Prevalence of truancy among school-going adolescents in three South Asian countries: association with potential risk and protective factors

We examined the prevalence and evaluated associated risk protective factors of adolescent school truancy through sex-stratified models by analysing 7562 data from Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) three South Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan. The was 26.6%. highest found in Bangladesh (37%), followed Pakistan (24.7%) Afghanistan (14.7%). Male adolescents had a 2.05 times higher relative ratio (RRR) [95% CI: 1.29, 3.28] having ≥ 3 days (last month) than female respondents. Respondents older age, bullied, injured significantly RRR their counterparts. Household food insecurity also increased male students’ truancy. However, peer high parental support reduced 1–2 students.