2015 healthy kids colorado survey

7/26/2019 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey

1/22

2015

Prepared for the Colorado Department of Education,

Colorado Department of Human Services, and Colorado

Department of Public Health & Environment by the

University of Colorado Denver Community Epidemiology

& Program Evaluation Group.

Executive Summary


2/221

Introduction

The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) is an essential

tool that state and local communities use to better

understand the health of middle and high school

students so we can help them make healthy choices.

The HKCS collects anonymous, self-reported

information from Colorado middle and high school

students every other year. In 2015, the state

departments of health, education and human services

jointly surveyed about 17,000 randomly selected

students from more than 157 middle schools and high

schools. This report presents results from 2015 Healthy

Kids Colorado Survey.

The State launched the survey in 2013 as a unified

effort to meet the needs of multiple agencies and

organizations for youth health data and state and

regional results. The State administered HKCS in thefall of 2015 and will be repeated in odd-numbered

years, with the next survey in 2017.

The data include weight, nutrition, physical activity,

suicide, bullying, mental health, tobacco, alcohol,

marijuana, drugs, sexual health (high school only),

school and community engagement, access to trusted

adults, and many more topics. The data also reflect

student attitudes and perceptions that address health

behaviors and the influences that can support a

students healthy choices.

This report highlights select measures. However, there

are numerous additional measures within each topic

area and questions outside these topic areas as well.

There are more than 160 high school questions across

two survey modules. Multiple topic area reports will be

released between through the administration of the

2017 survey.

Results include data about healthy behaviors for high

school students, with comparison by demographic

characteristics (sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation,

and gender identity).

The survey advisory committee, consisting of local

public health departments, school districts, and

community organizations, determined it was important

to include a question on gender identity on the 2015

survey instrument. This is the first year that the survey

results will include the health outcomes of transgender

students compared to cisgender students. Cisgender

refers to a person who is not transgender or a person

whose sex at birth aligns with the gender they knowthemselves to be on the inside. Results below may notshow transgender data if the sample size was too small.

These results do not reflect middle school data because

the sample size is much smaller compared to the high

school sample, so comparisons between race andethnicity data is often not shown due to the small

number of responses within each identity group. The

middle school survey also does not include questions

about sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and

Environment (CDPHE), Colorado Department of

Education (CDE) and Colorado Department of Human

Services (CDHS) support the HKCS. The Community,

Epidemiology & Program Evaluation Group at the

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

administers the survey. The survey incorporates theCenters for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC)

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.1HKCS results

represent Colorado's middle and high school

populations statewide as well as regional estimates for

each of the twenty-one health statistics regions for

high school. School and district level results are

provided to the respective school or district.

Public and private organizations including schools,parents and youth across Colorado use this surveysstate and regional health data to identify trends and

enhance school- and community-based programs thatimprove the health and well-being of young people.

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk

Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS),

http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm.


3/222

Survey Participants and Response Rates

Students from a random sample of selected schools and

randomly selected classrooms within those schools

complete the surveys. Data is aggregated to maintain

anonymity and in order to protect student

confidentiality we don't release estimates that are 0%,

100%, or if fewer than 30 students answer the questionat all, or if fewer than three responded "Yes" to the

question. Results are weighted to represent student

enrollment in all Colorado public middle and high

schools. HKCS and other sample-based surveys use

weights to account for the fact that information is

obtained from a sample and used to represent the

larger population. The weights account for sampling

design, school and student nonparticipation and

nonresponse, and discrepancies in grade, sex and

ethnicity between the sample and the population.

Overall response rate (RR) is the product of the school

participation rate and the student response rate:

A total of 15,970 randomly high school students from

127 high schools, and 997 randomly selected middle

school students from 30 middle schools participated inthe 2015 state sample. There was an overall response

rate of 46.5 percent for high schools and 48.1 percent

for middle schools. An additional 26 high schools and 69

middle schools opted in to the administration for a

total of more than 40,000 participating students. The

remainder of this report presents estimates for those

schools and students comprising the high school state

sample.

