Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are limited data on the prevalence and associated factors of truancy in southern Africa. Yet truancy should attract the attention of public health professionals, educators and policy makers as it may be associated with adolesce...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2012-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/48 |
| _version_ | 1819035696174727168 |
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| author | Muula Adamson S Rudatsikira Emmanuel Babaniyi Olusegun Songolo Peter Siziya Seter |
| author_facet | Muula Adamson S Rudatsikira Emmanuel Babaniyi Olusegun Songolo Peter Siziya Seter |
| author_sort | Muula Adamson S |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are limited data on the prevalence and associated factors of truancy in southern Africa. Yet truancy should attract the attention of public health professionals, educators and policy makers as it may be associated with adolescent problem behaviours. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence and determine correlates of school truancy among pupils in Zambia.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We used data collected in 2004 in the Zambia Global School-based Health Survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with truancy. A total of 2257 pupils participated in the survey of whom 53.9% were male. Overall 58.8% of the participants (58.1% of males and 58.4% of females) reported being truant in the past 30 days. Factors associated with truancy were having been bullied (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.32, 1.36]), current alcohol use (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI [2.16, 2.23]), perception that other students were kind and helpful (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI [1.10, 1.14]), being male and being from the lowest school grade. Pupils whose parents or guardians checked their homework (AOR = 0.91 95% CI, [0.89, 0.92]) and those who reported parental supervision (AOR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.92-0.95]) were less likely to report being truant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found a high prevalence of truancy among pupils in grades 7-10 in Zambia. Interventions aimed to reduce truancy should be designed and implemented with due consideration of the associated factors.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T07:53:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-812e29cbb0e84733af47ceefac678ace |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T07:53:44Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-812e29cbb0e84733af47ceefac678ace2022-12-21T19:11:01ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002012-01-01514810.1186/1756-0500-5-48Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health SurveyMuula Adamson SRudatsikira EmmanuelBabaniyi OlusegunSongolo PeterSiziya Seter<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are limited data on the prevalence and associated factors of truancy in southern Africa. Yet truancy should attract the attention of public health professionals, educators and policy makers as it may be associated with adolescent problem behaviours. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence and determine correlates of school truancy among pupils in Zambia.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We used data collected in 2004 in the Zambia Global School-based Health Survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with truancy. A total of 2257 pupils participated in the survey of whom 53.9% were male. Overall 58.8% of the participants (58.1% of males and 58.4% of females) reported being truant in the past 30 days. Factors associated with truancy were having been bullied (AOR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.32, 1.36]), current alcohol use (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI [2.16, 2.23]), perception that other students were kind and helpful (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI [1.10, 1.14]), being male and being from the lowest school grade. Pupils whose parents or guardians checked their homework (AOR = 0.91 95% CI, [0.89, 0.92]) and those who reported parental supervision (AOR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.92-0.95]) were less likely to report being truant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found a high prevalence of truancy among pupils in grades 7-10 in Zambia. Interventions aimed to reduce truancy should be designed and implemented with due consideration of the associated factors.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/48 |
| spellingShingle | Muula Adamson S Rudatsikira Emmanuel Babaniyi Olusegun Songolo Peter Siziya Seter Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey BMC Research Notes |
| title | Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey |
| title_full | Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey |
| title_short | Prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7-10: results from the 2004 Zambia Global School-based Health Survey |
| title_sort | prevalence and correlates for school truancy among pupils in grades 7 10 results from the 2004 zambia global school based health survey |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/48 |
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