Region VII Youth Today: Risk Behavior of Young People in Central Visayas

Region VII Key Findings from the 2013 YAFS Socio-economic-demographic background • Two in five youth are studying while nearly one-fourth each is working (23%) or doing . housework (24%). Majority (82%) of the youth has at least some high school level education, the fourth highest percentage compared with the other regions. However, the proportion with at least some college education is below the national level. • Some (3.7 %) are working students • Six in 100 youth are idle, the fifth lowest in the country (9.4%). • Majority of the youth have never been married (79 %) and is higher than the national level of 76.6 percent. But among those in a marital union, those who are currently living-in outnumber those in a formal union (13.3 % vs 6.4 %) - a pattern consistent with the national figure. Media • Region VII youth are digitally wired. 77.6 percent own a cellular phone and 67.0 percent use the internet, 54.6 percent have a social networking account, and 54.5 percent own an email account. • 72.2 percent of the youth watch the television regularly. • More than one-third of the young people in Central Visayas have text mates they have not personally met. Slightly over one- fourth of the young people in the region have online friends they have not met in person • Less than one percent has a personal blog. Lifestyle and Health • 56 percent of Region VII youth exercise at least two to three times a week the second highest in the country. • - Region VII youth are high consumers of unhealthy foods and drinks. At least once a week, o 59% consume instant noodles 。 27% eat hamburger o 39% eat fried chicken o 38% consume fried street food ○ 50% eat grilled street food ○ 57% drink carbonated drinks, the third lowest in the country o 61% drink coffee or tea, the second lowest in the country Incorporated Non-sexual risk behaviors • The proportion of Region VII youth who are currently smoking (18.5 %) has increased though still below the national level. • The percentage of youth who are currently drinking alcoholic beverages (43 %) has declined but is the second highest in the country. • Six in 100 youth have ever used drugs. Such proportion has declined in the past decade but is still the 4th highest in the country. • 12.4 percent of Region VII youth have ever contemplated suicide, the second highest in the country. • The percentage of youth who attempted to commit suicide (3.2%) has slightly decreased and is the same as the national level. • Considerable proportions of Region VII youth have experienced physical violence both as aggressors (18.7 %) and as victims (14.7 %). Compared to other regions, such proportions are relatively low. • One in twenty of the region's youth has experienced harassment using technology.

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