Secular Trends in Risk Behaviour of Cape Town Grade 8 Students

This study compared prevalence rates of selected risk behaviours & age of first intercourse of Grade 8 students in Cape Town between 1997-2004. Data was derived from multistage cluster samples of 1,437 & 6,266 Grade 8 students in 1997 & 2004, respectively. There was a significant delay in first intercourse in 2004 compared with 1997. Rates of perpetration of violent behaviour remained stable or decreased from 1997-2004, while the rate of suicidal behaviour increased for males. There was a large increase in the proportion of boys who had attempted suicide in the previous year while the rate for girls remained stable. (20 refs.)