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 Fraser 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

Fraser Region

Located in both the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver Geographic Areas (used for identifying trends)

Includes school districts:• # 40 New Westminster (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)• # 41 Burnaby (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)• # 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows (Greater Vancouver

Geographic Area) • # 43 Coquitlam (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)• # 35 Langley (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)• # 36 Surrey (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)• # 37 Delta (Greater Vancouver Geographic Area)• # 33 Chilliwack (Fraser Valley Geographic Area)• # 34 Abbotsford (Fraser Valley Geographic Area)• # 75 Mission (Fraser Valley Geographic Area)• # 78 Fraser-Cascade (Fraser Valley Geographic Area)

SDs that did not participate: #43, #36, #27, #34, and #78


DawsonCreek

PrinceGeorge

WilliamsLake

CranbrookKelowna

Kamloops

Victoria

Kitimat

Hazelton

BellaCoola

Lillooet

Whistler

Quesnel

Nelson

Golden

Fort Nelson

Prince Rupert

Fraser

Fraser Region Map


AHS data for 2003 is not available for the Fraser Area due to low School District participation rates in the Fraser Valley; Greater Vancouver Area data is used to highlight trends since 1992.


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 #35, #36, #37, #40, #42, #43 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 #35, #36, #37, #40, #42, #43 and #45


Family Background

55% of youth in this region are European

24% are East Asian

7% are South Asian

5% are Aboriginal

4% are South East Asian

13% report being of another ethnicity

72% of these youth were born in Canada

14% have lived in Canada for less than 5 years


Physical Health Status

Most students in this region (87%) report good or excellent health

More boys than girls feel they have excellent or good health (90% vs. 84%)

11% of students in this region have a chronic health condition or disability that limits their activity


55% of boys and 43% of girls are satisfied with their appearance

24% of boys and 11% of girls in this region are overweight (based on BMI from height and weight given on survey)

76% of boys and 65% of girls exercised 3 or more days a week

Level of exercise decreases with age

Physical Health: Appearance, Weight & Exercise

Hours Spent in Front of a Screen on School Day

13% 11%

32%

43%

20%15%

32% 33%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Less than 2hours

2 to less than 3hours

3 to less than 5hours

5+ hours

Males Females


49% of students in this region always eat breakfast on school days

Eating breakfast daily declines with age

Boys are more likely than girls to always eat breakfast on a school day (53% vs. 45%)

Nutrition

Nutrition: Eat Breakfast on a School Day

32%

55%

32%23%

36%41%

13%

50%

18%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Never Sometimes Always

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


In BC injuries among youth declined between 1998 and 2003

32% of youth reported being injured seriously enough to require medical care

Most injuries occurred during a sports or recreational activity

Injuries

Injury Prevention Behaviour by Gender

55%

21%

57%

79%

22%

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

Fraser 2003 76% 17% 6%

BC 2003 73% 19% 7%

Greater Vancouver Area 2003

78% 16% 6%

Greater Vancouver Area 1998

60% 26% 12%


Substance Use: Alcohol

The Fraser region has lower than provincial average rate of trying alcohol, alcohol use and binge drinking

Fraser BC

Ever had a drink of alcohol 51% 57%

Used alcohol 100+ days in life 8% 10%

Binge drinking on 3+ days in past month

5% 11%


Substance Use: Ever Used Marijuana

Fraser Region 2003 30%

BC 2003 37%

Greater Vancouver Area 2003 28%




Youth are waiting longer to have sex

21% of youth in this region have ever had sexual intercourse (24% in BC)

22% of sexually active youth in this region first had intercourse before age 14 (20% in BC)

Sexual Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour:Birth Control Used Last Time Had Sex

63% 64% 63%

51%

37%42%

37%29%26% 24% 25% 22%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Fraser 2003 BC 2003 GreaterVancouver 2003

GreaterVancouver 1998

Condom Birth Control No method/Withdrawl


69% of sexually active students in this region report using a condom the last time they had sex (BC average is 68%)

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

37% of sexually active students in this region report having sex with three or more partners in their lifetime

7% of sexually active youth reported 3 or more partners in the last 3 months

Sexual Behaviour: Risk of STDs


8% of youth in the Fraser region experienced serious emotional distress in the last month

Girls are more likely than boys to feel seriously distressed (10% vs. 6%)

14% report physical abuse

7% report sexual abuse

Emotional Health


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

16% in the Fraser region said they had seriously considered suicide in the last year

11% had actually planned a suicide attempt

4% of students attempted suicide once in the past year

Girls were more likely than boys to have attempted suicide in the past year (9% vs. 4%)

Emotional Health: Suicide


30% of youth in the Fraser region said they had been discriminated against due to skin colour, sexual orientation, or physical appearance, in the past 12 months

Emotional Health: Discrimination

Sexual Harassment in Past Year

16%

37%34%

50%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Verbal sexual harassment Physical sexual harassment

Males Females

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

24%14%

35%28%

6%

37%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Verbally harassed Purposelyexcluded

Physicallyassaulted

Males Females


27% of students in this region say they were in a physical fight in the past year

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

Violence and Safety

Help Seeking

30%15% 14%

35%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

School staff Healthprofessional

Socialworker, youth

worker orcounsellor

Religiousleader

Sought help from…


Internet Safety is a growing concern

In the Fraser Region, 7% of boys and 21% of girls have encountered a stranger on the Internet who made them feel unsafe

In this region, 7% of boys and 10% of girls have run away in the past year

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

Violence and Safety


In this region 81% of students say they like school some or very much

Girls are more likely than boys to have positive feelings about school

Dislike for school tends to increase with age

77% of students in this region plan to continue their education past secondary school (75% in BC)

School

Always Feel Safe at School by Grade

27%32%

37% 35%

52%47%

28% 29%33% 33%

55%

44%

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 85%

Classroom 81%

Cafeteria 69%

Washrooms 62%

Hallways 63%

Outside on school property during school hours

52%


34% of students in this region have a paid, part time job

86% of students in this region say they have money to spend on themselves each week

50% of youth in the Fraser region say they have gambled in the past year (6% gamble 1+ times a week)

Community and Leisure


Youth with high school and 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

Healthy Youth Development:Family Connectedness

Family Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

40%33%

40%

23% 26%17%

12% 11%18%

46%

20%29%

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


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

Healthy Youth Development:School Connectedness

School Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

39%

49%46%

33%

70%

31%24%

30%26%

20%

55%

14%12%16% 15% 14%

31%

6%

0%

25%

50%

75%

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


Feeling safe at school

Enjoying school

Having aspirations for post-secondary education

Having a parent or other adult to talk to about concerns

Feeling they are good at something

Being involved in extracurricular activities

Volunteering in the community

Healthy Youth Development is Associated With:


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

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

Summary


Available at www.mcs.bc.ca

For More Information

Documents

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