1995 Alaska

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
(1997 update)

A Joint Project Between

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health,

Section of Epidemiology, P.O. Box 240249, Anchorage, AK 99524-0249

(907) 269-8000

&

Alaska Department of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning Support

801 West 10th Street, Suite 200, Juneau, AK 99801-1984

(907) 465-8730

Authors

Catherine Schumacher, MD, MSPH
Michele A. Hansen, MPH, CHES
Diane E. Ingle, BA
John P. Middaugh, MD
Helen L. Mehrkens, BS, CHES
Tammy Green, BA, CHES

December 1997

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Alaska Department of Health & Social Services
Karen Perdue, Commissioner
Yvonne Chase, ACSW, Deputy Commissioner

Division of Public Health
Peter Nakamura, MD, MPH, Director

Alaska Department of Education
Shirley Holloway, Ph.D, Commissioner
Richard S. Cross, Deputy Commissioner

Division of Teaching & Learning Support
Nancy Buell, Ed.D, Director

Alaska State Board of Education
Stowell Johnstone, Chair
Abbe Hensley, First Vice-chair
Mike P. Williams, Second Vice-chair
Robert Gottstein
Weaver Ivanoff
Susan Stitham
Marilyn Webb
Roger Jarvis, Ed.D, Military Advisor
Chelsie Venechuk, Student Advisor

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Table of Contents

Youth Risk Behavior Survey Background
     Areas of Emphasis
     Survey Development

Methodology

Survey Limitations

Participation in the State Survey
     High School
     Middle School

High School Results—Grades 9-12
  Introduction
     Section 1: Injury
     Section 2: Tobacco Use
     Section 3: Drug and Alcohol Use
     Section 4: Sexual Behaviors
     Section 5: Weight and Dietary Behaviors
     Section 6: Physical Activity

Middle School Results—Grades 7-8
  Introduction
     Section 1: Injury
     Section 2: Tobacco Use
     Section 3: Drug and Alcohol Use
     Section 4: Sexual Behaviors
     Section 5: Weight and Dietary Behaviors
     Section 6: Physical Activity

References

Appendices
     A. High School Questions and Alaskan Responses
     B. Middle School Questions and Alaskan Responses

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Acknowledgments

The 1995 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey would not have been possible without the support of many individuals working cooperatively at all phases of the project. Sincere appreciation goes to:

• school district superintendents and administrators, school boards, secondary school principals, teachers and students who cooperated with and supported the survey;
  
• the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, and Westat, Inc. for their technical assistance;
  
• the Alaska Area Native Health Service, Division Health Promotion/Disease Prevention for its assistance in the planning and implementation stages;
  
• the Alaska Parent Teacher Association, the Alaska Adolescent Health Advisory Committee, community based PATCH and Tobacco Coalitions, the Alaska Chapter of the American Cancer Society and other agencies which supported the approval and implementation of the survey; and
  
• the report reviewers for their suggestions. While we have tried to incorporate or respond to all suggestions and comments from our reviewers, we did not ask them to reread and endorse the final version. The authors accept full responsibility for the content of this document.

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For a copy of the printed version of this publication contact:

State of Alaska, Section of Epidemiology
3601 C Street, Suite 540
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
(907) 269-8000
e-mail: epiwebmaster@health.state.ak.us
Ask for "YRBS - Alaska Report (1997 update)"

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