1. Targeting injury prevention strategies to adolescents of Pacific Islander descent: What will work? Rebekah Chapman, Dr Lisa Buckley, Prof Mary Sheehan Presented by Dr Lisa Buckley

2. Research summary Ethnicity rarely considered in injury prevention program design Pacific Islander students: –Less alcohol use –More violence and transport risks/injuries –School connectedness protective factor Prevention programs should target school connectedness and focus on violence and vehicle risks

3. Research background & aim Participation in injury risk behaviour varies according to adolescents’ ethnicity Aim: to determine patterns of injury & risk behaviour, and risk & protective factors, specific to Pacific Islander students Inform appropriate prevention strategies

4. Methodology 875 year 9 students (13-14 years): –71 identified as Pacific Islander (n=38 male) Surveyed during health classes Survey included scales assessing: –Injury –Risk taking behaviour –Relationships (parents, peers, school, police)

5. Results: Injury and risk behaviour Males Females InjuriesRisk behaviour Injuries Risk behaviour *Includes driving, passenger and motorcycle injuries/risks

6. Pacific IslandersOther background Variable B  Adj R²B  Sex.32.09.34.20.06.31 Peer pressure.03.25.06.46 ** Maternal attachment-.05-.19.01.02 Paternal attachment-.02-.06-.01-.04 School connectedness-.06 -.32 * -.02 -.10 * Attitudes to police-.07-.05-.18 -.15 ** Dependent variable: Total risk taking score (violence, vehicle & alcohol) Results: Risk/protective factors *p<.05, **p<.001