Health priorities for high school students

Abstract

Objective: In this study we aimed to identify which of the determinants of health is regarded as the most important for students from public and private high schools in the city of Santa Maria (RS), Brazil. Methods: The 1.142 high school students answered a questionnaire with social and demographic information as well as lifestyle. Results: As a result of the priorities in health, perfect physical, mental and social well-being appeared in the first place (36.5%, n=408), followed by healthy lifestyle (27.5%, n=308), absence of diseases and illness (22.9%, n=256) and good living and work conditions (13.1%, n=147). Conclusion: We concluded that the majority of high school students have as health priority the perfect physical, mental and social well-being in accordance with the concept advocated by the World Health Organization.