18 - Health Risk and Enhancing Behaviours

Question 1

What are some examples of health risk and enhancing behaviours?

Answer 1

Risk

• smoking
• alcohol consumption
• unsafe sex

Enhancing

• exercise
• healthy diet
• HPV vaccination

Question 2

What are behavioural pathogens and immunogens?

Answer 2

Pathogen - the health damaging/health risk behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, fatty diet.

Immunogen - the health protective/health enhancing behaviours such as exercise, health screening uptake, breast self-examination, and low fat diets.

Question 3

What are some factors associated with smoking?

Answer 3

Location; remote 2x more than cities
SES; lower 3x more likely
Indigenous; 2.5x more
Sexual orientation; more likely daily smoke

Question 4

How has the prevalence of smoking changed since 2001?

Answer 4

daily smoking

• 2001; 19%
• 2013; 13%

never smoked

• 2001; 51%
• 2013; 60%

Question 5

Why do people start smoking?

Answer 5

Modelling (peers, siblings, parents)
Social pressure, social learning, and reinforcement
Weight control
Risk-taking or problem behaviours
Health cognitions (unrealistic optimism)

Question 6

Why do people continue to smoke?

Answer 6

Enjoyment (behaviour, taste, effects)
Habit
Physical and/or psychological addiction
Stress/anxiety management
Low self-efficacy

Question 7

What are the recommendations for alcohol consumption?

Answer 7

For reducing long-term harm, no more than: 2-standard drinks a day (2-3 alcohol free days)

For reducing short-term harm (i.e. injury), no more than 4-standard drinks in a session

Standard drink = 10g of alcohol

Question 8

What are the risks in the short-term and long-term of overconsumption of alcohol?

Answer 8

Short term

• Pedestrian, road and other accidents
• Domestic and public violence
• Crime

Long term

• Liver disease
• Cancer (oral, oesophagus, larynx)
• High blood pressure
• Pancreatitis
• Brain damage

Question 9

How has the prevalence of alcohol consumption changed since 2001?

Answer 9

% population regularly exceeding guidelines for reducing long-term harm

• 2001; 21%
• 2013; 18%

% population exceeding guidelines for reducing short-term harm

• 2001; 29%
• 2013; 26%

Question 10

What are some factors associated with risky drinking?

Answer 10

Location; remote 2x more
SES; higher SES more
Indigenous; more abstinence, but more risky if drinking
Sexuality; homo and bi more likely

Question 11

What factors are associated with condom use?

Answer 11

Amongst women; age (less likely after 30), excessive alcohol consumption (less likely)

Men; number of sexual partners

Question 12

Why do people not use protection when having sex?

Answer 12

Social:

• Difficulty/embarrassment in raising issue
• Anticipated objection
• Worry about STI implications

Lack of self-efficacy for correct use

Attitudes:

• Reduced spontaneity
• Unrealistically positive

Question 13

What are recommendations for exercise each week?

Answer 13

Moderate; 150-300 min/week

Vigorous; 75-150 min/week

Question 14

What is the prevalence of people who meet exercise guidelines weekly?

Answer 14

Meeting exercise guidelines
- 2005; 30%
- 2012; 43%
Still quite low

Question 15

What are some factors associated with exercising?

Answer 15

Age; younger
SES; higher
Education; higher
Location; major cities

Question 16

Why do people exercise?

Answer 16

Internal

• self-efficacy
• lack of interest
• enjoyment

External

• time constraints
• modeling from family
• social support
• number of active neighbours

Question 17

What is the prevalence of people who meet fruit and vegetable guidelines?

Answer 17

Meeting fruit guidelines
- 2005; 54%
- 2012; 49%
Meeting vegetable guidelines
- 2005; 14%
- 2012; 6%

Question 18

What are some factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption?

Answer 18

SES; higher are more likely

Age; 5-7 55%, 12-34 4% 55+ 8%

Question 19

Why not eat fruit and vegetables?

Answer 19

Parental socialisation
- Permissiveness; feeding practices

Perceived and/or actual barriers

• Lack of knowledge and skills
• Length of preparation time
• Cost and availability (e.g. rural areas)

Misinformation
- Consumers reluctant to eat vegetarian diet because of concerns about lack of nutrients and iron

Question 20

A study in Victoria found things that encouraged 12-15 year olds to eat fruits and vegetables, what were they?

Answer 20

Vegetables

• Peer support
• Self-efficacy
• Perceived availability of fruit and vegetables at home

Fruit

• Healthy eating value
• Modified by mother
• Self-efficacy
• Perceived availability of energy-dense food in the home

Question 21

What are some factors associated with the uptake of the HPV vaccine?

Answer 21

Health insurance status (may not be issue in Australia)

Program location (higher for school-based population)

Recommendation by health care professional

Parental concern about:

• safety and side-effects
• initiation of early sexual behaviour

Question 22

What is the prevalence of people with the HPV vaccine?

Answer 22

2011;
Girls 12-17; 71%.
Women 18-26; 33%