South 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 South Dakota were generally positive. Objectives showing improvement included overall mortality among young adults, motor vehicle crash mortality, safety belt use, marijuana use, and substantial improvement in riding with a driver who has been drinking and binge drinking. Rates for other objectives showed little or no change from baseline.

South Dakota compared favorably to national rates for three objectives: young adult mortality, riding with a driver who has been drinking, and physical fighting.  South Dakota rates were similar to national rate for suicide attempts requiring medical attention, sexual experience, and condom use. The state compared unfavorably to national rates of overall mortality among older adolescents, motor vehicle crash mortality, safety belt use, and current sexual activity.

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 South Dakota decreased among young adults and was flat among older adolescents; rates suggest a decline among younger adolescents. An exception to these patterns includes a sizable decrease among older adolescent males. Rates for most subgroups were based on fewer than 20 deaths; because these rates were unsuitable for analysis, no comparisons could be made.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of overall mortality increased among young adults, in contrast to a decrease for young adults in South Dakota. The national decrease among older adolescents also contrasts with the flat mortality rate for that group in South Dakota.  In 2007, the South Dakota rate for mortality for older adolescents was much higher than the national level, whereas the state’s young adult mortality rate was much lower than the national rate for that age group.

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.

Mortality in South Dakota due to motor vehicle crashes declined. The rate for males decreased by a third.

Comparison with national data. National motor vehicle mortality was flat compared to a sizable decrease in South Dakota. South Dakota’s 2007 rate of motor vehicle crash mortality was higher than the national rate.

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

Comparison with national data. National rates of safety belt use also increased for males and females from baseline. In 2009 the overall rate of safety belt use for South Dakota adolescents was much lower than the national rate. As in South Dakota, females were more likely to report safety belt use than males nationally.

Final rates of adolescents in South Dakota who reported riding with a driver who has been drinking alcohol declined substantially from baseline, among males and females. In 2009, the rate for females virtually matched the rate for males.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of riding with a driver who has been drinking declined to a smaller extent than in South Dakota. In 2009, rates of South Dakota adolescents engaging in this behavior were lower than national rates. As in South Dakota, females and males had roughly matching rates nationally.

Violence

(homicide, physical fighting)

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

South Dakota rates of physical fighting did not change significantly from baseline. In 2009, males had nearly twice the rate of females. Hispanics had a much higher rate than Whites.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of physical fighting decreased from baseline compared to no significant decrease in South Dakota. In 2009, the rate of physical fighting in South Dakota was slightly lower than the national rate.  The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns matched the patterns noted for South Dakota, with a smaller difference between the rates for Hispanics and White rates.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

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

Rates of binge drinking in South Dakota decreased substantially from baseline among both males and females. In 2009, males and females had roughly matching rates. Hispanics had a higher rate than Whites.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of adolescent binge drinking was flat from baseline compared to a decrease in South Dakota rates. As in South Dakota, the national rates for males and females were similar. Nationally, the final rate for Whites was slightly higher than the rate for Hispanics, the reverse of the pattern noted for South Dakota.

Rates of marijuana use in South Dakota decreased. In 2009, males and females had roughly matching rates. Hispanics had a higher rate than Whites.

Comparison with national data. Rates of marijuana use decreased slightly nationally, similar to the decrease in South Dakota. Nationally, males had slightly higher rates than females, in contrast to roughly matching rates in South Dakota. Nationally, Whites had a slightly higher than Hispanics, the reverse of the pattern noted for South Dakota.

Rates for suicide were based on fewer than 20 deaths; thus were unsuitable for analyses.

The rate of adolescent suicide attempts in South Dakota requiring medical attention was flat from baseline; there was a significant decrease among females. In 2009, males had a slightly higher rate than females. Hispanics had a higher rate than Whites.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of adolescent suicide attempts requiring medical attention decreased from baseline in contrast with no change in South Dakota. The national rate for females did not decrease significantly from baseline, in contrast to a decrease in South Dakota. In 2009, the South Dakota rate matched the national rate. Nationally, the rate for females was slightly higher than for males, the reverse of the pattern in South Dakota. Hispanics had a higher rate than Whites nationally, as in South Dakota.

Reproductive Health

(sexual inexperience, no current sexual activity, condom use)

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. For the third objective, the table presents findings for lack of condom use, the inverse of the objective. The text describes condom use. (See Data Notes & Limitations).

The overall South Dakota rate of adolescents having engaged in sexual intercourse was flat from baseline. In 2009, females and males had roughly matching rates. Hispanics had a higher rate than Whites.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of sexually experienced adolescents was also flat from baseline. In 2009, the overall rate of sexual experience among adolescents in South Dakota roughly matched the national rate. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns matched the patterns noted for South Dakota.

The rate of sexually experienced adolescents in South Dakota reporting current sexual activity was flat from baseline. In 2009, females had a slightly higher rate of current sexual activity than males. Hispanics had a higher rate than Whites.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of currently sexually active adolescents was also flat from baseline. In 2009, South Dakota rates of current sexual activity were slightly higher than national rates.  The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns roughly matched the patterns in South Dakota.

The rate of adolescent condom use in South Dakota was flat from baseline overall, although the rate among Whites decreased. In 2009, males had higher rates of condom use than females.

Comparison with national data. National rates of condom use were also flat from baseline. In 2009, rates of condom use among adolescents in South Dakota matched the national rate. Nationally, males had higher rates than females as in South Dakota.

Chronic Disease Prevention

(no data available)

Additional data may be available at: http://doh.sd.gov/Statistics/default.aspx