126. My Best Alaskan Life: A Youth-Designed Tool for Improving Mental And Sexual Health

With 46% of youth in Alaska reporting not having used a condom during last sexual intercourse and 15% not having used a pregnancy prevention method, unintended pregnancy and transmission of STIs will continue (AK YRBS, 2019). These sexual risk patterns, combined with Alaska leading the nation in chlamydia infection rates and second nation-wide for gonorrhea infections, are leading to poor preconception health as youth approach their reproductive years (CDC STI, 2017). Furthermore, Alaskan youth also cite high rates of hopelessness and suicidality (CDC, 2001-2017) and research shows that poor mental health among adolescents is correlated with developing and maintaining high risk sexual behaviors (Shrier et al.
Source: Journal of Adolescent Health - Category: Child Development Authors: Source Type: research