South Carolina Young Adults Count
A comprehensive report on the lives of South Carolinians ages 18 to 29
A comprehensive report on the lives of South Carolinians ages 18 to 29
October 2, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Baron Holmes, Ph.D. (803)734-2291
COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Kids Count project, in an effort to address the health issues affecting 18 to 29-year-olds today, announces the release of an important health section of its Young Adults in South Carolina report.
As the new health section shows, young adulthood is normally a time of good health and energy but some suffer from chronic conditions and disabilities. During young adulthood, behavioral choices - such as alcohol and drug use, reckless personal endangerment, and irresponsible sexual activity - result in negative health consequences. Fortunately the increasing obligations of work, family and children pull most risk-takers toward responsible and prudent lifestyles.
The early years of adulthood - ages 18 to 29 - mark a period of developmental challenges and transitions essential to assuming full adult responsibilities. This is a time when most young people acquire the skills they need for productive work; when they assume the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood; and when they can become positive contributors to their communities.
For many young adults, this transition is short and successful. For others the transition is longer and more troublesome. In fact, this period can be a time of "floundering" for many young people.
Baron Holmes, Director of Kids Count said, "The transition of youth into stable, productive adulthood can be quite difficult. Young adults in their late teens and early twenties and those with low education, minorities, single parents with children, and the disabled and chronically ill face very large challenges. Unfortunately, young adulthood is not the focus of public and private support services. Young adults most in need cannot be reached easily through schools, parents, employers, faith organizations or the health care system. We must all make a special effort to provide them with the necessary assistance to assure their good health productive skills, self-sufficiency, and family responsibility."
Young adulthood is normally a time of good health and energy. The exceptions are caused by a variety of disabilities and chronic conditions that affect a small share of the young adult population severely and many persons mildly or briefly. Unfortunately, young adults often endanger their natural healthiness through inappropriate lifestyles, risk-taking, and lack of primary healthcare.
Deaths
During ages 18-29, 2% of young adults ages 18-29 die. Over 75% of these deaths are largely preventable - particularly those caused by accidents, homicides, suicides, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Injuries
Between 1998 and 2000, over $100 million was spent annually on hospitalization and emergency room treatment resulting from unintentional injuries of young adults.
Chronic Disease and Disabilities
In 2000, 5.5% of young adults in South Carolina reported that their health was generally fair or poor. Many of these persons suffer from chronic diseases such as asthma, high blood pressure, or backache and other physical ailments. About three to five percent of the young adult population experience disabilities that restrict work and daily living.
Mental Illness
Approximately 17% or 116,000 young adults experience mental illness monthly, including conditions such as schizophrenia, major depression, mania, phobia, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anti-social personality.
Multiple Sex Partners and STDs
Of high school seniors in 1999, 36% of males and 24% of females said that they had already engaged in intercourse with four or more persons. Among young adults ages 18-29, 24% said that in the last year they had a new sex partner and half of these had two or more new sex partners. The risk of infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) increases steadily as the number of sex partners increases. The prevalence of STDs in South Carolina is one of the highest in the nation.
Pregnancies
Over a quarter of all pregnant young adult women in South Carolina do not begin prenatal care until after their first trimester; over a third receive inadequate prenatal care throughout their pregnancies. Over 9% of their babies are born with low birthweight and approximately 2% of their babies are born with very low birthweight. Additionally 1% of their babies die during the first year of life.
Sexual Violence
Young women ages 18 to 29 comprised over 30% of all rape victims during the 1990s. Young adult men accounted for over 40 percent of those arrested for rape in the 1990s.
Alcohol and Drug Use
Alcohol and drug use is one of the leading contributors to unintentional injury, disease, and increased mortality in South Carolina. In 1995, 20% of young adults ages 18 to 24 reported that they binge drink, meaning they consume an average of five or more alcoholic drinks per drinking session. Also in 1995, 18% of 18 to 24-year-olds reported using an illicit drug in the previous 12 months.
Obesity
In 1999, 45% - almost half - of all young adults ages 18 to 29 were found to be overweight (with a body mass index over 25), according to the Behavior Risk Factor Survey.
Lack of Health Insurance
During 1994-95 in South Carolina, it was estimated that 21% of the young adult population ages 19 to 34 were uninsured. Many young adults are affected by health insurance and access problems, especially persons lacking regular employment. Statewide, 14% of young adults ages 18-29 said that they needed to see a doctor in 2000, but could not because of the cost.