title: Prevalence of health-risk behaviors among Asian American and Pacific Islander high school students in the U.S., 2001-2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We provided national prevalence estimates for selected health-risk behaviors for Asian American and Pacific Islander high school students separately, and compared those prevalence estimates with those of white, black, and Hispanic students.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. To generate a sufficient sample of Asian American and Pacific Islander students, we combined data from four nationally representative surveys of U.S. high school students conducted in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007 (total n = 56,773).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asian American students were significantly less likely than Pacific Islander, white, black, or Hispanic students to have drunk alcohol or used marijuana. Asian American students also were the least likely to have carried a weapon, to have been in a physical fight, to have ever had sexual intercourse, or to be currently sexually active. Once sexually active, Asian American students were as likely as most other racial/ethnic groups to have used alcohol or drugs at last sexual intercourse or to have used a condom at last sexual intercourse. Pacific Islander students were significantly more likely than Asian American, white, black, or Hispanic students to have seriously considered or attempted suicide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence estimates of health-risk behaviors exhibited by Asian American students and Pacific Islander students are very different and should be reported separately whenever feasible. To address the different health-risk behaviors exhibited by Asian American and Pacific Islander students, prevention programs should use culturally sensitive strategies and materials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy. NE, MS K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. Rlowry@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: Danice K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Brener
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000208:ethnology