ABSTRACT
Truancy may act as a precursor or a consequence of many
behavioural problems that might have potentially deleterious effects. This
study examined factors associated with truancy among 27,497 school-going
adolescents. Data were obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2017, a
cross-sectional survey which targeted Malaysian school-going adolescents aged
13 to 17 years. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling was applied and data
collection was conducted using validated self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive
and multiple variables’ logistic regression analysis was applied and p value < 0.05 was
considered as a statistically significant result. Overall prevalence of truancy among
school-going adolescents in Malaysia was 29.4% (27.78, 31.06). Truancy among
Malaysian adolescent is associated with ever drug user [AOR = 2.51; 95% CI:
(2.18, 2.90)], current cigarette smoker [AOR = 2.02; 95% CI: (1.86, 2.19)],
other ethnicity [AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: (1.18, 1.68)], adolescent’s parents who
live apart [AOR = 1.38; 95% CI: (1.28, 1.47)], being bullied [AOR = 1.37; 95%-CI = (1.28, 1.47)], older aged [AOR = 1.37; 95% CI: (1.30, 1.45)] and male
[AOR = 1.09; 95% CI: (1.03, 1.15)]. Truancy has been associated with various
health risk behaviours that may influence its development and adulthood health status. Investigation on the true cause
of truancy among adolescent may highlight the underlying problems and plan for
further intervention.
Share and Cite:
Mahmud, N. , Awaluddin, S. , Yoep, N. , Hasani, W. , Yn, J. and Kuay, L. (2019) Association of Truancy and Health Risk Behaviours among School-Going Adolescents in Malaysia.
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
7, 228-237. doi:
10.4236/jss.2019.77021.