Methods

Each topic area notes the prevalence, or the proportion of students reporting a behavior. We evaluated

differences between groups using Rao-Scott chi-squared tests and logistic regression for complex survey

design. The reference group is a group to which an individual or another group is compared.For

example, when reporting on sexual orientation, heterosexual is the reference group. For genderidentity, cisgender is the reference group. For race/ethnicity, all race/ethnic groups white students

are the reference group. This analysis is done to find the probability that there is a statistically

significant difference between the health outcomes of the reference group with other groups. When

the statistical probability or P-value is less than or equal to .01, this indicates that the results are

significant meaning they are accurate with 99% or more confidence. Statistically significant results are

noted by an asterisk. Differences between state and national estimates are determined by non-

overlapping confidence intervals.

Demographics

Overall, 49 percent of the high school students surveyed are male, 51 percent are female, 2.2 percentidentify as transgender, and 9 percent self-identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB; Table 1) and 2.2

percent self-identify as transgender, and 1.5% are questioning their gender identity. High school

students are 56 percent white, 24 percent Hispanic/Latino, 11 percent multiracial, 5 percent African-

American, 3 percent Asian, 1 percent American Indian/Alaskan Native, and


4/223

Table 1. Demographics of the (weighted) Colorado students, HKCS 2015.

Results

Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity

Colorado students are aligned with the national average when it comes to weight, nutrition and physical activity.

HKCS measures a variety of indicators related to weight, nutrition and physical activity. The figures below outline

students categorized as obese, who ate breakfast daily and participated in daily physical activity. Students are

categorized as obese based on body mass index (BMI)2at the time of the survey.

Colorado students are less likely to be obese compared to those nationally. The CDC recommends at least 60 minutes

of physical activity daily (7 days a week). Within Colorado, males are more likely than their female counterparts to be

obese; however, males are more likely to both eat breakfast and be physically active daily (Figure 1).

Students questioning their gender identity are more likely to be obese compared to cisgender students. Students self-

identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) are less likely to eat breakfast. LGB students along with

those who are not sure are less likely to have daily physical activity compared to heterosexual students.

2Body mass index is calculated from self-reported height and weight (kg/m

2). BMI values are compared with sex- and age-specific

references data and obese is defined as a BMI> 95th

percentile and overweight is >85th

and


5/224

Obesity rates vary by race/ethnicity ranging from 33 percent of American Indian/Alaska Natives to 6.7 percent for

Asians (Figure 1c). African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, and multiracial students are less likely to eat breakfast

compared to white students.

13.9%9.9%

6.4%

13.2%

36.3%39.2%

33.2%

44.8%

27.1% 27.8%

19.8%

35.7%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%

40%45%50%

Figure 1a. Weight, Nutrition and Physical Activity, High School 2015

Obese Ate breakfast dailyDaily physical activity

(at least 60 minutes)

9.6%

15.8%

11.8%10.6%9.5%

15.9%

23.9%

41.3%

19.1%

22.1%

32.6%

39.4%

27.3%

33.0%

29.3%

14.7%19.6%20.2%

28.2%

22.2%

17.8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Figure 1b. Weight, Nutrition and Physical Activity, High School 2015


(at least 60 minutes)


6/225

Tobacco Use

Youth tobacco usage rates continue to decline, and have reached a new all-time low. However, use of electronic

smoking devices usage has skyrocketed. The use of electronic vapor products in the past 30 days is higher than

cigarette, cigar, or smokeless tobacco products (Figure 2a). Colorado has a lower level of smokeless tobacco products

compared to the national average. Males are more likely than females to use cigars or smokeless tobacco products in

the past 30 days.

LGBT high school students use most tobacco products at higher

rates. Transgender students have the highest prevalence rate

of all four tobacco use indicators (Table 2b). Asians have lower

rates of cigar and electronic vapor products than white

students. Hispanic/Latino students have lower rates of

smokeless tobacco products, African American/Black students

have lower rates of electronic vapor products and multiracial

students have higher rates of cigarette use compared to white

students.

