| Summary: | • To characterize the profile of British Columbia's youth in
custody
• To describe risk taking behaviour among male and female
youth in custody
• To estimate prevalence of sexual and substance use risk
behaviours among male and female youth in custody
• To determine if there are differences in sexual and
substance use risk taking behaviour between male and
female youth in custody
• To explore the mechanisms through which gender may
impact on sexually transmitted infections (self report) and
injection drug use (self report) outcomes
From January to August 2006, youth aged 14-19 years residing in
or entering into British Columbia's three youth custody centers
(Prince George, Victoria, Bumaby) were invited to participate. A
confidential interviewer-administered questionnaire collecting
demographic and risk factor information was completed on 414
youth; with known gender and whose anonymity was maintained.
Descriptive statistics were utilized to characterize British
Columbia's Youth in Custody while prevalence estimates were
calculated for risk behaviours. Odds ratios with 95% confidence
intervals were utilized as a measure of effect size of gender on
sexual and substance use risk taking behaviour. Logistic regression
modeled the association between select risk behaviours, gender,
age and ethnicity, on self report of sexually transmitted infections
and injection drug use outcomes.
This exploratory study provides documentation suggesting sexual
and substance use health risk behaviours are found in high
proportions among British Columbia youth in custody. Gender
differences and patterns exist, with females disproportionately
carrying the greater burden of risk taking behaviour.
Such risk behaviours render youth in custody vulnerable to not only
the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections and blood borne
viruses, but also to obstacles impeding healthy adolescent
development. Identification o f risk factors and behaviours
addressing specific determinants of health can be utilized to develop
and inform current public health efforts to address the needs of
British Columbia's vulnerable youth in custody. === Medicine, Faculty of === Population and Public Health (SPPH), School of === Graduate
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