HEALTH RISK BEHAVIOR AND MORBIDITY AMONG GEORGIAN STUDENTS AND PROGNOSIS OF POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The purpose of our study is to assess students’ health threatening behavior and morbidity and Prognosis of Poor Academic Performance Design/methodology/approach: 766 Georgian students, aged 15 to 35 (20.7+/-2.4) from Georgian universities were interviewed, among them, 347 men and 419 women. The cross-sectional study was performed. We calculated the difference between groups by Fisher exact test. The correlation analysis was performed by means of Spearman ranking correlation. The risk assessment of bad academic achievement was performed using multiple binomial logistic regression. Statistical analysis was performed using program packet SPSS 23. Findings: The stress perception during exams shows positive correlation with the headache - r=0.099, p=0.006; Increased appetite - r=0.072, p=0.045 and General self-assessment of health - r =0.279, p<0.001. In Georgian students’ population, the relative chance of poor academic performance is increased by: Stress perception during exams - OR=2.43(95%CI:1.23-4.81); Excess alcohol consumption - OR=2.66(95%CI:1.405.08); Tobacco consumption - OR=2.69(95%CI:1.60-4.53); Unpaid work - OR=3.34(95%CI:1.81-6.16); Diabetes - OR=2.44(95%CI:1.36-4.38); Surgery, associated with trauma in the anamnesis – OR=2.27(95%CI:1.10-4.68); Fractures during university years - OR=1.87(95%CI:1.06-3.31); Pathologies, detected in university years - OR=1.91(95%CI:1.02-3.56); It is decreased by balanced nutrition - OR=0.40(95%CI:0.22-0.70); Conclusions Harmful habits lead to illness and hence, decrease in academic performance. Students’ behavioral characteristics are linked with academic performance.