6.9%

15.0%

33.0%

6.7%

13.8%15.4%

42.9%

28.0%

36.6%

46.6%

34.1%33.2%

28.5%29.5%

35.7%

19.0%

24.6%

32.4%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Figure 1c. Weight, Nutrition and Physical Activity, High School 2015


(at least 60 min)


7/226

10.8%8.6% 8.3% 8.7%

10.3%8.9%

6.4%

11.0%

7.3%4.9%

2.2%

7.3%

24.1%26.1%25.5%26.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Figure 2a. Tobacco Use, High School 2015

Current cigarette Current cigar use Current smokeless

tobacco

Current electronic

vapor product

6.8%

14.7%

22.4%

17.8%

7.8%

34.3%

17.2%

8.1%

18.0%

12.4%13.0%

8.3%

27.3%

11.1%

4.5%7.9%

4.7%10.3%

4.2%

24.1%

9.8%

24.7%

39.2%36.9%

29.6%

25.9%

47.2%

15.8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Heterosexual

Lesbian/Gay*

Bisexual*

Notsure*

Cisgender

Transgender*

Questioning*

Heterosexual

Lesbian/Gay

Bisexual*

Notsure*

Cisgender

Transgender*

uestioning

Heterosexual

Lesbian/Gay

Bisexual*

Notsure*

Cisgender

Transgender*

uestioning*

Heterosexual

Lesbian/Gay

Bisexual*

Notsure

Cisgender

Transgender*

uestioning

Figure 2b. Tobacco Use, High School 2015

Current cigarette

useCurrent cigar use Current smokeless

tobacco

Current electronic

vapor product


8/227

Alcohol Use

Compared to other substances, students in Colorado are

most likely to drink alcohol. Colorado does notsignificantly differ from the national average for alcohol

use. Males are less likely than females to have drank

alcohol in the past 30 days (Figure 3a). A majority of

students say alcohol is easy or sort of easy to get. LGBT

students are more likely to have drank alcohol in the past

30 days compared to heterosexual and cisgender students.

In general, white students drink alcohol at higher rates

compared to other race/ethnicity and report easier access

to alcohol if they wanted it (Figure 3c).

8.3%4.7%

12.2%

5.6%8.3%

13.2%

8.6%8.0%

12.1%

2.4%

8.8%

12.7%

5.3%

2.4%

9.3%

2.8%3.3%

7.4%

26.4%

15.9%

23.0%

8.4%

28.6%29.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Figure 2c. Tobacco Use, High School 2015

Current cigarette Current cigar useCurrent smokeless Current electonic

vapor product

32.8% 30.2% 32.9% 27.7%

17.7% 16.6% 17.3% 15.9%

N/A

57.2% 57.8% 56.8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Figure 3a. Alcohol Use, High School 2015

Current alcohol Binge drink in past 30 Easy/sort of easy to get


9/228

Marijuana Use

Four out of five Colorado high school students have not used marijuana in the last 30 days, a rate

that remains relatively unchanged since 2013. Colorado does not significantly differ from the

national average in lifetime or current marijuana use (Figure 4a). Also, there are not significant

differences by sex (Figure 4a). Bisexual students report higher rates of ever and current marijuana use

compared to heterosexual students, and easier access to marijuana (Figure 4b). Asian, Hispanic/Latino

and multiracial students report lower rates of ever or current marijuana use compared to whites

(Figure 4c).

