226403 Health of young people in the United States, 1991-2008: Trends in critical national health objectives

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Nan Jiang, PhD , Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Lloyd Kolbe, PhD , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Dong-Chul Seo, PhD , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Noy Kay, HSD , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Claire Brindis, DrPH , Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
     
Objectives: This study examined trends in 21 Critical Health Objectives for Adolescents and Young Adults between 1991 and 2008, and assessed the extent to which the 2010 targets were attained since the baseline year. These 21 Objectives were recognized to address the most significant threats to the health and well-being of US 10-to-24-year-old population.

Methods: The 21 Objectives were measured by five census systems and four national probability-based surveillance surveys. For census data, Excel was used to examine the percentage of change between each pair of two years by gender, race/ethnicity, and age group from 1991 to 2008. Any change equal to or greater than five percent was considered important. The other objectives were analyzed using STATA Version 10.0. The frequency, weighted percentage, and 95% confidence interval of each objective were calculated by gender, race/ethnicity, and grade from 1991 to 2008. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine linear and quadratic trends, and calculate odds ratios for each objective. To calculate the percentage of 2010 targets attained, the difference between baseline data and 2008 was divided by that between baseline data and 2010 targets.

Results: None of the 21 Objectives achieved the 2010 target by 2008. Three objectives deteriorated since the baseline year, including overweight/obesity, chlamydia infections, and mortality among young adults aged 20-to-24-years-old. Objectives that mostly attained the targets included riding with a drinking driver, mortality among adolescents aged 10-to-14-years-old, and condom use.

Discussions: Government and non-government organizations should more effectively address the health and well-being of young people.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify three Critical Health Objectives for adolescents and young adults that had deteriorated from the baseline year to 2008 2. Articulate the trend in one of the 21 Critical Health Objectives for adolescents and young adults from 1991 to 2008, and the extent to which this objective had reached the 2010 target 3. Discuss three suggestions for achieving the 2010 targets for 21 Critical Health Objectives for adolescents and young adults

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Healthy People 2000/2010

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted this study, analyzed data, and drafted the manuscript.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5062.0: Understanding and Promoting Healthy Behaviors among Adolescents