During the end of 2016, over 10,000 Delaware County students in grades 6-12 were surveyed in an effort to assess what health issues they are facing, and now the results are back.
On Thursday May 11, the results from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) will be released to the public. In turn, the Partnership for a Healthy Delaware County will use this assessment to help craft the next Community Health Improvement Plan.
Through a combined sponsorship by the Delaware General Health District, the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health & Recovery Board and Drug-Free Delaware, the survey was administered throughout all four public school districts, including Delaware City Schools, Big Walnut Local Schools, Buckeye Valley Local Schools and Olentangy Local Schools.
The Delaware County survey was mirrored after the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s YRBSS survey and looked at six types of health-risk behaviors, including:
• Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence.
• Sexual behaviors related to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.
• Alcohol and other drug use.
• Tobacco use.
• Unhealthy dietary behaviors and Inadequate physical activity.
• Mental health.
“Our focus for this year’s survey was to get all four school districts to take the survey at the same time, and to reach as many students as possible in order for us to get an accurate picture of what they are facing,” Health Commissioner Shelia Hiddleson said. “We truly cannot thank all the superintendents enough for seeing the importance of this survey and making time during their busy school days to allow it to be administered.”
Hiddleson said this data will help the schools along with community agencies plan, implement and evaluate prevention and intervention activities for families and youth.
All data was collected anonymously and evaluated by the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio. It also was the first time the survey had been administered electronically, with the last survey being completed by paper and pencil during two different school years in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.
