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- Title
Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Youth: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 1997–2003.
- Authors
Rutman, Shira; Park, Alice; Castor, Mei; Taualii, Maile; Forquera, Ralph
- Abstract
Objective To examine the prevalence of health risk-behaviors among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth in urban areas. Methods Data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for the years 1997–2003 were used for the analyses (Urban sample = 52,364). The YRBS is a self-report questionnaire administered to a sample of 9th–12th grade students intended to monitor health risk-behaviors. “Urban” is defined as areas within a Metropolitan Statistical Area. Whites are used as the comparison group for the examination of AI/AN estimates. Results Urban AI/AN youth represented 1% of the urban sample (N = 513). The presence of a number of risk-behaviors were at least threefold higher in AI/AN compared to white youth in urban areas, including suicidal behaviors, feeling unsafe at school and needing medical treatment from a fight. Other factors were over twofold higher among AI/AN, including sexual behaviors, illegal drug use, violence at school, and experiences of rape, assault and pregnancy. Conclusions The higher prevalence of health risk-behaviors in urban AI/AN compared to white youth reflects a need for interventions focused on urban AI/AN youth.
- Subjects
UNITED States; HEALTH behavior; RISK-taking behavior; CITIES &; towns; CRIMES against women; ADOLESCENT health; YOUTH &; violence; SEX customs; NATIVE Americans; ALASKA Native youth; MEDICAL care
- Publication
Maternal & Child Health Journal, 2008, Vol 12, p76
- ISSN
1092-7875
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10995-008-0351-3