Adolescent sexual behavior and associated variables.

Abstract

Proportionally more adolescents are having sexual intercourse and at younger ages. It has been reported that 11.6 million teens in the US between ages 13-19 years have had sexual intercourse. Many, however, do not use contraception, even though the prevalence of condom use has increased over the last ten years. The authors analyzed survey data to identify sexual activity among adolescents by grade, gender, number of partners, and contraceptive use, and to determine the association of intercourse with condom use, alcohol consumption, smoking, and AIDS/HIV education. 56.8% of 568 9th-12th grade respondents reported having had sexual intercourse: 33.5% in 9th grade, 58.9% in 10th grade, 68.5% in 11th grade, and 71.6% in 12th grade. Although more males than females reported having had sexual intercourse, no significant difference was found between males and females in each grade level on the number of lifetime sex partners or sex partners for the previous three months. 25% reported using alcohol during last sexual intercourse, 5% indicated using both alcohol and other drugs, and 22% reported that no contraception was used or that they were not sure if anything was used. Sexually active respondents were significantly more likely to consume alcohol and to smoke. The authors also found no significant difference for use of condoms between those who had AIDS/HIV education and those who had not, except that those who had AIDS/HIV education were less likely to have multiple partners. 42.5% of all sexually active respondents reported using a condom. Only 38.5% of those exposed to AIDS/HIV education in schools reported using a condom during last intercourse compared to 30% of those not exposed to such education.