Pubdate: Fri, 27 May 2005
Source: Brampton Guardian (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Brampton Guardian
Contact:  http://www.thebramptonguardian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1485
Author: Roger Belgrave, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SURVEY TELLS ALL ABOUT OUR KIDS

The sexual activeness, drug use, eating habits and other health
related attitudes of local adolescents revealed in a survey are being
used to plan and fine tune regional health services.

The Region of Peel's Health Department developed the School Health
Assessment Survey that was administered to students in Grades 7 to 12
last the spring and fall of 2004. Regional officials recently released
the survey results gathered from 7,853 Peel District School Board and
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board students.

Survey topics included more than 100 questions about food and drink
consumption, physical activities, smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex,
bullying, self-image and oral hygiene.

Among highlights of the results was the revelation more than one in
four students in Grade 9 to 12 had had sexual intercourse in the last
12 months. Also, about 62 per cent of sexually active students were
15-years-old or younger when they first engaged in sex.

Data also indicated most students began experimenting with alcohol at
an early age. About 68 per cent said they had tried alcohol and seven
per cent said they drank once a week or more.

In addition, one in four students have also tried marijuana.

Further details of the survey show just 18 per cent of students took
part in daily vigorous exercise outside school hours and 11 per cent
did not engage in any vigorous exercise. On the other hand, 45 per
cent reported watching six or more hours of television, videos or DVDs
every week and 43 per cent spent as much time on a computer.

Analysis and interpretation of this region-specific data should help
the local health unit customize programs to meet community needs,
explained Howard Shapiro, Peel region's Acting Medical Officer of
Health. Both the regional health department and school boards should
find the information helpful in developing community programs and
directing existing services for local youth, he added.

"For the first time we have information on the students that are here
(in Peel)," said Shapiro.

The results show that perhaps some services and programs should be
introduced to students at an earlier age or may be there needs to be
an increased educational focus on such issues as body image, Shapiro
suggested.

"This is a very important part of the population for us," he added.
Students at this age are in the process of forming behaviour that will
continue into adulthood. This is an opportune time to offer
information and assistance towards ensuring healthy lifestyles,
Shapiro suggested.

"There is a window of opportunity here," he said.

Peel Health officials were surprised to find the survey results
similar to findings in other parts of Ontario, Shapiro noted. He said
the cultural differences among the region's large immigrant population
seem to have had very little impact on the attitudes of
adolescents.

"We thought that would make some of the things different for us," he
explained.

Other highlights of the survey show few teenagers and pre-teens
consume vegetables and fruit on a regular basis. About 49 per cent of
the students did not eat raw or cooked vegetables every day and 39 per
cent did not consume fruit daily. However, about one in four students
ate less nutritious foods such as cookies and chocolate bars every
day.

Sugar-sweetened drinks and pop are also a daily indulgence for 52 per
cent of students.

Almost half of all female adolescents believe they are overweight
compared to just 28 per cent of male students.

While 29 per cent of students admitted to ever smoking a cigarette,
just five per cent said they smoked every day.

Less than half of the students in the survey always feel safe in
school. In the last 12 months, 31 per cent of students said they had
been the victims of some form of bullying and 25 per cent admitted to
taking part in bullying other students.

According to the survey, 12 per cent of students had also seriously
considered suicide in the last year and six per cent had tried to kill
themselves at least once.
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MAP posted-by: Derek