Purpose: To study the influence of life stressors on the mental health of adolescents. Methods: The total of 205 adolescents from South Goa, in the age range of 10 to 19 years, confirming to World Health Organization (1997) standards as to the period of adolescence were the respondents to the questionnaires. In the attempt to study the extent of stress experienced by adolescents, the following psychological tests were used: Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory (LISRES-Youth) by Rudolf H. Moos and Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38) by Veit and Ware, Jr. Results: Significant negative correlations were found between mental health and physical health, home and money, stressors due to parents, extended family, school, friends, boy/girlfriends and negative life events. Conclusions: All the sub-scales of the LISRES-Y are negatively correlated with the total MHI, indicating that in terms of the present sample, greater the psychological well-being, the less stress they experienced.

Background: There has been an increase in the consumption of energy drinks and dietary supplements in India. However, the benefit of regular consumption of multivitamin and mineral supplements still remains questionable. Objectives: The study was conducted with an aim to obtain data about the type of nutritional supplements and energy drinks consumed by adolescents, reasons for their consumption, with particular emphasis on the effect of consumption on body mass index. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 adolescents of the age group 14–19 years. Data was collected with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire. Questions pertaining to diet were asked using a 24-hour dietary recall method and their physical activity was also determined by the questionnaire. The height and weight of the subjects were measured, and BMI was calculated. Data was analyzed using SPSS-17. The Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) permission was obtained. Results: In this study, the use of energy/sports drinks over last two weeks period was reported to be 55% and 43% of the respondents reported the consumption of one or the other type of vitamin and/or mineral supplement (s) without assessing any need or consulting any physician. The most commonly consumed vitamins without prescription were Vitamin C (5%) and D (5%), while in terms of minerals, iron (6%) and calcium (5%) were being used by the study subjects without prescription. Some of the reasons for using energy/sports drinks were curiosity followed by peer pressure, whereas students those reported to be consuming reported perceived short-term health benefits and supply by the parents as the common cause. The body mass index has also been found to be associated statistically significant with the consumption of the energy and sports drinks. Conclusions: Thus, health education programs should incorporate the perceptions, aspirations and motivations of young people into the planning of interventions and activities in order to make them most relevant and effective.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is uncommon in developing societies like India and the clinicians need to have a high index of suspicion to identify it. We are describing an adolescent female who presented with cardiovascular complications (bradycardia and hypotension) of AN. She was initially managed in PICU and later multidisciplinary approach was followed for treating it. This case report reminds us that adolescents having thinness can also have eating disorder.

Objective: Stress among dental students has been reported widely across the globe. Contemporary curricula require the students to learn theoretical knowledge and clinical skills. The education process creates high occupational stress during training. The present study attempts to identify the possible sources of stress among dental students in a dental college in North India. Material and Methods: Along with the general information (age, gender and year of study), a modified Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire consisting of 38 questions (responses based on a Likert-type scale) was administered to first to fourth year undergraduate students. Questions related to clinical training (Q. No: 3, 4, 10, 16, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 38) were excluded from the questionnaire administered to non-clinical students (first and second year). Student’s t-test was used for group comparisons such as gender differences and between the preclinical and clinical groups. Results: Receiving an overall response rate of 93.1%, factors such as fear of unemployment, patients missing appointments and examination grades were the most stressful items experienced. Factors pertaining to workload and adjustment problems were more stressful preclinical students and examinations, patient work and future insecurity was more stressful in clinical year students. Confidence and adjustment problems were more in males and performance pressure was seen more in females. Conclusion: The dental education system has an impact over the degree of stress experienced by dental students. The education system thus should be reconsidered providing a protective effect towards the dental students.

This study was done to find the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in school going adolescents. Secondary data analysis was done of the data collected for development of questionnaire for adolescents. The data was collected from the adolescents (10-19 years of age) attending OPD of Kalawati Saran Children’s Hosp[ital, New Delhi or attending schools. The data related to NCD risk factors were analyzed and is presented here. Total 672 adolescents were included in the study. Six questions were asked on risk factors for NCDs. Nearly 2/3 adolescents are not active enough physically, only half were having fruits and vegetables in diet 5 times a week, and about a quarter were genetically predisposed for NCDs. About 10% adolescents had thoughts of ending life in the previous month and nearly half of it made at least one attempt to end life. NCDs begin during adolescence and the risk factors can be identified early. This gives an opportunity to modify risk factors to avoid or delay the NCDs in adults.

Introduction: Changing lifestyle in the present era is engulfing the youth in risky behavioural practises prepondering themselves to the morbidities once thought of old age.Tobacco intake is one of these risk factors. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and pattern of tobacco use among young adults (15 to 24 years) attending a tertiary care centre of Central India. Methods: One to one interview was conducted with the participants who consented. Tobacco use was categorised as ever used, current use or never used. Results: A total of 954 participated in the study with a mean age of about 19 years. About 30% of the participants had ever used any tobacco product while 16% were current users, initiating it at around 12- 13 years of age. Use was higher among males while females were exclusively using smokeless tobacco products. Among smoked form cigarette (64%) is the most consumed product while hooka is the least (7%). Kharra is the most commonly used smokeless tobacco product. Conclusion: Use of tobacco products among youth is rising and becoming a major public health concern. The habit of tobacco use starts usually from the initial years of adulthood, targeted efforts must be directed towards our youth so as to avert them.

Adolescence is a period in the life-cycle of a human, which includes certain important physical, mental, legal and social changes in them, such as puberty, coming of age, attainment of majority and transition of decision making processes from an emotional viewpoint alone to the application of mind as well. This age group also has its unique health problems, different from that of children and adults. Hence, it is imperative to identify Adolescents as a separate group of people, while planning health programs for the population.

Indian Association for Adolescent Health Karnataka Chapter has held its 1st annual meeting for the year 2018 on June 09, 2018 at the Kempegowda Institution of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bangalore to review its existing strategies and to plan for adolescent health promotion work with the schools and colleges for the academic session 2018-19. The meeting was attended by the members of the association as well as the non-member medical professionals, educational professionals and Counselors who are engaged in the adolescent health promotion work in schools and colleges in different capacities. Some principals of the schools were also present from Bangalore and around who were interested in launch school health programme in their own schools.