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Adolescent Health Survey III:2003 results in preparation for 2008 AHS IV
A Brief Summary of Results for the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Region
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Encouraging Trends in the Northeast Geographic Area*
*Includes school districts #27, #28, #57, #59, #60, #81, #91
Feeling safe at school
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
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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
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DawsonCreek
PrinceGeorge
WilliamsLake
CranbrookKelowna
Kamloops
Victoria
Kitimat
Hazelton
BellaCoola
Lillooet
Whistler
Quesnel
Nelson
Golden
Fort Nelson
Prince Rupert
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Region Map
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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
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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)
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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Substance Use: Tobacco
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
BC
Non-smoker 67% 73%
Experimental smoker 23% 19%
Current smoker 9% 7%
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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%
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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:
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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…
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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
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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%
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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
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Healthy Youth Development
A strong sense of connection with school, family and community has shown to promote health and reduce risk-taking behaviour
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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
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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
McCreary Centre Society
Feeling safe at school
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
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For More Information
Available at www.mcs.bc.ca