Adolescent Health Survey III: 2003 results in preparation for 2008 AHS IV

McCreary Centre Society

Adolescent Health Survey III:2003 results in preparation for 2008 AHS IV

A Brief Summary of Results for the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Region


The Purpose of Regional Reports

To recognize health promotion and prevention efforts that are working well

To identify issues on which more effort is needed to improve youth health


Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Region

Located in both the Interior and Northeast Geographic Areas (used for identifying trends)

Includes school districts:• # 19 Revelstoke (Interior Geographic Area)• # 27 Cariboo-Chilcotin (Northeast Geographic Area)• # 58 Nicola-Similkameen (Interior Geographic Area)• # 73 Kamloops/Thompson (Interior Geographic Area)• # 74 Gold Trail (Interior Geographic Area)• # 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap (Interior Geographic Area)

All 6 school districts participated in the survey


Encouraging Trends in the Interior Geographic Area*

Injuries among girls

Alcohol use

Drinking & driving

Smoking

Involvement in fights

Discrimination due to physical appearance

Ever had sex before age 14

Condom use

*Includes school districts #19, #22, #23, #53, #58, #67, #73, #74, and #83


Challenges in the Interior Geographic Area*

Feeling safe at school

Expect to attend post-secondary school

Overweight

Self-report health status as “excellent”

Frequent marijuana use in past month

Binge drinking in past month

No change in exercising 3+ times week

*Includes school districts #19, #22, #23, #53, #58, #67, #73, #74, and #83


Encouraging Trends in the Northeast Geographic Area*

*Includes school districts #27, #28, #57, #59, #60, #81, #91


Experiences of racial discrimination

Overweight

Self-report health status as “excellent”

Ever used marijuana

No change in binge drinking in past month

No change in exercising 3+ times week


Challenges in the Northeast Geographic Area*

Alcohol use

Drinking & driving

Smoking

Ever had sex before age 14

Involvement in fights

Discrimination due to physical appearance

Sexual abuse of females

Condom use

*Includes school districts #27, #28, #57, #59, #60, #81, #91


DawsonCreek

PrinceGeorge

WilliamsLake

CranbrookKelowna

Kamloops

Victoria

Kitimat

Hazelton

BellaCoola

Lillooet

Whistler

Quesnel

Nelson

Golden

Fort Nelson

Prince Rupert

Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Region Map


Family Background

73% European

13% Aboriginal/First Nations

40% ever lived on reserve

24% currently living on a reserve

3% East Asian

2% South Asian

66% Live with both parents


Physical Health

86% reported excellent or good health

Boys were more likely than girls to rate health as excellent or good (90 vs. 83%)

13% have a chronic health condition or disability which limits activity (10% of boys and 14% of girls)


Appearance and Weight

Boys Girls

Not satisfied with appearance 10% 23%

Satisfied with appearance 64% 42%

Overweight 23% 13%

Trying to lose weight 21% 57%

Hours Spent in Front of a Screen on School Day

17% 17%

32% 35%

25%18%

31%27%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Less than 2hours

2 to less than 3hours

3 to less than 5hours

5+ hours

Males Females


Healthy Eating & Exercise

50% always eat breakfast on a school day

Eating breakfast daily declines with age

3% of males and 8% of females reported ever purging

Most youth in this region exercise 3+ days a week (81% of boys and 68% of girls)


Injuries

41% had an injury requiring medical attention

Most injuries occurred during sport or recreation activities

31% of students have a valid driver’s license; 35% of these drivers had driven after using drugs or alcohol

Students aged 15 or 16 were most likely to experience an injury requiring medical attention


Injury Prevention

Boys Girls

Driving after using alcohol in last month*

20% 12%

Never drink and drive* 62% 69%

Always wear a seatbelt 53% 54%

Always wear a bike helmet 29% 26%

*of licensed drivers


Substance Use: Tobacco

Thompson Cariboo Shuswap

BC

Non-smoker 67% 73%

Experimental smoker 23% 19%

Current smoker 9% 7%


Substance Use: Alcohol

Thompson Cariboo Shuswap region has higher than provincial average rates of trying alcohol, alcohol use, and binge drinking

Thompson Cariboo Shuswap

BC

Ever had a drink of alcohol 67% 57%

Used alcohol 100+ days in life

12% 10%

Binge drinking on 3+ days in past month

16% 11%


Use increases with age

Boys more likely than girls to be heavy users of marijuana

Substance Use:Ever Used Marijuana

Thompson Cariboo Shuswap 46%

BC 37%

Of the those in the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap who have used marijuana:


Sexual Behaviour

Youth are waiting longer to have sex

71% of youth in this region reported never having sexual intercourse

Of those who are sexually active, 22% had sex before age 14

Sexual Behaviour:Birth Control Used Last Time Had Sex

65% 64%

46% 42%

22% 24%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Thompson Cariboo Shuswap2003

