North Dakota

Please be sure to read the data notes & limitations page. This explains many aspects of these comments, including how only changes over time can be discussed as statistically significant, and why the comparisons with national rates discuss data for selected subgroups.

Overview of Findings

Findings for North Dakota are largely positive. There was a large increase in safety belt use, as well as substantial decreases for rates of overall mortality among older adolescents and young adults, riding with a driver who had been drinking and binge drinking. Rates were flat for marijuana use and suicide attempts requiring medical attention. Baseline data were not available for other objectives, so change in these areas could not be evaluated.

Comparisons to national objectives were mixed. North Dakota rates of overall mortality for older adolescents and young adults were lower than the national rates. National and state rates were similar for riding with a driver who had been drinking, sexual experience and current sexual activity. The state compared unfavorably to national rates of safety belt use, suicide attempts requiring medical attention and tobacco use.

Highlights of Findings by Objective

Jump To: Mortality; Unintentional Injury; Violence; Substance Use and Mental Health; Reproductive Health; Chronic Disease Prevention

Mortality

The rate of overall mortality in North Dakota decreased substantially among older adolescents and young adults, overall and among the few groups with available data. Rates for other groups were based on fewer than 20 deaths; because these rates are unstable and thus were unsuitable for analyses, no other comparisons could be made.

Comparison with national data. National mortality rates among older adolescents also decreased; the national rate among young adults increased, in contrast to North Dakota. In 2007, the overall mortality rate for older adolescents was somewhat lower than the national rate; the North Dakota rate for young adults was substantially lower than the national rate.

Unintentional Injury

(motor vehicle crashes, safety belt use, & riding with a driver who has been drinking alcohol)

Please note the data for safety belt use are presented as “not wearing safety belt,” the inverse of the objective. This text describes safety belt use.

In 2007, rates of adolescent mortality due to motor vehicle crashes were based on fewer than 20 deaths; thus were unsuitable for analyses. However, data suggest a substantial decrease from baseline, especially among White males.

Rates of safety belt use in North Dakota increased considerably from baseline. In 2009, females had higher rates than males.

Comparison with national data. National rates of safety belt use also increased from baseline, but to a lesser extent than in North Dakota. In 2009, North Dakota’s rate of safety belt use was lower than the national rate. The national gender pattern matched the pattern in North Dakota.

Rates of adolescents in North Dakota who report riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol decreased considerably from baseline. In 2009, females reported slightly higher rates than males.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol also decreased from baseline, to a lesser extent than in North Dakota. In 2009, the rate for North Dakota matched the national rate. Nationally, males and females had roughly matching rates, similar to the small difference noted in North Dakota.

Violence

(homicide)

Homicide rates were based on fewer than 20 deaths; thus were unsuitable for analyses.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

(binge drinking, marijuana use, suicide, suicide attempts requiring medical attention)

Rates of binge drinking in North Dakota decreased significantly from baseline; rates among Whites decreased for males and females. In 2009, males had a slightly higher rate than females.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of adolescent binge drinking was flat from baseline compared to a sizable decrease in North Dakota.  Nationally, males and females had roughly matching rates, similar to the small difference noted in North Dakota.

Rates of marijuana use in North Dakota were flat from baseline overall. In 2009, males had a slightly higher rate of marijuana use than females.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of marijuana use declined slightly, similar to the small decrease in North Dakota. As in North Dakota, males had a slightly higher rate than females nationally.

In 2007, rates of adolescent suicide were based on fewer than 20 deaths; thus were unsuitable for analyses. However, data suggest a decrease from baseline.

The rate of adolescent suicide attempts in North Dakota requiring medical attention did not change significantly from baseline. In 2009, males had a higher rate than females.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of adolescent suicide attempts requiring medical attention decreased slightly from baseline, compared to a flat rate in North Dakota. In 2009, the rate for North Dakota was slightly higher than the national rate. Nationally, females had higher rates than males, the reverse of the pattern noted in North Dakota.

Reproductive Health

(sexual inexperience, no current sexual activity)

Please note, for the first two objectives, the text and tables present findings about adolescents who are sexually experienced and currently sexually active, the inverse of the actual objective. (See Data Notes & Limitations).

In 2009, North Dakota rates of adolescents having engaged in sexual intercourse were slightly higher among females than males.

Comparison with national data. The 2009 rate of sexual experience among adolescents in North Dakota roughly matched the national rate. Females and males had roughly matching rates nationally, similar to the small difference noted in North Dakota.

The rate of sexually experienced adolescents in North Dakota reporting current sexual activity was higher among females than males in 2009.

Comparison with national data. In 2009, the North Dakota rate of current sexual activity roughly matched the national rate. As in North Dakota, females had higher rates than males nationally.

Chronic Disease Prevention

(tobacco use)

Tobacco use in North Dakota was higher among males than females in 2009.

Comparison with national data. In 2009, the North Dakota rate of tobacco use was higher than the national rate. As in North Dakota, males had a higher rate than females nationally.

Additional data may be available at: http://www.ndhealth.gov/Adolescent/Publications.asp?DivisionID=4