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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
Session: Threats in School-from Violence to Rabies
3134.0: Monday, December 12, 2005: 10:30 AM-12:00 PM
Oral
Threats in School-from Violence to Rabies
This session is designed to provide information about threats in schools related to dating violence among racially diverse middle school students, and perceptions of violence, aggression, and school safety by high school students, as well as the threat of a possible rabies exposure in a school setting.. The findings of the study of middle school dating violence suggests reexamination of prevailing theories and interventions that have traditionally been based upon attitudes of male power as predictors of dating violence. The results of the study of teen attitudes on violence and aggression do not support the popularly used deterrence theory. Findings of the 2004 Boston Youth Survey indicate that fear and actual victimization are not necessarily collinear, and that there is health implication of fear beyond the actual risk of physical harm. Explanation of the case study of possible rabies exposure in a school setting highlighted numerous challenges to a public health issue including media scrutiny, bureaucratic resistance, student reluctance to admit exposure due to fear of shots, parent and faculty concerns and popular myths about rabies. Linking of resources from different jurisdictions will be presented as a useful model for other public health threats in schools.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Identify the prevalence of threats in school from a variety of sources including dating violence, agression, and infectious diseases 2. Recognize the importance of developing effective prevention programs based upon student perceptions, racially diversity and other student characteristics. 3. Explain and assess the value of eterrence theory as useful at preventing violent and aggressive behaviors. 4. Explain obstacles and effective responses when soliciting information from adolescents.
Organizer(s):Maria Theresa Wessel, EdD, CHES
Moderator(s):Rachel Peters
10:30 AMDating violence among racially diverse middle school students
Elena Font Calafell, MA, Richard Scott, MA, MSW
10:50 AMPerceptions and correlates of school safety: Results from the 2004 Boston Youth Survey
Mary Vriniotis, MS, Deborah Azrael, PhD
11:10 AMBats in the belfry: Coordinating a response to a possible rabies exposure in a school setting  [ Recorded presentation ]
Michael P. Kennedy, MGA, MPH, CHES, Malyn Pratt, RN
See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information.
Organized by:School Health Education and Services
Endorsed by:Injury Control and Emergency Health Services; Maternal and Child Health; Public Health Education and Health Promotion; Public Health Nursing; Socialist Caucus
CE Credits:CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA