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Objective: To examine the prevalence and socio‐demographic distribution of physical activity among New South Wales school students in Years 8 and 10. Methods: Cross‐sectional survey of 2,026 randomly selected NSW high school students in 1997. The survey participants self‐reported their physical activity participation during a normal week in summer and winter school terms. Results: During summer school terms, 80.9% and 85.9% of Year 8 and Year 10 boys, respectively, and 80.8% and 77.7% of Year 8 and Year 10 girls, respectively, were adequately active. During winter school terms, 75.6% and 84.0% of Year 8 and Year 10 boys, respectively, and 69.4% and 66.0% of Year 8 and Year 10 girls, respectively, were adequately active. The associations between socio‐economic status, urban/rural place of residence and physical activity participation were neither strong nor consistent. There were complex relationships between physical activity participation and cultural background among boys, and large differences between different cultural groups of girls and large declines in participation from Year 8 to Year 10 among girls. Conclusions: Although the majority of boys and girls are adequately active, it is clear that a smaller proportion of girls than boys are vigorously active, particularly during winter. There were no clear differences across tertiles of SES or place of residence, but there were significant differences between girls from different cultural backgrounds. Implications: Efforts to increase the proportion of young people who are vigorously active should emphasise the needs and interests of girls, particularly those from Middle‐Eastern and Asian cultural backgrounds.

The aim of this study was to determine whether Pap smear screening at adequate intervals is associated with area of residence, frequency of consultations with a general practitioner, socioeconomic status and non‐English‐speaking background. A representative 10 per cent sample of women from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, aged 25 to 69 years and registered with the Health Insurance Commission (Medicare) (N= 155 281) was used to obtain age, postcode, frequency of Pap smears and frequency of consultations with general practitioners in the three‐year period from February 1985 to January 1988. Census data for each postcode area were used as an indicator of other sociodemographic characteristics. Age‐specific screening rates did not vary between Sydney, Newcastle/Wollongong, Canberra, and nonmetropolitan areas. In all age groups, having had a smear was most strongly associated with the frequency with which a woman consulted a general practitioner. Women who visited a general practitioner at least four times a year on average were about twice as likely to have had a recent Pap smear as those who averaged less than one visit per year. Screening rates were lowest among women living in areas with the most non‐English‐speakers and the lowest socioeconomic status. Sociodemographic factors and health service usage patterns influence the proportion of women who are currently being screened. Evaluation of interventions to improve Pap smear screening rates should consider whether the percentage of women screened increases overall, and also whether the imbalances in screening rates between different groups are diminishing.

Abstract: This study describes the health risks and health behaviour of a sample of 283 out–of–school 16–year–olds in New South Wales. We sampled study participants through the Commonwealth Employment Service offices in 1994 using a multistage sampling procedure. Of those surveyed, 129 responded to a letter inviting them to participate and 154 were recruited opportunistically. This paper describes the study methods and results for self–reported binge drinking, weekly use of tobacco and marijuana, sexual abuse, physical abuse, drink–driving, violence, and use of health services, by sex and method of recruitment. High rates of substance use were observed. Reported substance use in the out–of–school group was consistently higher than for 16–year–olds in school, except for binge drinking for girls recruited by letter. Of the out–of–school group, 34 per cent reported weekly use of tobacco, marijuana and also binge drinking. Boys were more likely to report drink–driving than girls (28 per cent and 13 per cent respectively). Having been in trouble with police ranged from 32 per cent for girls recruited by letter to 75 per cent for boys recruited opportunistically. A high proportion of girls reported sexual abuse (34 per cent of the ‘letter’ group and 41 per cent of the ‘opportunistic’ group). Overall, 87 per cent of respondents had used health services in the previous year. The results indicate that this is a disadvantaged group of young people who are an important target for health service provision and interventions.

Three drug use surveys employing a standardised questionnaire format and sampling procedure were conducted on samples of New South Wales school students in 1983, 1986 and 1989. Alcohol and tobacco were the most frequently used substances across the surveys, with rates of use of illicit substances being considerably lower. Declines in the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and stimulant use were found between 1983 and 1986 and between 1986 and 1989 for both males and females. Rates of use of inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens and narcotics declined between 1983 and 1986, but remained unchanged between the 1986 and 1989 samples. Cannabis use declined significantly among females between 1983 and 1989, but not among males. Possible reasons for the general decline in drug use over the six‐year period are discussed.

This paper presents findings on drug prevalences for licit and illicit drugs among New South Wales secondary school students (n= 3753) in late 1989. It also considers the accuracy of students' perceptions of the drug causing the most and fewest drug‐related deaths. Data were analysed by age and gender, using logistic regression for the prevalence data. Findings indicate that licit drugs (tobacco, alcohol and analgesics) were the most frequently and widely used. Rates for illicit drugs were low, although there was some degree of experimental use of cannabis which increased amongst older males. Perceptions were found to be inaccurate in emphasising the dangers of the illicit drug heroin over those of the licit drugs tobacco and alcohol. Reasons for these findings are discussed, and more in‐depth research recommended into the relationship between drug prevalences and perceptions for different age groups, and its relevance for planning drug prevention initiatives.