Most at Risk Adolescence (MARA 13-19yrs) in Occupied Palestinian

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescents as “people aged 10 to 19 years”. Adolescence is increasingly recognized as a life period that poses specific challenges and a time of vulnerability and risks. There are many vulnerability and risk factors for adolescent boys and girls that make them susceptible to be engaged in HIV risk behavior and/or unable to protect themselves from exploitation that can lead to HIV infection. Adolescents who engage in these behaviors are called “most-at-risk adolescents- MARA” (Homans, 2007).

The study objective was to provide information and evidence on the level of risk behaviors among young people aged (13-19) years who are most at risk of HIV infection in the OPT To achieve this goal, 6 measurable objectives were set through quantitative. The study design : Quantitative approach . Study results the socio-demographic profile and living conditions for MARA were obtained from a sample of 149 adolescents; 71.8% males and 28.2% female. The participants’ age ranged from (14-19) years with an average of 17.9 years with 67.8% for the ages 18-19 years old. Place of residence and social status; the study participants were from all regions; 13.4% from Gaza and 86.6% from West Bank (23.5% from Jerusalem, 34.2% from middle region, 22.1% from north region and 6.8% from south region of West Bank). Education and school attendance; the data of 16% with no education and 26.6% elementary level of education” coupled with almost half of the older adolescents (only 22% out of the 40% who are 19 years). Employment of work; congruent with what is being indicated about, their low level  education, 65% of targeted adolescents are working; 41.6% work full time job and 23.5% worked sometime. Exposure to unusual experiences during work; 53% of workers have been exposed to unusual practices regardless of their work place; 30% were given cigarettes, 22.8% given money, 5.3% given drugs and 2.7% taken for a drive. The household's income in Shekel for all family members have ranged from (300-8000), the adolescents’ source of spending during last month was mainly; 60.4% from their own employment and 26.8% from family support and very few got from different sources where 2.7% received from social affairs and 1.4% from other sources. Drug users; the MARA mean age to start drug use was 15.8 years, they utilize  different kinds of drugs with the majority 76.5% smoked marijuana, 55% inhaled glue and other toxic substance and 34% used a variety of drug pills with more male users than female users on all items as indicated by their mean scores.

Keywords: Most at Risk Adolescence (MARA 13-19yrs), Palestinian.