ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO-HYGIENIC FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTH AND MORBIDITY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Authors:   Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky, Saratov, Russia, Belyaeva Yulia , Shemetova Galina ,   Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky, Saratov, Russia
Published: August 2024

Significance. Training of specialists with higher education should exclude the impact of factors that can worsen their health. Therefore, assessment and correction of the most significant risk factors affecting the student's health and incidence of chronic noncommunicable diseases among young people is of key importance in disease prevention including in subsequent older age groups. The purpose of the study was to scientifically substantiate measures to optimize and develop health environments for medical university students based on self-rated health and prevalence of the most significant risk factors affecting health among young people. Material and methods. A survey of 220 4th to 6th grade students of the Saratov State Medical University was conducted according to the author's questionnaire through the most popular social networks among young people. The questionnaire contained 30 questions about social status and financial status of students, prevalence of risk factors and presence of chronic diseases. An additional source of information was a subjective self-evaluation of health. Among the respondents, 73% were girls, and 27% were boys. The average age is 23.7±0.25 years. Statistical data processing was performed using standard statistical analysis methods in the Statistica 10.0 software package. Results. It study shows that only half (53%) of girls and majority (70.4%) of boys rated their health as good and 40% of girls and 22% of boys as satisfactory. 46% of girls and 43.3% of boys indicated a presence of a chronic disease. In girls, diseases of the digestive system (58.3%), diseases of the respiratory system (25.3%), diseases of the nervous system and sensory organs (23%), diseases of the genitourinary system (18%), cardiovascular diseases (12.4%) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (11.3%) prevailed. Respiratory diseases (34%) and diseases of the digestive system (33%) were on top of the list among young men. 53% of the respondents had dental and oral pathology. But less than half (40.5%) of the students with chronic diseases subject to medical follow-up were aware of it and they were invited to undergo a medical examination in polyclinic. This was despite the fact that 12.5% of the students had two or more chronic diseases. The frequency of acute viral infections among students (including a new coronavirus infection) during the year equaled to: once a year – 22.6%, 2-3 times – 44%, four or more times a year – 10.9%, never – 22.5%. Among the reasons for health deterioration, more than half of the students (59%) noted mental and nervous overstrain, including those associated with the introduction of distance learning at the university; unbalanced diet – 43.5%, sleep problems – 36.3%, bad habits – 14.8%, physical overstrain – 13.6%, and hypothermia – 4.6%.According to the survey, the majority of students noted that they maintain health in various ways: by increasing physical activity, workout – 58.5%; walking – 72%; vitamin therapy – 39.6%; diet – 18.6%; other methods (cold exposure training, sauna) – 21%. Conclusion. The study results show that measures are needed to optimize and further develop health environments in the university. The conceptual model of health maintenance and health promotion among medical university students should include: rational organization of the educational process in compliance with the necessary hygienic requirements for work and rest schedule; optimization of social and hygienic living conditions and lifestyle of students, especially in dormitories, healthy nutrition in the student canteen and higher motivation for healthy eating at home and a healthy lifestyle in general; higher physical activity of young people and lower stress levels.