 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kendra Larry, MPH, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 5330 Cardinal Cove Circle, Sanford, FL 32771, 407-665-3208, kendra_larry@doh.state.fl.us
BACKGROUND:
Risky sexual behavior, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use are serious public health concerns. Although they are preventable, they are still among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among youth. The goal of this research is to examine the relationship of socio-demographic factors, and risky sexual behavior including unprotected sex, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among Florida Youth. METHOD: Data for this analysis comes from the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (N=4,273) conducted in Florida public high schools. Logistic Regression models were used to assess determinants of risky behaviors. RESULTS: Results show that students with below average performance in school are more likely to smoke cigarettes (OR=4.03) and marijuana (OR=3.51), drink alcohol (OR=3.34), and practice risky sexual behavior (OR=2.88) compared to students with higher academic performance. Also, students who drink alcohol are more likely (OR=3.35) to engage in unprotected sex. In addition, the influence of other factors including demographic variables, such as age, race, and gender will be presented. CONCLUSION: The age of initiation of risky behaviors is decreasing. Increases in frequency distribution are observed, as the grade level increases. In addition, students who participate in other risky behaviors, such as smoking tobacco, marijuana or drinking alcohol, are also more likely to have unprotected sex. This shows that many of the risky behaviors are many times interrelated. Unprotected sex, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use all contribute to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among youth. These unhealthy behaviors often are established during youth and extend into adulthood. If youths are targeted by educational means, behaviors can be stopped at an early age, resulting in fewer years of potential lives that are lost.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Epidemiology,
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.