Youth Surveillance System

Introduction
Developed in 1991, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults. The data for the YRBSS are gathered from many different sources such as a national school-based survey sponsored by CDC as well as education and health agencies that conduct surveys in school-based state, territorial, tribal, and large urban school districts. These surveys have been conducted twice a year since 1991 and include samples of students that representative the students in grades 9-12 in regular public and private schools in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (CDC, 2013).
Six Categories Monitored
The YRBSS monitors six categories of health-risk behaviors
that contribute to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among youth and young adults: 1) behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; 2) tobacco use; 3) alcohol and other drug use; 4) sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; 5) unhealthy dietary behaviors; and 6) physical inactivity (CDC, 2013).
To determine which health-risk behaviors YRBSS would initially assess, CDC first examined the greatest causes of morbidity and mortality among youths and adults.
In 1988, four causes accounted for 68% of all deaths among ages 1-24 years: motor-vehicle accidents, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Pregnancies and STDs occurring among youth and young adults also contributed to a considerable amount of morbidity. Roughly two thirds of all deaths among adults older than 25 years in 1988 resulted from cardiovascular disease and cancer. These consecutive studies suggest that nearly all behaviors contributing to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality can be grouped into six health categories (CDC, 2013).
Survey Method
The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is administered between February and May of each odd numbered-year. In certain occasions, a school is chosen as part of a national sample as well as a state or large urban school district school sample. The questionnaire is self-administrated and is completed during one class period. The students complete the questionnaire by recording their responses directly on a booklet or answer sheet that is then scanned into a computer (CDC Methodology, 2013).
Important
Findings
One significant finding about adolescent health risk behavior is that the occurrence of a few behaviors has not changed (suicide attempts treated by a doctor or nurse, having ever used marijuana, and having drunk alcohol or used drugs before intercourse) or have increased (having not gone to school because of safety concern and obesity and overweight) (CDC, 2013). This finding is important because it shows that there is still room for improvement and education with in the healthcare we are providing to our youth and young adults.
Parent Education
In order for parents to relate to their teenage child they must have a good, open, and caring relationship with their teens. Teens are more willing to talk to their parents if they trust their parents, their parents have useful advice, and are open and willing to listen and talk. Parents can encourage an open relationship with their teen by listening, asking questions, asking for opinions, offering support and praise, and staying involved in their teens life. Parents can decrease their teens risk for injury, pregnancy, and drug, alcohol, and cigarette use by knowing where their teens are and what they are doing, knowing who they are with, and setting clear expectations (Guilamo-Ramos, Jaccard, Dittus, 2010).
Barriers to Teen Health
Seeking healthcare can be intimidating to youth, young adults, and pregnant teens.
Source of authority or perceived authority may make them nervous about sharing personal information. Others don’t know their health history, or fear condescension from a doctor or nurse. One of the most important factors in helping youth and young adults is reducing the barriers to trust. As advanced practicing nurses, some ways we can help remove barriers to teen health include: 1) being flexible with the appointment times, 2) allow your teen patients to provide feedback in order to improve the services that affect them, 3) ask if they would like more information on topics they may be too embarrassed to bring up on their own, and 4) give them enough information to manage their health on their own while encouraging them to come back as often as they’d like for
follow-ups.