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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Zipora Weinbaum, PhD, David J Reynen, MPH, MPPA, Joseph Perez, and Gilberto F. Chavez, MD, MPH. Maternal and Child Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 540, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-657-3921, ZWeinbau@dhs.ca.gov
Background: This study was conducted to assess self-reported Native American (N/Am) California school students’ health-related and risk-taking behaviors.
Methods: We analyzed data that originated with responses of approximately 50,000 students to the California Healthy Kids Survey, Fall,1998 - Fall, 1999. Survey response data were further reduced to schools that had N/Am student responses in the following modules: health-related (N=9,044, of those 1.71% N/Am), and risk-taking behaviors (N=42,884, of those 1.33% N/Am). Responses of N/Am students were compared to those of white/other students, controlling for age and gender.
Results: In the health-related module, logistic regression results indicate that N/Am students were more likely to report that they fasted (OR=1.8; 95%CI=1.0-3.3) in order to lose weight and less likely to report use of seatbelts while riding in a car (OR=0.5; 0.3-0.8). Additionally, N/Am youth were less likely to visit dental offices (OR=0.4; 0.3-0.6). In the risk-taking behaviors module, logistic regression results indicate that the N/Am students were more likely to carry clubs at school (OR=1.9; 1.2-2.9), use a weapon to threaten someone (OR=1.5; 1.0-2.2), attempt suicides (OR=1.4; 1.1-1.8), be in physical fights (OR=1.3; 1.0-1.6), and be arrested (OR=1.4; 1.0-1.9). Additionally, for youth in relationships, N/Am youth were more likely to be relationship abuse victims (OR=1.8; 1.3-2.4) than their white/other counterparts.
Conclusions: In addition to health-related needs that are not being addressed, N/Am youth are engaging in high-risk behaviors.
Implications: Prevention and intervention activities may be necessary within the schools in order to assist N/Am youth to access help to overcome disparities.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Native Americans, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.