Injury Prevention Activities in US Schools, School Health Policies and Practices Survey 2014.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to injury and violence early in life increases the risk of experiencing injury and violence later in life. In 2019, the top 3 leading causes of death among 15- to 18-year-olds in the United States were unintentional injury, suicide, and homicide. This study examines the extent to which schools promote injury and violence prevention. METHODS: This study examined injury- and violence-related school policies and practices using nationally representative data from the 2014 School Health Policies and Practices Study. The social ecological model served as the theoretical framework to identify level of impact. RESULTS: For many injury-related topics, more than 75% of schools nationwide had relevant policies and practices to address those topics. However, this study showed differences in schools' injury-related policies and practices by urbanicity. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding and identifying gaps in school policies and practices is essential for reducing and preventing the injury and violence children experience. Collecting data on school policies and practices allows for better monitoring and evaluation to determine which are efficacious and aligned with the best available evidence.

Practices That Support and Sustain Health in Schools: An Analysis of SHPPS Data.

BACKGROUND: The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model provides an organizing framework for schools to develop and implement school health policies, practices, and programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of practices that support school health for each component of the WSCC model in US schools. METHODS: Data from the School Health Policies and Practices Study 2014 were analyzed to determine the percentage of schools with practices in place that support school health for WSCC components. RESULTS: Less than 27% of schools had a school health council that addressed any specific WSCC component, but more than 50% had a coordinator for all but one component. The use of other practices that support school health varied widely across the WSCC components. For example, more than 80% of schools reported family engagement for health education and nutrition environment and services, but less than 50% reported family engagement for other components. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that many US schools are using practices that support school health and align with WSCC components, but improvement is needed. These results also highlight discrepancies in the types of practices being used.

Cigarettes smoked per day among high school students in the U.S., 1991-2009.

BACKGROUND: Recent declines in current cigarette smoking among youth are encouraging, but less is known about the trends in the number of cigarettes smoked per day among youth. PURPOSE: This study examined trends in the number of cigarettes smoked per day among U.S. high school students during 1991-2009. METHODS: Nationally representative data from the 1991-2009 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) were analyzed in 2010. The YRBS is a biennial, school-based survey representative of 9th- through 12th-grade students in the U.S. Each survey year, students completed anonymous, self-administered questionnaires that included identically worded questions about cigarette use. The number of cigarettes smoked per day on smoking days was categorized as light smoking (<1-5 cigarettes per day); moderate smoking (6-10 cigarettes per day); and heavy smoking (≥11 cigarettes per day). Sample sizes ranged from 10,904 to 16,410. Overall response rates ranged from 60% to 71%. RESULTS: During 1991-2009, among current cigarette users overall, light smoking increased from 67.2% to 79.4% and heavy smoking decreased from 18.0% to 7.8%. These trends were found among female and male students overall and white students. Among Hispanic students, light smoking remained stable, but heavy smoking significantly increased from 3.1% in 1991 to 6.4% in 2009. The prevalence of light, moderate, and heavy smoking did not change during 1991-2009 among black students. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that during 1991-2009 light smoking increased and heavy smoking decreased among current cigarette users is encouraging; however, even light smoking is detrimental to health and efforts to reduce all cigarette use should continue.

Trends and subgroup differences in transportation-related injury risk and safety behaviors among US high school students, 1991-2007.

BACKGROUND: Seventy percent of unintentional injury-related fatalities--the leading cause of death among youth in the United States--are motor vehicle traffic related. Examining traffic-related safety, therefore, is crucial to public health. This study examines trends in traffic safety issues among US high school students: helmet use while riding a bicycle, seat belt use as a passenger, driving when drinking alcohol, and riding in a car with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. METHODS: Data from the 1991-2007 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) were analyzed. The YRBS is a self-administered, anonymous survey that uses a national probability sample of US students in public and private schools in grades 9-12. Demographic subgroup differences were determined for 2007 data using t tests. Temporal changes were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: From 1991 to 2007, the percentage of high school students who rarely or never wore bicycle helmets decreased from 96.2% to 85.1%; decreases were also seen in the percentage who never wore a seat belt (from 25.9% to 11.1%), rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol (39.9-29.1%), and who drove when drinking alcohol (16.7-10.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the trends are encouraging, many students still put themselves at risk. Policy approaches (eg, state or local laws or ordinances) complemented by community and school programs may be the best approach to reducing transportation-related injuries and fatalities.