Brief Summary of Philadelphia S 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Brief Summary of Philadelphia S 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Brief Summary of Philadelphia’s 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

The 99-item multiple choice 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was administered in Spring 2011 to approximately 1,539 high school students from 29 randomly selected public schools in Philadelphia (National Results available on CDC’s website). Ninety four percent of the randomly selected high schools and 78% of the randomly selected students in grades 9 to 12 voluntarily agreed to participate in the survey, allowing data to be weighted such that it is representative of all 9th-12th grade students throughout the School District of Philadelphia. The prevalence of health risk behaviors self-reported by Philadelphia high school students during the 2011 administration of the YRBS are summarized below.

Demographics

GenderFemale: 50.9%Male: 49.1%

Grade9th: 28.1%10th: 26.5% 11th: 22.8% 12th: 22.4%

Race/Ethnicity Black/AA: 61.1%Asian: 5.3%His/Latino: 16.3%White: 13.1%

Tobacco Use

  • 10% of students report being current smokers, down from a high of 35% in 1999
  • 3% of students report smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day
  • 10% of students report initiation of smoking before age 13
  • 45% of students report lifetime smoking, down from 76% in 1991

Alcohol Use

  • 32% of students reported alcohol use within the last 30 days
  • 15% reported binge drinking
  • 64% reported lifetime alcohol use

Use of Other Drugs

  • 21% of students report current marijuana
  • Use of heroin (3%), methamphetamines (3%), ecstasy (4%), cocaine (3%) and use of steroids without prescription (4%) remains infrequent
  • 26% of students reported being offered or sold drugs on school property in 2011

Body Weight, Nutrition and Physical Activity

  • 17% of students are classified as obese based on self-reported height and weight
  • 18% are classified as overweight based on self-reported height and weight
  • 20% students reported eating fruits and vegetables five or more times per day
  • 25% report daily consumption of non-diet soda.
  • 20% reported zero days of ≥ 60 minutes of physical activity in the past week, including more females than males
  • 21% of students reported 7 days of ≥ 60 minutes of physical activity in the past week, including more males than females
  • 46% watched three hours or more of TV daily including more African American students (52%) than Hispanic (39%) and non-Hispanic whites (35%)

Sexual Risks

  • 61% report ever having sexual intercourse
  • 15% report becoming sexually active prior to age 13
  • 32% report abstinence commitments including 45% of females and 18% of males

Among sexually active students:

  • 60% used a condom during last sexual intercourse
  • 15% used birth control, 7% reported use of Depo-Provera by self or partner
  • 18% reported use of alcohol and/or other drugs prior to last sexual intercourse.
  • 13% report ever having been pregnant or have gotten someone else pregnant

Safety & Violence

  • 26% never or rarely wore seat belts
  • 92% of students report never or rarely wearing a bicycle helmet while riding a bike
  • 23% of juniors and 22% of seniors report ever texting or emailing while driving 4% carried a weapon on school grounds and
  • 42% were in a physical fight during the last year
  • 9% stayed home from school within the past year due to safety concerns
  • 14% reported being bullied at school
  • 10% reported being bullied electronically
  • 10% reported bullying due to GLBT issues
  • 14% considered suicide
  • 11% reported a suicide attemptwithin the past year

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