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Background: The relationship between an adolescent's micro-environment (e.g. the home) and the likelihood of engagement in sexual risk behaviour is poorly understood. Therefore, we sought to examine the household-level correlates of condom use at last intercourse among a nationally representative sample of Canadian adolescents aged 15 to 19., Methods: Using data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, we conducted logistic regression analyses to determine whether factors related to characteristics of the household environment were associated with self-reported condom use at last intercourse., Results: Among 3974 sexually active adolescents, condom use at last intercourse was reported by 74.8%. After adjusting for household education and income, participants who reported living in larger dwellings were less likely to report condom non-use, while those reporting greater numbers of persons in the household were more likely to report condom non-use. Other significant correlates of condom non-use included older age, female sex, alternative birth control methods and having a weak sense of community belonging., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that factors related to the household environment are independently associated with condom use among adolescents. Policies and programs that aim to promote condom use should seek to address issues such as privacy, which may limit adolescents' ability to engage in safer sexual practices.

To address the need for a better understanding of the perspective of Canadian youths on tobacco dependence, a qualitative study using ethnographic techniques was conducted to describe the patterns of language that they use to describe tobacco dependence and the meaning that it has for them. The study was comprised of three inter-related phases: (1) A secondary analysis of 47 individual unstructured interviews with adolescents was completed to identify the words and phrases they use to explain tobacco dependence; (2) contrast and structural questions focusing on tobacco dependence were developed and used in open-ended interviews with 13 adolescents. Data analysis of the transcribed interviews resulted in a set of 60 key phrases that represented the primary ways youths describe the need to smoke; and (3) interviews were conducted with 14 adolescents that involved an open card sort using the set of 60 key phrases. All card sorts and transcribed interview data were analyzed to identify domains representing types of tobacco dependence and sub-types within each domain. From their descriptions about the need to smoke, five aspects of tobacco dependence were identified: social, pleasurable, empowering, emotional, and full-fledged. This study provides a step in elucidating the construct of tobacco dependence among the young. Further research is required to extend this understanding and to develop appropriate measures.

A grounded theory study was undertaken to describe how adolescents make decisions about sunbathing during the transition from childhood to adolescence and to propose an explanation for the relationships among factors affecting the adoption of sun tanning. In-depth interviews (n = 40) were conducted separately with adolescents (aged 12 to 16 years) and their parents. Constant comparative analysis of adolescents' accounts identified two methods that adolescents described as a means of getting a suntan: intentional sun tanning and incidental sun tanning. The process of adolescents' decision-making about getting a suntan can be understood by examining the following sequence: becoming motivated to get a tan, experimenting with sun tanning, and establishing self as an intentional tanner or incidental tanner. Implications for developing strategies to prevent the adoption of sun-tanning habits among adolescents are presented.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of sun exposure and protective behaviours during leisure time among Canadian youth 15 to 24 years of age., Design: A random-digit-dialling telephone household survey of 4023 people 15 years of age or more was completed in 1996; 574 youth responded to questions about their sun exposure and protective behaviours from June to August 1996., Results: Half of the youth (51%) reported 30 minutes to 2 hours of daily sun exposure, and 36% reported more than 2 hours. A large proportion (68%) reported sunburns. The prevalence of sun protective actions ranged from 38% for wearing a hat to 26% for both seeking shade and avoiding the sun between 11 am and 4 pm. There were sex differences in sun-related behaviours among youth., Discussion: The large proportion of Canadian youth who reported sun exposure and the small proportion who reported taking protective actions suggest the need for primary prevention. Interventions should address sex differences and focus on multiple methods of protection.