Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112900

Enrique Suarez, MD¹, Adriana Pena, BS¹, Juan Zevallos, MD², Larry K. Olsen, Dr PH, CHES³, and John Moraros, MD, MPH³. (1) Salud y Desarrollo Comunitario de Ciudad Juarez, A.C., P.O. Box 9737, El Paso, TX 79995, 656 616 0833, esuarez@femap.org, (2) International Global Chronic Disease Surveillance, Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, 1100 North Stanton, Suite 105, El Paso, TX 79902, (3) College of Health and Social Services, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003

Background: Youth in Mexico face higher rates of the six major behavioral risk factors that contribute to premature morbidity than are faced by youth in the United States. This study represents a seminal effort to obtain information about the risk factors that affect youth who attend middle schools in Juarez, Mexico. Methods: A Spanish version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey was distributed to 1702 students in 57 classrooms from 19 randomly selected middle schools in Juarez. The response rate was 87%. Results: The ages ranged between 11 and 16 years. Over 16% of the participants indicated they were sexually active. Of these, 44% indicated they had multiple sexual partners and exhibited other sexual behaviors that put them at risk for unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS; 56% had experimented with smoking and 16% were regular smokers; 55% were classified as overweight or obese; 40% don't engage in regular exercise; 18% manifested suicide ideation; 43% had consumed alcohol and 56% had traveled with an impaired driver; 13% had used illegal drugs; 30% exhibit some form of malnutrition; 32% carry a weapon to school and 52% had sustained some sort of injury as the result of violence. Eighty eight percent indicated they did not use seat belts. Conclusions: This study provides baseline data upon which to assess future risk behaviors of youth, empirical evidence upon which educational programs can be developed to address the risk factors that have been identified, and a baseline to assess the effectiveness of these programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the health risks of middle school students in Juarez, Mexico.
• Compare the health risks of middle school students in Juarez, with those of middle school students in the US

Keywords: School Health, Risk Taking Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.