It is well-known that adolescents participate in risky behaviors. College students are no different; in fact they take part in risky behaviors which can include sexual risk-taking. The purpose of this review of literature was to determining the types of risky sexual behavior that college students are engaging in, and how it is affecting their self-esteem. Emphasis was placed on the need for education regarding sexual behavior, effects of alcohol, and self-esteem. This review focused on the different risky behaviors that college students are participating in, including drinking games, drinking themed parties, and types of sexual behavior. Findings of this review determined that low self-esteem can impact an individual's decision to take part in sexual activity and drinking. Additionally, it was identified that there is a need for community-based education which should begin prior to college attendance. Utilizing the findings of this review can help provide the evidence needed to support education on risky college behaviors with a focus on the self-esteem aspect.

The transmission and prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) among those who use injection drugs is a major public health issue. Injection drug use has been identified as the main cause of transmission for HCV in Canada. Street youth are at risk for acquiring HCV due to injection drug use that is often a consequence of living in a street environment. Presently, research on prevalence trends, characteristics, and associated behaviors for injection drug use and HCV in street youth, is limited. <p>The purposes of this study were to determine prevalence of injection drug use and HCV in Saskatoon street youth, to identify demographic or other factors that may contribute to street youth using injection drugs, and to identify risk factors and other characteristics of street youth associated with HCV. This study utilized data from Phase III of the Enhanced STD Surveillance in Canadian Street Youth Study by Health Canada for those participants recruited from Saskatoon, Canada. Between February and July 2001, 186 Saskatoon street youth participants between the ages 14 and 24 years completed nurse-administered questionnaires and of these, 156 provided blood specimens. Analyses were conducted to compare population characteristics between street youth who have used injection drugs and those who had not. Similarly, population characteristics were analyzed among those street youth who were antibody-HCV positive and those that were antibody HCV negative.<p>In this study 32.3% of 186 participants had used injection drugs. Significant associations with injection drug use were found for older age (p = 0.01), having sexual partners that use injection drugs (p = 0.01), history of incarceration (p = 0.01), and history of living on the street (p = 0.02). Significant interactions were found for sex trade work by gender (p < 0.01) and by age (p = 0.03), and for living on the street by age (p = 0.02). A HCV prevalence rate of 9.3% of 156 participants was determined for Saskatoon street youth. Use of Ritalin by injection (p = 0.04) and history of living on the street (p = 0.05) were found to be significant risk factors associated with HCV. The interaction of living on the street by gender was also significantly associated with HCV (p = 0.05). <p>The relationship identified between HCV and injection drug use in Saskatoon street youth was a history of living on the street. This link between could serve as a valuable marker for use of injection drugs and developing HCV infection in street youth. Nurses are encouraged to seek out street youth social networks to provide health care and messages of health promotion and disease prevention. Strategies that are culturally, socially, and developmentally appropriate are needed to keep these youth off the streets in the first place.

The transmission and prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) among those who use injection drugs is a major public health issue. Injection drug use has been identified as the main cause of transmission for HCV in Canada. Street youth are at risk for acquiring HCV due to injection drug use that is often a consequence of living in a street environment. Presently, research on prevalence trends, characteristics, and associated behaviors for injection drug use and HCV in street youth, is limited. <p>The purposes of this study were to determine prevalence of injection drug use and HCV in Saskatoon street youth, to identify demographic or other factors that may contribute to street youth using injection drugs, and to identify risk factors and other characteristics of street youth associated with HCV. This study utilized data from Phase III of the Enhanced STD Surveillance in Canadian Street Youth Study by Health Canada for those participants recruited from Saskatoon, Canada. Between February and July 2001, 186 Saskatoon street youth participants between the ages 14 and 24 years completed nurse-administered questionnaires and of these, 156 provided blood specimens. Analyses were conducted to compare population characteristics between street youth who have used injection drugs and those who had not. Similarly, population characteristics were analyzed among those street youth who were antibody-HCV positive and those that were antibody HCV negative.<p>In this study 32.3% of 186 participants had used injection drugs. Significant associations with injection drug use were found for older age (p = 0.01), having sexual partners that use injection drugs (p = 0.01), history of incarceration (p = 0.01), and history of living on the street (p = 0.02). Significant interactions were found for sex trade work by gender (p < 0.01) and by age (p = 0.03), and for living on the street by age (p = 0.02). A HCV prevalence rate of 9.3% of 156 participants was determined for Saskatoon street youth. Use of Ritalin by injection (p = 0.04) and history of living on the street (p = 0.05) were found to be significant risk factors associated with HCV. The interaction of living on the street by gender was also significantly associated with HCV (p = 0.05). <p>The relationship identified between HCV and injection drug use in Saskatoon street youth was a history of living on the street. This link between could serve as a valuable marker for use of injection drugs and developing HCV infection in street youth. Nurses are encouraged to seek out street youth social networks to provide health care and messages of health promotion and disease prevention. Strategies that are culturally, socially, and developmentally appropriate are needed to keep these youth off the streets in the first place.

Some early puberty girls engage in high-risk externalizing behaviors such as early sexual activity, delinquent behavior, and disruptive behaviors. Harsh parenting experienced by girls who develop early has been associated with delinquent and disruptive behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine predictive relationships between the style of parental discipline by mothers of early puberty girls and the likelihood and frequency of the girls' engagement in high-risk behaviors. Parenting style theory, including the authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive style of parenting, served as the theoretical foundation for the study. Survey data were collected from 28 mothers who identified as having a daughter who experienced early puberty. The Parenting Scale subscales were used to measure the dysfunctional parenting behaviors of laxness, overreactivity, and verbosity. Logistic regression analysis revealed no statistically significant relationships between the early puberty girl's involvement in risky behaviors and dysfunctional parenting. Results may be used by human service and public health officials to increase awareness of early puberty and to promote public health policies to address the individual, social, and economic implications of early puberty in girls.

The final thesis deals with the substantiation of primary prevention programmes in primary schools in the Czech Republic, which are carried out by external employees in non-profit organizations. The first part is characterized by contemporary youth in the context of the society. The second part is devoted to high-risk behavior. This section describes the different forms of high-risk behaviour and factors that affect its origin. The third section describes the historical context of primary prevention, principles of effective primary prevention and the implementation of primary prevention programmes in Czech schools. The fourth section examines the ethical issues. The individual interests of persons involved into primary prevention are described here. The last part deals with the individual principles of effective primary prevention and evaluate the real level of fulfillment of these principles. The effectiveness and conclusion of this work is based on the results of evaluating these programmes. The conclusion applies to the evaluation, importance and relevance of the identified aspects of primary prevention programmes in schools.