Joanna Todd

The broader impact of walking to school among adolescents: seven day accelerometry based study

How children travel to and from school may significantly influence their overall physical activity levels.1 2 We measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents and explored their means of travel to and from school. We recruited four classes, each of about 30 pupils aged 13-14 years, from four schools in the Edinburgh area. We visited the classes three times: to introduce the study and distribute consent forms and information for pupils and parents or guardians; to allocate accelerometers (instruments used to measure vertical movement); and to collect accelerometers and issue questionnaires. Inclusion in the study required consent from pupils and primary guardians. In spring 2004 we obtained objective measures of the childrens activity with precalibrated accelerometers (MTI, Fort Walton, Florida; model 7164), which record activity accumulated each minute.3 We asked the pupils to wear the accelerometers on their hip from waking until bedtime, except while showering, bathing, swimming, and participating in other water based activities. We used age specific cut-off points (on …

Contraceptive use by 15-year-old students at their last sexual intercourse: results from 24 countries.

OBJECTIVES To identify and report cross-national patterns in contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents. DESIGN A cross-national cross-sectional survey. SETTING Data were collected in 2002 by self-report questionnaire from students in school classrooms. PARTICIPANTS A cluster sample of 33,943 students aged 15 years from 24 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES International standardized questions on ever having had sexual intercourse and contraceptive use at last sexual intercourse. RESULTS The percentages of students reporting having had sexual intercourse ranged from 14.1% in Croatia to 37.6% in England; 82.3% of those who were sexually active reported that they used condoms and/or birth control pills at last intercourse. Condom use only was most frequent and ranged from 52.7% in Sweden to 89.2% in Greece. Dual use of condoms and contraceptive pills was also relatively frequent, ranging from 2.6% in Croatia to 28.8% in Canada. The use of contraceptive pills was most frequent in northern and western Europe. No contraceptive use at last intercourse was reported by 13.2% of students. CONCLUSIONS A substantial minority of 15-year-olds have engaged in sexual intercourse. Condom use is the most frequent method of contraception reported by the sexually active respondents, followed by the dual use of condoms and contraceptive pills and contraceptive pills only. The proportions of poorly protected and unprotected youth remain high, and attention to international policy and practice determinants of young sexual behavior and contraceptive use is required.