28.6%

40.2%44.9%

34.2%30.2%

43.2%

23.4%

15.5%

24.0%

25.0%

21.4%

16.4%

29.2%

13.7%

56.7%

65.0%61.3%

58.0%57.6%

66.1%59.5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Figure 3b. Alcohol Use, High School 2015

Current alcoholBinge drink in past 30 Easy/sort of easy to get

alcohol

32.7%

15.6%17.9%18.6%

29.6% 29.9%

18.2%8.4%

14.3%9.2%

14.5%18.2%

61.0%

38.2%39.8%

56.0%53.4%55.6%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Figure 3c. Alcohol Use, High School 2015

Current alcohol Binge drink in past 30Easy/sort of easy to get

alcohol


10/229

38.6% 38.0% 38.4% 37.5%

21.7% 21.2% 21.0% 21.4%

N/A

55.7% 56.2% 55.5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Figure 4a. Marijuana Use, High School 2015

Ever used marijuana Current marijuana useEasy/sort of easy to get

marijuana

36.5%

51.1%54.1%

38.1%37.9%

46.7%

35.4%

19.5%29.3%

36.6%

27.7%20.8%

36.5%

19.6%

54.9%54.8%

66.2%

55.9%56.5%

55.5%48.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%40%

50%

60%

70%

Figure 4b. Marijuana Use, High School 2015

Ever used marijuana Current marijuana use Easy/sort of easy to get

34.1%40.6%

37.2%

19.9%

45.1%47.8%

19.5%22.7%20.1%

10.3%

23.6%28.0%

53.7%56.0%

39.3%47.1%

59.5%62.3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Figure 4c. Marijuana Use, High School 2015

Ever used marijuana Current marijuana use Easy/sort of easy to get


11/2210

Other Substance Use

Among other illicit drugs, Colorado students are most likely to use prescription drugs without a

doctors prescription.Colorado does not significantly differ from the nation on these indicators. Males

are more likely than females to have ever used ecstasy. Across other illicit substances there are

substantial differences by sexual orientation and gender identity, with transgender students having

particularly high rates (Figure 5b). As a general pattern, those identifying as multiracial were more

likely than whites to have ever used illicit drugs. American Indians did not have a statistically

significant difference in substance use rates.

12.9%

14.4%

13.7%

16.8%

2.8%

2.5%

2.7%

3.5%

6.5%

4.4%5.5%

5.0%

2.7%

2.0%

2.4%

3.0%

2.3%

1.6%

2.0%

2.1%

5.5%

6.9%

6.2%

7.0%

6.3%

4.8%

5.6%

5.2%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

Males

Females

Colorado

National

Males

Females

Colorado

National

Males*

FemalesColorado

National

Males

Females

Colorado

National

Males

Females

Colorado

National

Males

Females

Colorado

National

Males

Females

Colorado

National

Prescription

drugsw/o

prescription

Steroids

Ecst

asy

Methampheta

mines

Heroin

Inhalants

Cocaine

Figure 5a. Lifetime use of other Drugs, High School 2015


12/2211

11.8%18.5%

26.1%27.3%

13.4% 30.9%

18.7%

2.0%8.4%

4.2%10.3%

2.0%23.2%

8.7%

4.5%12.4%

9.8%14.8%

4.9%30.1%

6.5%

1.5%8.4%

4.4%12.0%

1.7%24.9%

5.4%

1.3%6.9%

3.5%10.5%

1.4%25.3%

4.3%

4.8%14.6%

15.2%14.3%

5.3%34.1%

25.4%

4.8%11.7%

9.1%13.3%

4.9%29.1%

11.0%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

HeterosexualLesbian/Gay

Bisexual*Not sure*CisgenderTransgender*

Questioning

HeterosexualLesbian/Gay*

Bisexual*Not sure*Cisgender

Transgender*Questioning*


Bisexual*Not sure*

CisgenderTransgender*

Questioning













Prescriptiondrugs

w/oprescrip

tion

Steroids

Ecstasy

Methamphetamines

Heroin

Inhalants

Cocaine

Figure 5b. Lifetime use of other Drugs, High School 2015


13/2212

Colorado high school students are less likely than the national average to have been offered drugs on

school property in the past 12 months. Students identifying as bisexual or not sure (compared to

heterosexual) and those identifying as transgender (compared to cisgender) were more likely to have

been offered drugs. American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial students reported a higher rate of

having been offered drugs on school property in the past 12 months than white students. Asian

students, compared to white students, had a lower rate of being offered drugs on school property

(Figure 6).

