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Health Risk Behaviors of Texas Students Attending Dropout Prevention/Recovery Schools in 1997
Author(s) -
Weller Nancy F.,
Tortolero Susan R.,
Kelder Steven H.,
Grunbaum Jo Anne,
Carvajal Scott C.,
Gingiss Phyllis M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1999.tb02338.x
Subject(s) - youth risk behavior survey , medicine , intervention (counseling) , ethnic group , suicide prevention , dropout (neural networks) , psychology , health education , health risk , school dropout , injury prevention , at risk students , gerontology , clinical psychology , family medicine , poison control , environmental health , public health , psychiatry , nursing , medical education , machine learning , sociology , socioeconomics , anthropology , computer science
This study determined prevalence of health risk behaviors of 9th through 12th grade students attending dropout prevention/recovery alternative schools in Texas in 1997. Participants were 470 youth whose health risk behaviors were assessed using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in an anonymous, self‐administered format. Behaviors measured included frequency of weapon‐carrying and fighting, suicide‐related behaviors, substance use, and sexual behaviors. A substantial percentage of alternative school students reported participating in behaviors that placed them at acute or chronic health risk. Differences in the prevalence of risk behaviors were noted by gender, racial/ethnic, and age subgroups. In addition, alternative school students frequently engaged in multiple risk behaviors. These findings suggest a need for comprehensive school‐based health education/intervention programs to reduce the prevalence of risk behaviors in populations of alternative school students.