Highlights from the Canada Youth and AIDS Study

Abstract

The identification of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in 1981, and the subsequent isolation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1983, signaled the beginning of worldwide concern over the potential impact of the disease. As the global incidence of AIDS and HIV infection increased, Canadians expressed growing apprehension about the epidemic's affect on themselves. Because adolescents potentially are at risk for HIV infection, a special need existed to determine how Canadian youth were responding to the AIDS epidemic. During the summer of 1987, the Federal Centre for AIDS, in conjunction with the National Health Research and Development Program and the Canadian Public Health Association, commissioned a nationwide study. A national sample of more than 38,000 youth in grades 7, 9, 11, and the first year of college and university were surveyed about their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior concerning AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Also included in the total sample were youth who had recently dropped out of school and those who lived on the streets of large cities. In this article, the authors summarize findings from the study and offer conclusions and recommendations for action.

Sexual Networks and Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Tale of Two Cities

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] However, STIs are not uniformly distributed in the population, demonstrated amply in geographic analyses of STI incidence, which have shown different incidence rates in different subpopulations, with the highest rates occurring in poor, inner-city, densely populated, contiguous census tracts. [9][10][11][12][13] Therefore, cataloging risk behavior and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics has not provided adequate descriptions of STI risk.…”

Do tree planters live on the edge?: health risk-taking among reforestation workers in Northern British Columbia

“…Further, alcohol and drug use is associated with homicide, suicide, and accidents (mostly vehicular) and accounts for 85% of mortality among teenagers in the U.S. (Schneider and Morris, 1991). With regard to sexual behaviour, the prevalence of AIDS among 20 to 29 year olds, although not well documented, is undoubtedly high enough to place generations at risk (King et al, 1988).…”

“…Among college students under 22 years of age, 23 .9% of males and 12.6% of females had used marijuana in the past year and, among students over 22 years of age, 35.1 % of males and 15.3% offemales reported marijuana use in the last year (p. 1040). According to King et al (1988), 27% of college and university students sampled had used marijuana. A significantly higher percentage of males used drugs compared to females and males were consistently "more frequent and heavier users" (p .…”

“…In 1988 in Canada, young Canadian females (ages 15 to 19) had the highest reported rate of gonorrhea (357.5 per 1 00,000) and, among sexually active adolescents and university students, reported chlamydia} infection rates were 5 to 20% (MacDonald et al , 1990). Although the rate of HIV infection among sexually active heterosexuals has been difficult to measure (King et al, 1988), a sexually active college and university population would appear to be at increased risk of transmission of the virus.…”

“…Alcohol Use King et al ( 1988) reported that, among Canadian college students, 15% drank two or three times per week, with 57% of students consuming more than three drinks at one time. Gender differences were reported by King et al for weekly use and heavy episodes of drinking.…”