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 North Shore/Coast Garibaldi 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


North Shore/Coast Garibaldi Region

Located in the both the Greater Vancouver and Upper Island Geographic Areas (used for identifying trends)

Includes school districts:•# 44 North Vancouver (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)•# 45 West Vancouver (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)•# 46 Sunshine Coast (Upper Island Geographic Area)•# 47 Powell River (Upper Island Geographic Area)•# 48 Howe Sound (Upper Island Geographic Area)•# 49 Central Coast (Upper Island Geographic Area)

The only school district that did not participate was Central Coast (# 49)


Trying alcohol

Current smokers

Exposed to tobacco smoke in home on a daily basis

Having sex before age 14

Injuries

Physical fights

Girls with a history of physical abuse

Exercise 3+ days a week

Birth control use

Condom use

Drinking & driving

Encouraging Trends in the Greater Vancouver Geographic Area*

*Includes school districts #44 and #45


Challenges in the Greater Vancouver Geographic Area*

Feeling safe at school

Expect to attend post-secondary school

Boys who are Overweight

Frequent marijuana use in past month

Binge drinking in past month

Girls who seriously consider suicide

*Includes school districts #44 and #45


Trying alcohol

Current smokers

Exposed to tobacco smoke in home on a daily basis

Having sex before age 14

Injuries

Physical fights

Girls with a history of physical abuse

Birth control use

Condom use

Severe emotional distress

Encouraging Trends in the Upper Island Geographic Area*

*Includes school districts #46, #47, #48 and #49


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 #46, #47, #48 and #49

Challenges in the Upper Island Geographic Area*


DawsonCreek

PrinceGeorge

WilliamsLake

CranbrookKelowna

Kamloops

Victoria

Kitimat

Hazelton

BellaCoola

Lillooet

Whistler

Quesnel

Nelson

Golden

Fort Nelson

Prince Rupert

North Shore/Coast Garibaldi Region


Family Background

67% of youth are European

11% East Asian

6% West Asian

5% Aboriginal

35% of Aboriginal students currently living on a reserve

79% of students were born in Canada


Physical Health Status

Most students in this region (89%) report excellent or good health

More boys than girls feel they have excellent or good health (92% vs. 85%)

9% of students in this region have a chronic health condition or disability that limits their activity


Physical Health: Appearance, Weight & Exercise

43% of girls and 61% of boys are satisfied with their appearance

20% of boys and 10% of girls are overweight (based on BMI from height and weight given on survey)

80% of boys and 69% of girls exercise 3+ days a week

Level of exercise decreases with age

Hours Spent in Front of a Screen on School Day

16% 15%

32%37%

25%18%

30% 27%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Less than 2hours

2 to less than 3hours

3 to less than 5hours

5+ hours

Males Females


Nutrition

Only about half of students (52%) always eat breakfast on a school day

Eating breakfast daily declines with age

Boys are most likely to always eat breakfast on a school day (55% vs. 49%)

Nutrition: Eat Breakfast on a School Day

30%

57%

32%

20%

34%

46%

13%

53%

15%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Never Sometimes Always

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


Injuries

In BC injuries have declined between 1998 and 2003

North Shore/Coast Garibaldi has a higher rate of injuries (39%) than the provincial average (34%)

Most injuries occurred during a sports or recreational activity

Injury Prevention Behaviour by Gender

56%

29%

56%68%

31%

79%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Never Drink andDrive

Always Wear ASeatbelt

Always Wear ABike Helmet

Males Females


Substance Use: Tobacco

Non- Smoker

Experimental Smoker

Current Smoker

North Shore/Coast Garibaldi 2003

73% 20% 7%

BC 2003 73% 19% 7%

Upper Island 2003 71% 21% 7%

Upper Island 1998 51% 30% 17%

Greater Vancouver Area 2003

78% 16% 6%

Greater Vancouver Area 1998

60% 26% 12%


Substance Use: Alcohol

The North Shore/Coast Garibaldi rate of trying alcohol, alcohol use, and binge drinking is higher than provincial average

NS/CG BC

Ever had a drink of alcohol 63% 57%

Used alcohol 100+ days in life 12% 10%

Binge drinking on 3+ days inpast month

14% 11%


Substance Use: Ever Used Marijuana

North Shore/Coast Garibaldi 2003 42%

BC 2003 37%

Upper Island Area 2003 46%



Greater Vancouver Area 2003 28%




Sexual Behaviour

Youth are waiting longer to have sex

23% of youth in North Shore/Coast Garibaldi have ever had sexual intercourse (24% in BC)