18.3%13.0%

9.1%15.2%

9.4%13.8%

6.0%3.1%

4.0%6.7%

2.7%

1.7%

10.1%5.8%

6.2%9.3%

4.6%4.6%

5.7%2.2%

5.7%6.9%

2.9%

1.5%

4.8%1.7%

5.2%6.8%

2.1%1.3%

10.7%6.4%

4.4%18.2%

5.7%5.3%

11.0%6.9%

5.5%11.0%

3.0%4.2%

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%

Multiracial*Hispanic

AsianAmerican Indian

African AmericanWhite

Multiracial*Hispanic*

Asian*American Indian

African American

White





Asian*American Indian

African American

White


Asian*American Indian*African American

White


AsianAmerican Indian*African American

White

Multiracial*Hispanic*



Prescriptiondrugs

w/oprescription

Steroid

s

Ecstasy

Methamphetamin

es

Heroin

Inhalants

Cocaine

Figure 5c. Lifetime use of other Drugs, High School 2015


14/2213

Bullying, Personal Safety and Violence

LGBT students experience the highest rates of bullying,

threats to personal safety and violence.Females are more

likely than males to report having been bullied on school

property and bullied electronically (through e-mail, text,

chat rooms, messaging applications, or websites) in the past

12 months (Figure 7a). There were large inequities in the

prevalence of having been bullied by sexual orientation and

gender identity compared to heterosexual or cisgender

students.

LGBT students report higher rates for almost every bullying

indicator, with transgender students reporting the highest

rates of bullying, more than double that of cisgender

students. Hispanic/Latino students report lower levels of having been bullied at school and

electronically than white students. African American/Black students also reported lower prevalence of

having been bullied electronically or because of perceived sexual orientation than white students.

Multiracial students reported a higher prevalence of having been bullied because of perceived sexual

orientation than white students (Figure 7c).

21.7%

16.5%15.1%

17.9%15.6%

21.7%20.7%

24.1%

16.1%

38.8%

22.7%

16.4%

12.8%

18.4%

11.5%

16.6%

20.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Figure 6. Offered Drugs on School Property in Past 12 Months, High School 2015


15/2214

20.2% 20.1%23.9%

16.4% 15.5% 15.1%

20.7%

9.5%

NA

8.9% 9.7% 8.0%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%Figure 7a. Bullying, High School 2015

Been bullied at school, past 12 months Been bullied because perceived sexual

orientation, past 12 monthsBeen electronically bullied, past 12

months

18.2%

31.7%

37.6%

26.1%

19.2%

48.1%

28.2%

13.1%

29.3%28.9%

23.2%

14.5%

40.5%

20.2%

5.5%

42.8%

33.3%

14.9%

7.9%

44.7%

19.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Figure 7b. Bullying, High School 2015

Been bullied at school, past

12 months

Been bullied because perceived

sexual orientation, past 12 monthsBeen electronically

bullied, past 12 months

22.3%

15.6%

21.0% 21.0%

14.7%

22.9%

17.1%

7.2%6.0%

14.3%

11.1%

18.1%

9.6%

4.1% 4.2% 5.0%6.6%

13.8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Figure 7c. Bullying, High School 2015

Been bullied at school,

past 12 months

Been electronically

bullied, past 12 months

Been bullied because perceive

sexual orientation, past 12 months


16/2215

Colorado does not significantly differ from

the nation in personal safety and violence

indicators. Males are more likely than

females to have been in a fight or been

threatened or injured with a weapon

(Figure 8a). Students identifying as LGB, or

not sure and those identifying as

transgender or questioning their gender

identity had significantly higher rates ofone or more indicators of violence or

personal safety. For example, about one in

three transgender students reported having

been in a fight in the past 12 months, been

threatened or injured on school property in

the past 12 months, and missed school

because they felt unsafe in the past 30

days. Multiracial students were more likely than white students to report having been in a fight in the

past 12 months, been threatened or injured on school property in the past 12 months, and missed

school because they felt unsafe in the past 30 days compared to white students. African

American/Black, American Indian, and Hispanic/Latino students were more likely to report having been

in a physical fight in the past 12 months compared to white students.

