 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Elaine G. Zahnd, PhD, Public Health Institute, 2001 Addison Street, 2nd Floor, Berkeley, CA 94703, 925/283-6432, ezahnd@webbnet.com and Sue Holtby, MPH, Senior Research Scientist, Public Health Institute, 210 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Background: Healthy People 2010 objectives are indicators designed to assess progress in health promotion and disease prevention among teens nationwide, and can serve as benchmarks for assessing the health of California’s adolescents.
Methods: The 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2001) is a telephone survey of 55,428 households that includes interviews with 5,801 adolescents aged 12-17 years. The sample was designed to provide statewide estimates for California’s overall population. Prevalence rates are compared to HP 2010 targets across socio-demographic characteristics.
Results: Considerable gaps were seen between the CHIS 2001 prevalence rates and HP 2010 objectives for usual source of care, physical activity, overweight, drug use, binge drinking and sexual risk behaviors. For example, only 85.4% reported a usual care source, with the 2010 goal set at 97%. Vigorous physical activity (83.4%) was below the HP target. Teens (11.4%) had BMI values at or greater than the 95th percentile (target 5%). Almost 7% reported past month binge drinking compared to the HP goal (2%). However, the proportion reporting physical fighting (19.1%) was lower than the benchmark (32%). Prevalence rates were in line with HP goals for dental visits and for preventing serious injuries.
Conclusions: Focused public health efforts targeting California adolescents are needed to achieve many HP 2010 objectives. Assessing the gaps between CHIS prevalence rates and HP 2010 prevalence targets will assist policymakers in determining how to invest in the health and well being of California’s adolescent population.
Learning Objectives:
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.