Search

This report summarizes 2010 Profiles data. For each middle or high school that was sampled, the principal and the lead health education teacher (i.e., the person most knowledgeable about health education at the school) each completed a self-administered questionnaire. This report presents information from 47 states, 19 cities, 4 territories, and 2 tribal governments with weighted data from both principal and lead health education teacher surveys and 2 states (Colorado and New Mexico) and 1 territory (Marshall Islands) with weighted data from the principal survey only (Table 1). Principal and lead health education teacher data from Illinois and Puerto Rico were unweighted and are not included in this report. Palm Beach County obtained weighted data but did not grant CDC permission to include their data in this report. This report also examines both long-term (1996-2010) and short-term (2008-2010) trends in school health policies and practices among states and cities with weighted data for both years. (Contains 7 figures and 48 tables.)

To monitor priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). The YRBSS includes national, state, territory, and local school-based surveys of high school students in grades 9-12. In addition, some states, territories, and cities conduct a school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) among middle school students. In 2003, five Pacific Island territories conducted a YRBS among students in grades 9-12 and three territories conducted a YRBS among students in grades 6-8. Adults and adolescents living in the Pacific Island territories encounter both the communicable diseases found in developing countries and the chronic diseases associated with developed countries. Overall, the leading causes of death for the region are coronary heart disease, cancer, suicide, and accidents. Health issues among adults include tobacco and substance abuse, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, the World Health Organization reports a high prevalence of obesity (up to 70% in some areas) among adults. Consequently, diabetes is an increasingly prevalent public health problem in the Pacific Island region. Among adolescents, substantial morbidity, mortality, and social problems result from suicide, substance abuse, violence, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. This report summarizes data from three territories (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau) with weighted high school data and from two territories (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Republic of Palau) with weighted middle school data. Two additional territories (American Samoa and Guam) conducted a YRBS among high school students but did not obtain weighted data, and one territory (Guam) conducted a YRBS among middle school students but did not obtain weighted data. All the surveys were conducted during spring 2003. Data from territories with unweighted data are not included in this report. (Contains 136 tables.)