More children go hungry but fewer take drugs, smoke or drink alcohol

More children are going to school or bed hungry, a study has found.

The survey of school children found more than one in five (21%) had gone hungry, an increase on a similar survey in 2006.

Just over 16,000 children aged nine to 18 from 256 schools across Ireland took part in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey 2010, published yesterday.

The survey also gives an insight into the sexual behaviour of teenagers, with more than one in four (27%) 15 to 17-year-olds admitting to having sex — 31% of boys versus 23% of girls.

Almost six out of 10 said they used the contraceptive pill the last time they had sex.

The survey, conducted by the Health Promotion Research Centre of NUI Galway in collaboration with the World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for Europe, also showed a drop in substance abuse.

Reports of current smoking (12%) and having ever smoked (27%) have declined since 2006, when the proportions were 15% and 36% respectively.

Reports of alcohol consumption have decreased among school children since 2006, with 46% of children reporting having ever drunk (53% in 2006) and 21% reporting being current drinkers (26% in 2006).

There has also been a decline in reported cannabis use, both in the previous 12 months (8% in 2010 compared to 16% in 2006) and in the past 30 days (5% in 2010 compared to 7% in 2006).

There has been little change in exercise and physical activity. Overall, 51% of children said they exercised four or more times a week, compared to 53% in 2006.

Rates of bullying also remain unchanged at 24%.

However, those reporting bullying others in the past couple of months had decreased to 17% in 2010 compared to 22% in 2006.