This survey measured the levels of risk behaviors in six categories in high school students in Taegu, to collect basic data to develop school health policy and health promotion programs. The target population was high school students in Taegu. Out of 136,973 students, 1,853 were sampled through stratification of gender, class and grade. We used a 1999 version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey of CI)C, which was translated. Many high school students engaged in behaviors that will increase the likelihood of death or illness. Vocational high school students and male students were significantly more likely than general high sachool and female students respectively, to have risk behaviors in most categories except, physical inactivity. First graders were significantly more likely to have violence-related risk behaviors (<0.05) and second graders were significantly more likely to have depression (<0.05). Third graders were significantly more likely to be physically inactive(<0.01). Almost 70 of students rarely or never wore seat belt. Lack of safety practice was prevalent and significantly undiffered by gender, class and grade. 62.3% had recently drank alcohol, 31.8% had ever tried cigarrette smoking, 67.76 had unhealthy diets behaviors, 62.5% had a low level of physical activity and 5.4% had had sexual intercourse.
Conclusion; A High percentage of high school students engaged in risk behaviors and some subgroups were exposed to significantly more risks. Particularly, vocational high school and male students were high risk subgroups.
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