17% of sexually active youth first had intercourse before age 14 (20% in BC)

Sexual Behaviour:Birth Control Used Last Time Having Sex

62% 64% 63%

51%

65%

51%48%42%

37%29%

48%

37%

21% 24% 25% 22% 20%25%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

NS/CG 2003 BC 2003 GreaterVancouver

2003

GreaterVancouver

1998

Upper Island2003

Upper Island1998

Condom Birth Control Pills No method/withdrawl


Sexual Behaviour: Risk of STDs

65% of sexually active students in North Shore/Coast Garibaldi used a condom last time had sex (BC average is 68%)

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

32% of sexually active students in this area reported 3 or more partners in lifetime

5% of sexually active youth reported 3 or more partners in past 3 months


Emotional Health

8% of youth in North Shore/Coast Garibaldi reported to have experienced serious emotional distress in the past month

Girls are more likely than boys (12% vs. 6%) to report to feeling seriously distressed

13% report ever being physically abused

6% report ever being sexually abused


Emotional Health: Suicide

Suicidal thoughts and attempts among youth in BC have not declined over the past decade

14% of students in North Shore/Coast Garibaldi said they had seriously considered suicide in the past year

10% had actually planned a suicide attempt

3% attempted suicide once in the past year and 3% attempted suicide two or more times (9% girls vs. 3% boys)

Males are more likely to die in an attempt


Emotional Health: Discrimination

27% of youth in North Shore/Coast Garibaldi said they had been discriminated against due to skin colour, sexual orientation or physical appearance in the past 12 months

Sexual Harassment in Past Year

15%

38%32%

53%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Verbal sexual harassment Physical sexual harassment

Males Females

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

26%

12%

38%29%

5%

38%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Verbally harassed Purposelyexcluded

Physicallyassaulted

Males Females


Violence and 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 at home, at school and in the community have better physical and emotional health and are less likely to take risks

Help Seeking

31%

12% 11%

31%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

School staff Healthprofessional

Socialworker, youth

worker orcounsellor

Religiousleader

Sought help from…


Violence and Safety

Internet safety is a growing concern

In North Shore/Coast Garibaldi, 7% of boys and 22% of girls have encountered a stranger on the Internet who made them feel unsafe

7% of boys and 10 % of girls have run away in the past year

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

Always Feel Safe at School by Grade

43% 39%47%

55%63%

45%35% 39% 43%

50%56%

42%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

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

Males Females


Always or Usually Feel Safe at School in…

Library 89%

Classroom 85%

Cafeteria 73%

Washrooms 71%

Hallways 70%

Outside on school property during school hours

63%


Community and Leisure

41% of students had a paid, part-time job

90% of students say they have money to spend on themselves each week

56% of youth in North Shore/Coast Garibaldi say they have gambled in the past year (6% once a week or more)


Healthy Youth Development:Family Connectedness

Youth with high family connectedness are less likely to engage in risky behaviours

The presence of parents in the home at critical times of the day has been shown to promote healthy youth development

Family Connectedness & Risk Behaviour

44%

34%41%

27% 29%26%

15% 14%21%

58%

44%

24%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Ever usedmarijuana

Ever smoked Ever had sexualintercourse

Involved in aphysical fight in

past year

Low level of family connectedness

Medium level of family connectedness

High level of family connectedness


School

77% of students like school some or very much

Girls are more likely to have positive feelings about school

Dislike for school increases with age

76% of students in North Shore/Coast Garibaldi plan to continue their education past secondary school (75% in BC)


Healthy Youth Development:School Connectedness

Students who like and feel connected to their school are healthier and achieve better academically

Students that are highly connected to school are less likely to engage in risky behaviours

School Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

36%

52%45%

32%

75%

29%30%

46%

29%24%

67%

13%16%

29%

18% 17%

50%

5%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Ever smoked Ever usedmarijuana

Involved in aphysical fightin past year

Ever hadsexual

intercourse

Ever usedalcohol

Consideredsuicide inpast year

Low level of school connectedness

Medium level of school connectedness

High level of school connectedness


Healthy Youth Development is Associated With:

Feeling safe at school

Enjoying school

Having aspirations for post-secondary education

Having a parent or other adult to talk to about concerns

Feeling good at something

Involvement in extracurricular activities

Volunteering in the community


Summary

While some aspects of youth health have improved or stayed the same, there is still room for improvement in many areas

This report highlights the importance of connectedness to family, school and community in fostering health and decreasing risk behaviours in youth


Available at www.mcs.bc.ca

For More Information

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

Documents

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