Methodology and Representativeness of the Adolescent Health Survey 2017 in Malaysia

Asia Pac J Public Health. 2019 Nov;31(8_suppl):8S-17S. doi: 10.1177/1010539519854884. Epub 2019 Jun 21.

Abstract

Health risk behaviors and mental health problems are associated with morbidity and premature mortality among adolescents. Understanding the magnitude of the problem may improve adolescent health status. The Adolescent Health Survey was conducted to collect data on health risk behaviors among Malaysian school-going adolescents using self-administered questionnaires. A 2-stage stratified cluster sampling design was used and samplings weights were calculated to ensure representativeness to the general population. A total of 27 497 out of 30 823 school-going adolescents completed the questionnaires, yielded an 89.2% overall response rate. The methodology was robust to ensure valid estimation on the prevalence of health problems among Malaysian school-going adolescents.

Keywords: Malaysia; adolescent; methodology; risk behaviors; school-based.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Health Risk Behaviors
  • Health Surveys / methods*
  • Humans
  • Malaysia / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Schools
  • Students / psychology
  • Young Adult