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Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among American Indian and Alaska Native High School Students
Author(s) -
de Ravello Lori,
Everett Jones Sherry,
Tulloch Scott,
Taylor Melanie,
Doshi Sonal
Publication year - 2014
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/josh.12114
Subject(s) - ethnic group , demography , national survey of family growth , logistic regression , psychological intervention , youth risk behavior survey , odds ratio , odds , medicine , sexual behavior , pregnancy , gerontology , psychology , environmental health , clinical psychology , poison control , suicide prevention , population , family planning , psychiatry , sociology , pathology , biology , anthropology , research methodology , genetics
BACKGROUND We describe the prevalence of behaviors that put American Indian and Alaska Native ( AI / AN ) high school students at risk for teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ) and the relationships among race/ethnicity and these behaviors. METHODS We analyzed merged 2007 and 2009 data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a biennial, self‐administered, school‐based survey of US students in grades 9‐12 (N = 27,912). Prevalence estimates and logistic regression, controlling for sex and grade, were used to examine the associations between race/ethnicity, and substance use, and sexual risk behaviors. RESULTS Of the 26 variables studied, the adjusted odds ratios ( AOR ) were higher among AI / AN than White students for 18 variables (ranging from 1.4 to 2.3), higher among AI / AN than Black students for 13 variables (ranging from 1.4 to 4.2), and higher among AI / AN than Hispanic students for 5 variables (ranging from 1.4 to 1.5). Odds were lower among AI / AN than Black students for many of the sexual risk‐related behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest it is necessary to develop targeted, adolescent‐specific interventions aimed at reducing behaviors that put AI / AN high school students at risk for teen pregnancy, STI / HIV , and other health conditions.