Report on Bhutan global school-based student health survey 2016

The first Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS 2016) in Bhutan was conducted among school children of the age of 13–17 years attending classes 7–11

to assess the trends in the prevalence of key health behaviours and protective factors. A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to select a nationally representative sample of 50 schools and 7990 students. Of these, all 50 schools participated and 7578 (7576 usable data) students participated, giving an overall response rate of 95%. The students anonymously self-administered an 84-item questionnaire, covering demographics (age, gender); nutritional status; dietary habits and physical activity; violence and unintentional injuries; mental health; tobacco, alcohol and substance use; sexual behaviours; knowledge of HIV/AIDS; and habits related to personal hygiene. Of the 7576 students who completed the questionnaire, 87 did not report their gender, and of the remaining 7489, 48.1% were male and 51.9% female. Of the total respondents, 4.8% were 12 years old or younger and 18.8% were 18 years old or older. The main report presents findings mainly for the age group of 13–17

years (n=5809, 2515 male and 3255 female students, 39 did not report gender).