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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Camelia Vitoc, MD, MPH, Khosrow Heidari, and Sharon Biggers, MPH. Bureau of Community Health and Chronic Disease Prevention, SC DHEC, 1777 St Julian Place, Columbia, SC 29204, 803-545-4462, VITOCCS@dhec.sc.gov

Introduction. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) collects information on prevalence of a series of risk behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, injuries, tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, and sexual activities. The Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) provides data regarding prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as knowledge and attitudes toward tobacco. In 2005, YRBS and YTS were concomitantly conducted in the same public schools in South Carolina, approximately 3,000 students in grades 6-12 being randomly selected to participate in each survey. There were a total of 11 common items in the 2005 surveys, asking about tobacco use among 9-12 grade students. In this study we compared the results from both surveys to validate the tobacco measurements and ensure accuracy of both surveillance tools. Methodology. Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals were compared for the common items. Results. Demographics by gender, race, grade and age were almost identical in YRBS and YTS. Prevalence of current cigarette smoking among high school students was similar in YRBS (23.5±3.9%) and YTS (24.4±3.8%). Even when stratifying by gender, race, or grade, the estimates were similar at 95% confidence. Similar results were obtained for all other items: prevalence of lifetime smoking, frequent and daily smoking, smoking 6 or more cigarettes per day, percent of students who initiated smoking before age 11, smoking on school property, proportion of smokers who bought their cigarettes in a store, quit attempts, smokeless tobacco use and cigar use and smokeless tobacco use on school property.

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