22.6%20.1%

14.7%

25.0%

6.0% 5.6%4.1%

6.9%5.6% 5.5% 6.3% 4.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Figure 8a. Personal Safety and Violence, High School 2015

Been in a fight, past 12 months

Been threatened/injured with a

weapon on school property, past 12months

Missed school because felt

unsafe, past 30 days


17/2216

18.7%

27.7%30.8%

26.1%

19.2%

42.3%

27.9%

4.6%

16.7%10.9%

12.8%

4.8%

32.1%

15.4%

4.1%

10.2%13.0%

18.1%

4.6%

31.5%

15.5%

0%

5%

10%

15%20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Figure 8b. Personal Safety and Violence, High School 2015

Been in a fight, past 12

months

Been threatened/injured with a

weapon on school property, past 12

months

Missed school because felt

unsafe, past 30 days

17.8%

28.6%30.5%

15.6%

21.2%

28.6%

4.8%7.4%

8.6%6.0%

4.7%

10.8%

4.6%6.4%

8.1% 7.9%5.4%

8.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Figure 8c. Personal Safety and Violence, High School 2015

Been in a fight, past 12 monthsBeen threatened/injured with a

weapon on school property, past 12

Missed school because

felt unsafe, past 30 days


18/2217

Mental Health

Colorado students experience depression and suicide at a

similar rate to the rest of the nation. Approximately twice as

many females as males reported having been sad, considered

suicide or attempted suicide in the past 12 months. There were

also dramatic differences by sexual orientation and gender

identity with LGBT students reporting higher rates of all three

mental health indicators (Figure 9b). Multiracial studentsreported higher rates of all three mental health indicators

compared to white students. African American/Black students had

lower rates of having considered suicide as compared to white

students (Figure 9c).

29.9% 29.5%

39.9%

19.2% 17.7% 17.4%

22.9%

12.0%8.6% 7.8%

11.2%

4.4%

0%

5%10%

15%

20%

25%

30%35%

40%

45%

Figure 9a. Mental Health and Suicide, High School 2015

Been sad or hopeless

every day for 2 weeks

Considered suicide

in past 12 months

Attempted suicide

in past 12 months

25.3%

55.2%

63.2%

44.0%

27.2%

57.7%

45.3%

13.8%

37.4%

49.0%

27.7%

16.6%

47.3%

35.6%

5.6%

24.1% 25.8%

13.3%

7.0%

35.5%

13.7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Figure 9b. Mental Health and Suicide, High School 2015



Considered suicide

in past 12 months

Attempted suicide

in past 12 months


19/2218

Sexual Health

Colorado students are significantly less likely to be sexually active than the nation (as defined by

having had sex in the past three months). Males were more likely than females to have ever had sex

(Figure 10a). LGBT students were more likely to have ever had sex and not use birth control the last

time they had sex. Bisexual students were more likely than heterosexual students to be sexual active

and students questioning their gender identity were more likely than cisgender students to not use

birth control the last time they had sex. For the three sexual health indicators, Asian students are less

likely than white students to have ever had sex or be sexually active but more likely to not use birth

control the last time they had sex compared to white students. Hispanic/Latino students were more

likely than white students to have ever had sex and not use a birth control the last time they had sex.

Multiracial students were more likely than white students to have ever had sex (Figure 10c).

28.0%30.8%

18.2%19.5%

31.3%

36.6%

17.8%

11.2%14.7%

16.8%15.6%

22.4%

6.9% 5.6% 6.2% 4.4%7.9%

14.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Figure 9c. Mental Health and Suicide, High School 2015



Considered suicide

in past 12 months

Attempted suicide

in past 12 months

41.2%

35.4%32.5%

38.2%

30.1%25.1% 23.8%

26.3%

13.8%11.6%

14.5%

8.6%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

Figure 10a. Sexual health, High School 2015

Did not use birth control

before sex

Had sex in

past 3 monthsEver had sex


20/2219

School Engagement

High school students are less likely to engage in risky behaviors if they have a

trusted adult in their lives. The HKCS includes a number of questions related to

school engagement and climate as well as relationships with parents, teachers,

and other trusted adults. These questions are not collected on a national level.

