Trends in Sexual Risk Behaviors Among High School Students—United States, 1991-1997

Abstract

To examine changes in sexual risk behavior that occurred among high school students in the United States during 1991-2001 CDC analyzed data from six national Youth Risk Behavior surveys (YRBS). This report summarizes the results of the analysis which indicate that during 1991-2001 the percentage of U.S. high school students who ever had sexual intercourse and the percentage who had multiple sex partners decreased. Among students who are currently sexually active the prevalence of condom use increased although it has leveled off since 1999. However the percentage of these students who used alcohol or drugs before last sexual intercourse increased. Despite temporal changes for sex race/ethnicity and grade subgroups were analyzed by using separate logistic regression analyses that assessed linear and quadratic time effects in one type of subgroup while holding the other two constant. Quadratic trends indicated a significant but nonlinear trend in the data over time. When a significant quadratic trend accompanied a significant linear trend the data demonstrated some nonlinear variation (e.g. leveling off or change in direction) in addition to a linear trend. During 1991-2001 the prevalence of sexual experience decreased 16% among high school students. Logistic regression decreases in some sexual risk behaviors efforts to prevent sexual risk behaviors will need to be intensified to meet the national health objective for responsible sexual behavior. (excerpt)