BC 2003

Condom Birth Control No method/Withdrawl


Sexual Behaviour:Risk of STDs

69% of students who have had sex in Thompson Cariboo Shuswap region used a condom last time had sex (BC average is 68%)

Sexually active students 17 years of age and older were the least likely to use a condom the last time they had sex

34% of sexually active students in this region reported 3+ partners in lifetime

30% of sexually active students used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sex

Sexual Harassment in the Past Year

21%

45%39%

60%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Verbal sexual harassment Physical sexual harassment

Males Females


Emotional Health

17% of youth have ever been physically abused

16% of females have ever been sexually abused

9% experienced serious emotional distress in the past month

29% have been discriminated against due to skin colour, sexual orientation or physical appearance


Emotional Health: Suicide

Suicidal thoughts and attempts have not declined in BC youth since 1992

More females in the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap region report seriously considering suicide (22% females vs. 12% males)

11% of females have reported attempting suicide

Males are more likely to die in an attempt

25%15%

41%33%

8%

45%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Verbally harassed Purposelyexcluded

Physicallyassaulted

Males Females

Harassment, Exclusion, & Assault by Another Youth at School in Past Year


Violence & Safety

Despite the media headlines, the 2003 survey results provided no evidence of an increase in violent behavior among youth

Young people who feel safe have better physical and emotional health, and are less likely to take risks

Feeling safe at school was highest in grades 11 and 12 for youth in the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap region

Always Feel Safe at School

Boys Girls

36% 40% 42%52%

57%

43%33% 33%

27%

51% 52%50%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

Males Females


Library 85%

Classroom 80%

Cafeteria 71%

Washrooms 66%

Hallways 63%

Outside on school property during school hours

58%

Always or Usually Feel Safe at School in…


Internet safety is a growing concern

8% of boys and 27% of girls have encountered a stranger over the internet who made them feel unsafe

8% of boys and 12% of girls have run away in the past year

Running away is associated with a greatly increased likelihood of risky behaviours

Violence & Safety


Seeking Help

In the past year, youth sought help from:

Found Helpful

School Staff 32% 80%

Health Professional 33% 86%

Social Worker, Youth Worker, Counselor

14% 71%

Religious Leader 11% 77%


Community and Leisure

45% of youth have a paid, part-time job

39% of youth 17 years and older work 5-19 hours per week

86% have money to spend on themselves each week

54% of Interior youth have gambled in the past year


Healthy Youth Development

A strong sense of connection with school, family and community has shown to promote health and reduce risk-taking behaviour


School

78% of students like school some or very much

Girls are more likely to have positive feelings about school

Dislike for school increases with age

69% of students plan to continue their education to post-secondary school (75% in BC)

35% of students skipped school at least once in past month

School Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

42%

58%

46%37%

76%

33%37%

48%

27% 30%

72%

15%20%30%

15%20%

50%

7%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Ever smoked Ever usedmarijuana

Involved in aphysical

fight in pastyear

Ever hadsexual

intercourse

Ever usedalcohol

Consideredsuicide inpast year

Low level of school connectedness

Medium level of school connectedness

High level of school connectedness

Family Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

48%40% 39%

35%29%28%

17% 18% 19%

63%

29%

47%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Ever usedmarijuana

Ever smoked Ever had sexualintercourse

Involved in aphysical fight in

past year

Low level of family connectednessMedium level of family connectednessHigh level of family connectedness


Healthy Youth Development

The majority of students in the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap region felt they were “good” at something

High self-esteem and optimism are associated with positive well-being



Enjoying school

Having aspirations for post-secondary education

Having a parent or other adult who they can talk to about concerns

Feeling they are good at something

Involvement in extracurricular activities

Volunteering in the community

Healthy Youth Development is Associated With:

Healthy Youth Development: Volunteering

45%

29%

52%

33%28%

36%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Ever tried smoking Ever usedmarijuana

Ever had sexualintercourse

Volunteered in more than one activity No volunteering

Healthy Youth Development: Weekly Extracurricular Activities

42%

25%16%

30%

74%

56%

38%

20%

43%

64%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Ever triedalcohol

Ever usedmarijuana

Ever hadsexual

intercourse

ConsideredSuicide

Ever triedsmoking

Involved in extracurricular activities

Not involved in extracurricular activities

Healthy Youth Development: Religiosity/Spirituality

26%

15%21% 22%

71%

51%

33% 31%36%

50%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Ever triedalcohol

Ever usedmarijuana

Ever hadsexual

intercourse

Involved in aphysical fightin past year

Ever triedsmoking

Very Religious/Spiritual Not Religious/Spiritual


For More Information

Available at www.mcs.bc.ca

Adolescent Health Survey III: 2003 results in preparation for 2008 AHS IV

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