The majority of high school students agree or strongly agree that teachers care

about them and encourage them and a majority participated in extracurricular

activities at school (Figure 11a). Less than one in four students has skipped a

whole day of school in the past four weeks. Bisexual students are less likely than

heterosexual students to agree that teacher care and encourage them, less likely

to participate in extracurricular activities, and more likely to have skipped school.

Transgender students were more likely than cisgender students to have skipped a

day of school in the past four weeks (Figure 11c).

33.9%

50.0%50.4%

32.9%34.9%

58.2%

33.6%

23.7%29.1%

39.0%

27.6%24.7%

46.8%

23.0%

7.9%

79.2%

19.7%24.1%

10.1%

38.2%30.7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Figure 10b. Sexual health, High School 2015

Did not use birth control

before sex

Had sex in

past 3 monthsEver had sex

33.5%37.0%

32.6%

14.1%

40.1%43.0%

24.1%24.7%25.9%

13.4%

27.3%30.3%

8.3%

15.7%

26.4%31.6%

15.4%14.3%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Figure 10c. Sexual health, High School 2015

Had sex in

past 3 monthsDid not use birth control

before sexEver had sex


21/2220

60.9% 60.3% 61.7%69.3% 70.1% 68.4%

22.9% 24.0% 21.6%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Colorado Females Males Colorado Females Males Colorado Females Males

Figure 11a. Youth Engagement in School, High School 2015

Agree that teachers care

and encourage

Participate in

extracurricular activities

Skipped at least one day

in past 4 weeks

60.9%62.6%

47.9%51.0%

61.7%

48.4%

57.7%

69.3%67.7%

62.4%65.0%

70.1%

57.0%

65.8%

22.9%

33.5%

29.3%

29.0%

22.4%

38.4%

22.4%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Figure 11b. Youth Engagement in School, High School 2015

Agree that teachers care and encourage Participate in extracurricular activities Skipped at least 1 day in past 4 weeks

63.2%57.3%

60.8%

69.0%

58.3%53.0%

74.8%

65.9%59.2%

68.8%

58.5%64.4%

17.7%19.6%

26.6%25.8%

33.9%26.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Figure 11c. Youth Engagement in School, High School 2015

Agree that teachers care and

encourage

Participate in extracurricular

activities

Skipped at least 1 day in past 4

weeks


22/22

Putting Data into Action

Despite the fact that Colorado is seeing positive impacts on the overall health and

well-being of young people, health equity plays an increasingly important role. This

means ensuring that all young people in Colorado - including young people of color,

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning young people and those

living in poverty and/or experiencing homelessness - have access to caring supportiveadults, safe neighborhoods and high-quality schools, inclusive community resources,

culturally responsive physical and mental health providers and healthy foods.

The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data can be used to assess the health of young

people in local communities across Colorado. It can be used to:

Identify trends and changes in healthy behaviors over time.

Build community partnerships to collaboratively address community health

issues, overcome barriers and measure success.

Assess student health needs and school climate. Determine gaps in health services for young people in a specific school,

district, region, or statewide.

Justify the use and measure the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions

or promising health programs that improve health outcomes.

Secure program funding for schools, community organizations, and local public

health agencies.

Improve health equity among all young people.

The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey is one important tool for decision-makers,

communities, families and youth that supports communities all across Coloradothrough providing a lens into their ongoing needs and allowing Colorado to encourage

the growth of the healthiest youth in the nation.

To learn more about the survey effort, visit:www.healthykidscolo.org

To access tables of results, topic-specific reports, and survey methodologyinformation, visit:

www.chd.dphe.state.co.us

Email questions to:[email protected]
http://www.healthykidscolo.org/http://www.healthykidscolo.org/http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/http://www.healthykidscolo.org/

2015 healthy kids colorado survey

Documents