SURVEY "SOBERING" AND "SHOCKING" MOH

BRANTFORD _ A recent health survey has provided some disturbing insight
into the lifestyles of some young people in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk,
says a top health official. Dr. Doug Sider, Brant County's medical
officer of health said he found the results of

the survey both "sobering" and "shocking" especially with respect to basic
nutrition and healthy sexuality.

"Something like this causes us to reflect back on our own youth and I found
it sobering and shocking to learn that many students, especially older ones
don't even have breakfast before starting school," Sider said. "It also
raises questions about health sexuality when you have students saying
someone's first sexual experience occurs when they are under the influence
of alcohol or drugs."

The survey didn't specifically ask if the students had had sex.

The results, he added, show a great deal of work needs to be done in the
schools to promote healthy lifestyles and underscores the importance of
developing programs that address the needs of young people.

The survey also raises some important questions because some of the
information it has generated is at odds with other established data
concerning young people, Sider said.

Most of the grades 7, 9 and 11 students who participated in the survey
indicated that it was "very likely," that they would use a condom if and
when they had sex.

"That's an indication of their intentions but given that we have a high
rate of teen pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted disease
among young people, we have to question if their intentions are carried
over into their actions," Sider said.

The survey was conducted by the Brant Health Unit and the Haldimand-Norfolk
Health Unit between September 1999 and April 2000. It included about 1,800
Grand Erie District School Board students in grades 5, 7, 9 and 11 in
Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.

The survey found that 18 per cent of the students surveyed were drinking
weekly by grade 11 and more than a third of them are drinking more than
once or twice a week.

Other findings include:

- - 31 per cent of grade 11 students who smoke pot used the drug 40 or more
times in the past year.

- - students who smoke pot are much more likely to smoke cigarettes.

- - about 40 per cent of grade 9 and 11 students surveyed indicated that they
thought people their age first had sex because they were under the
influence of alcohol and other drugs.

- - about 80 per cent of grade 7, 9 and 11s indicated it was 'very likely'
they would use a condom if and when they had sex.

Still, while the results of the survey may be "sobering," they also provide
some much needed insight into the behaviours and choices being made by
young people in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.

Prior to the survey, little was known about the behaviours and choices
being made by young people in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.

"These findings should help us with the planning and development of future
programs," Sider said. "We now have a better understanding of lifestyle
choices and behaviour among local youth."

Information from the survey will be used to help develop the Brant County
Health goals, he said.

Health agencies in Brant including the health unit and the Grand River
District Health Council are in the process of developing health goals for
the area.