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

1. Adolescent Health Survey III:2003 results in preparation for 2008 AHS IV • A brief summary of results for the Fraser Region

2. 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

3. 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

4. Fraser Region Map

5. 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.

6. Encouraging Trends in the Greater Vancouver Geographic Area* • Trying alcohol ê • Current smokers ê • Exposed to tobacco smoke in home on a daily basis ê • Having sex before age 14 ê • Injuriesê • Physical fights ê • Girls with a history of physical abuse ê • Exercise 3+ days a week é • Birth control use é • Condom use é • Drinking & driving ê *Includes school districts #35, #36, #37, #40, #42, #43 and #45

7. Challenges in the Greater Vancouver Geographic Area* • Feeling safe at school ê • Expect to attend post-secondary school ê • Boys who are Overweight é • Frequent marijuana use in past month é • Binge drinking in past month é • Girls who seriously consider suicide é *Includes school districts #35, #36, #37, #40, #42, #43 and #45

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Hours Spent in Front of a Screen on School Day

12. 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

13. Nutrition: Eat Breakfast on a School Day

14. 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

15. Injury Prevention Behaviour by Gender

16. Substance Use: Tobacco

17. Substance Use: Alcohol • The Fraser region has lower than provincial average rate of trying alcohol, alcohol use and binge drinking

18. Substance Use: Ever Used Marijuana

19. 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

20. Sexual Behaviour:Birth Control Used Last Time Had Sex

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Sexual Harassment in Past Year

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

27. 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

28. Help Seeking

29. 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

30. 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

31. Always Feel Safe at School by Grade

32. Always or Usually Feel Safe at School in…

33. 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

34. 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

35. Family Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

36. 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

37. School Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

38. 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:

39. 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

40. For More Information • Available at www.mcs.bc.ca