Methodology and Early Findings of the Third Survey of CASPIAN Study: A National School-based Surveillance of Students’ High Risk Behaviors

Background: a school-based surveillance system entitled the childhoodand adolescence surveillance and prevention of adult noncommunicabledisease (caspian) study is implemented at national level in iran. thispaper presents the methods and primary findings of the third survey ofthis surveillance system.methods: this national survey was performed in 2009–2010 in 27provinces of iran among 5570 students and one of their parents. inaddition to physical examination, fasting serum was obtained. body massindex was categorized based on the world health organization growthcharts.findings: data of 5528 students (2726 girls, 69.37% urban, mean age 14.7± 2.4 years) were complete and are reported. overall, 17.3% (17.3% ofgirls and 17.5% of boys) were underweight, and 17.7% (15.5% of girlsand 19.9% of boys) were overweight or obese. abdominal obesity wasdocumented in 16.3% of students (17.8% of girls and 15% of boys). 57.6%of families consumed breads, the staple food for iranians, prepared withwhite flour. most families (43.8% in urban areas and 58.6% in rural areas)used solid hydrogenated fats. 22.7% of students did not add salt to the tablefood. 14.2% of students reported to have a regular daily physical activityfor at least 30 min a day. overall, 10.4% of students (11.7% in urban areasand 7.3% in rural areas) reported that they used tobacco products, oftenwaterpipe. 32.8% of students experienced at least three times of bullyingin the previous 3 months. during the year prior to the survey, 14.46% ofstudents had an injury needing the interference by school health providers.conclusion: this survey is confirmatory evidence on the importance ofestablishing surveillance systems for risk behaviors to implement actionorientedinterventions.