Dimension 1: Health
All
Outcome
Young South Australians are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy
Indicator
Children and young people have health-promoting behaviours
Underweight, overweight or obese
In 2022, 19.0% and 11.0% South Australia children and young people (5-17 years) who were surveyed are categorised as overweight and obese, respectively.
Nationally, 19.5% and 8.3% are categorised as overweight and obese in 2022.
Data Source: SA Population Health Survey and National Health Survey
Alcohol, smoking and drugs
In 2022, the percentage of young people in SA (12-17 years) who reported ever having:
- Consumed alcohol was 69.5% (66.8% in 2017). Nationally, the percentage was 64.8% (66.0% in 2017).
- Potentially unsafe or binge-drinking behaviour was 63.3% (63.1% in 2017). Unable to do a nationally comparison due to different definition of unsafe behaviour.
- Taken illicit drugs (including cannabis) was 13.1% (12.8% in 2017). Nationally, the percentage was 15.4% (16.0% in 2017).
- Taken cannabis was 11.1% (10.2% in 2017). Nationally, the percentage was 13.4% (15.9% in 2017).
The 2022 SA report for tobacco and vaping has not been released by DASSA.
In 2017, the proportions of young people in SA (12-17 years) who reported ever having:
• Smoked tobacco was 10.2% (13.8% in 2014). Nationally, the proportion was 18.0% (19.1% in 2014).
Data Source: DASSA Bulletin and Australian School Students’ Alcohol and Drugs (ASSAD) Survey
Sexually transmissible infections
In 2023, 1404 young people (15-19 years) in SA had a notifiable sexually transmissible infection resulting in a rate of 1230 per 100,000 young people (15-19 years). A rate of 3 times higher than the general SA population (a rate of 491 per 100,000 for all ages).
Nationally, there was 19,342 young people (15-19 years) notified with a sexually transmissible infection with a rate of 1203 per 100,000 young people (15-19 years).
Data Source: National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System