Youth risk survey results for 2007 now available online

2-15-2008 North Dakota:

Regional results are now available on the state Department of Public Instruction Web site for the North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey taken by junior high and high school students in the spring of 2007.

The anonymous survey was developed by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is used by area groups to help plan future prevention efforts. The complete 2007 survey is available on the DPI Web site at (www.dpi.state.nd.us/health/ YRBS/index.shtm). The survey is given at two-year intervals.

Here is a sampling of some of the (relevant) regional results:

Grades 9-12

Students who seriously considered suicide within the past year: Minot area (12.6 percent); Williston area (12.4 percent); Devils Lake area (11.2 percent); statewide average: (10.4 percent).

Students who attempted suicide one or more times in the past year: Minot area: (8.8 percent); Devils Lake area (8.2 percent); Williston area (11.5 percent); statewide average: (8.8 percent).

Students who have ever been forced to have sex: Minot area (7.3 percent); Williston area: (7.7 percent); Devils Lake area (7.8 percent); statewide average (7.1 percent).

Students who have ever had sex: Minot area (42.2 percent); Williston area (49.7 percent); Devils Lake area (50.2 percent); statewide average: (42.6 percent).

Students who had sex for the first time before age 13: Minot area (3.2 percent); Williston area (6 percent); Devils Lake area (5.1 percent); statewide average: (3 percent).

Students who have ever given or received oral sex: Minot area (43.7 percent); Williston area (47.1. percent); Devils Lake area (42.5 percent); statewide average (45.9 percent).

Among students who had sex in the past three months, the percentage who used a condom: Minot area (60.2 percent); Williston area (63.3 percent); Devils Lake area (59.25 percent); statewide average: (63.6 percent).

Among students who had sex in the past three months, the percentage who used drugs or drank alcohol before having sex: Minot area: (27.3 percent); Williston area (24.3 percent); Devils Lake area (25.3 percent); statewide average (28.1 percent).


Grades 7-8

Students who have ever thought of committing suicide: Minot area (21.7 percent); Williston area (21.1 percent); Devils Lake area (15.9 percent); statewide average: (17.5 percent).

Students who have attempted suicide: Minot area (8.6 percent); Williston area (5 percent); Devils Lake area (7 percent); statewide average: (5.9 percent).

..more.. by ANDREA JOHNSON, Staff Writer ajohnson@minotdailynews.com


The full report for North Dakota:

Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Andrea Peña, YRBS Data Manager
(701) 328-2098

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey was developed in 1990 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. The YRBS was designed to monitor trends, compare state health risk behaviors to national health risk behaviors and intended for use to plan, evaluate and improve school and community programs. North Dakota began participating in the YRBS survey in 1995. Students in grades, 7-8 & 9-12 are surveyed in the spring of odd years. The survey is voluntary and completely anonymous.

The six monitored priority health risk behaviors, often established during childhood and early adolescence and result in unintentional and intentional injuries, include: Tobacco Use, Unhealthy Dietary Behaviors, Physical Inactivity, Alcohol & Other Drug Use, Sexual Behavior/STD’s/HIV/AIDS/Unintended Pregnancies and Violence/Injury.