaviours in School Children (HBSC) survey 2014 shows that overall health levels are good. There are encouraging findings on consumption of fruit and vegetables, teeth cleaning, and a drop in smoking levels and consumption of sweets and soft drinks.
However, many children said they find it easy to get cigarettes, too many children are going to bed hungry, and there are concerns about levels of cyber bullying.
Some of the key findings in the main survey include:
- Reported levels of fruit and vegetable consumption have increased.
- Consumption of sweets and soft drinks has decreased from 2010.
- Reported levels of physical activity remained stable between 2010 and 2014.
- The overall proportion of children who reported being in a physical fight has decreased from 2010. More girls and older children report being victims of cyber bullying.
- There was an overall decrease in reported levels of smoking and drunkenness and an increase in levels of never drinking between 2010 and 2014. Many children reported that it is easy to buy cigarettes or get someone else to buy cigarettes for them in most shops in the area where they live and go to school.
- There are still worrying levels of children going to bed hungry and skipping breakfast being reported.
- More girls, older children and children from higher social classes reported brushing their teeth daily or more frequently.
- 20% of children do not wear seat belts.
- The percentage of 15-17 year olds who report that they have ever had sex has increased from 23% in 2010 to 27% in 2014.
The population of young people (up to 19 years) in the Republic of Ireland is 1,154,706. Young people represent 27% of the population, which is higher than the European average. With such a high proportion of young people, investing in their health and well-being is essential.
The IPH is actively engaged in work on improving health behaviours among children across the Island of Ireland.
Find out more about IPH work in this area in the links below:
A Tobacco-Free Future - An all-island report on tobacco, inequalities and childhood 2013
Proposed Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax: Health Impact Assessment Full Report
Prevention and Early Intervention in Children and Young People’s Services- Child Health and Development
