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A Picture of Health: Highlights from the 2008 British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey Fraser North. McCreary Centre Society www.mcs.bc.ca. Survey Administration. Administration took place in Grade 7-12 classes in 50 of the 59 BC School Districts.
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A Picture of Health: Highlights from the 2008 British Columbia Adolescent Health SurveyFraser North McCreary Centre Society www.mcs.bc.ca
Survey Administration • Administration took place in Grade 7-12 classes in 50 of the 59 BC School Districts. • Over 29 000 surveys were collected in 1,760 classrooms between February and June 2008. • HSDA 14 Fraser North “I am happy to see a survey like this one. It’s about time questions were being asked. Now I am hoping to see some positive actions.” BC Youth Participant
Provincial Key Findings A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Provincial Key Findings • Most students are doing well; nearly all 84% report good or excellent health • Serious injuries have declined • 18% of females, 7% of males did not get mental health services they needed • Nearly half did not eat the recommended 5 servings of fruits or vegetables yesterday
Provincial Key Findings • No change in physical activity: only 1 in 4 males, 1 in 10 females exercise every day • Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are lower for the first time since 1992 • More than 1 in 5 females, 1 in 10 males reported deliberate self-harm
Provincial Key Findings • Far fewer youth smoke than a decade ago, and those who do started at older ages • Alcohol and marijuana use lower • Fewer students had ever used cocaine, amphetamines, or mushrooms, continuing declines since 1998 • But use of some other drugs, including hallucinogens like LSD, rose
Provincial Key Findings • Relationship violence is unchanged since 2003; 9% of males, 6% of females • Pregnancy rates also stable, less than 2% • Reversing trends in physical and sexual abuse, after declines since 1992 • Protective factors can help even the most vulnerable youth overcome risks
Provincial Key Findings Most BC teens are doing well, and report healthier behaviours than students 10 years ago
Home and Family Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Physical Health Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Health status • 84% reported good or excellent health. • 8% of youth reported a debilitating health condition or disability.
Access to Medical Care • 14% of females and 9% of males did not get medical help when they felt they needed it.
Injuries • 26% of students were injured seriously enough to need medical attention.
Injuries Injury Prevention • 67% of youth always wore a seatbelt. • 25% of students always wore a helmet while bike riding.
Nutrition • At least 48% of BC youth fell short of the recommended daily portions of fruits and vegetables.
Weight and Body Image • 18% of males and 10% of females were very satisfied with their body image – an increase since 2003.
Mental and Emotional Health Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Mental and Emotional Health Top reasons for not accessing mental health services (among youth who felt they needed them)
Mental and Emotional Health Risk Factors for Suicide Attempts: • Family or friend suicide attempts (19% vs. 2%) • Sexual abuse (18% vs. 3%) • Physical abuse (13% vs. 3%)
Sexual Behaviour Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Sexual Behaviour • 82% of youth never had sexual intercourse • Most common reasons for not having sex: • Waiting to meet the right person (48%) • Not ready for sex (47%) • Among those who had sex: • Most commonly started at age 15 • 18% first had sex before age 14
Sexual Behaviour: Birth Control • Condoms: 66% • Birth control pills: 43% • Only withdrawal: 6% • Emergency contraception: 4% 5% of sexually active students have been pregnant or caused a pregnancy
Smoking Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Substance Use Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Substance Use † Indicates that the difference between Fraser North and provincial estimates was statistically significant.
Substance Use † Indicates that the difference between Fraser North and provincial estimates was statistically significant.
Substance Use • † Indicates that the difference between Fraser North and provincial estimates was statistically significant.
Abuse and Violence Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Abuse and Violence Note: The gender difference was not statistically significant for physical abuse.
School and Work Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
School and Work • 65% of students liked school “somewhat” • Females more likely than males to like school “very much” (24% vs. 19%) • Grade 7’s showed highest school connectedness vs. Grades 9-11 the lowest
Sport and Leisure Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Protective Factors Fraser North – A Picture of Health www.mcs.bc.ca
Protective Factors • Having protective factors in their lives can promote health and reduce the negative effect of some risk behaviours. • Protective factors in AHS • School (e.g., school connectedness) • Family (e.g., family connectedness) • Community • Connected to culture/ethnic group • Youth engagement in activities • Peer prosocial attitudes about risky behaviours • Friends would disapprove of teen getting pregnant, getting drunk, beating someone up, etc.