[Health behavior of school children without parental care]

Life style (behavior) is one of the most significant factors affecting health. Although a number of factors participate in creating behavior, family is one the most important. The goal was to analyze the life style of children without parental care.

The research was done using cross-sectional data from "Children village" in Sremska Kamenica (N=127), and a questionnaire was especially created for this purpose.

It was established that 75% of elementary school children and 43% of high school children are physically active. The greatest health risk is smoking (only 50% of students reported never to smoke cigarettes, while 17.5% were daily smokers). The problem is greatest in high school children (43% polled are daily smokers). Alcohol consumption is less common than in the general population of the same age (10% polled drink beer and wine several times a month, while 5% drink spirits--brandy, whisky etc.). Attitudes to sports, smoking and alcohol are mainly positive, but at older age there is an increased number of children with negative attitudes. Knowledge regarding healthy diet is on a lower level comparing with general population, meals are more regular, but with less desirable food.

From the aspect of health, life style of children without parental care is characterized by risky behavior, particularly in high school children.