Sexual Behaviors Contributing to HIV and Unintended Pregnancies

 

	Sexual Risk and Partners
	Other High School Sexual Risk Behaviors

Sexual Behaviors Sexual Risk and Partners
Overall, 10% of middle school students ever had sexual intercourse. More male students (13%) than females (8%) reported this behavior.	Overall, 40% of high school students ever had sexual intercourse. This behavior increased at least 6% with each grade level.
Overall middle school students who ever had sexual intercourse, less than 1% had sexual intercourse with three or more people during their lifetime.	Overall, 11% of high school students have had sexual intercourse with four or more people during their lifetime. Male students (16%) more than female students (6%) reported this behavior.

Sexual Behaviors Other High School Sexual Risk Behaviors
Rationale: These questions measure the prevalence of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, age at first intercourse, alcohol and other drug use related to sexual activity, condom use, and whether high school students have received HIV prevention education. Age at first intercourse and number of sexual partners is associated with increased risk for unwanted pregnancy and other sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. Gonorrhea rates are highest among females between the ages of 15 and 19 (715.8 cases per 100,000 females) and males between the ages of 20 and 24 (589.7 cases per 100,000 males). Between 1990 and 1995, AIDS incidence among people aged 13 to 25 years rose nearly 20%. In 2000, 1,688 young people (aged 13 to 24) were reported to have AIDS, bringing the cumulative total to 31,293 cases of AIDS in this age group. The percentage of high school students who ever had sexual intercourse decreased from 54.1% in 1991 to 45.6% in 2001, while condom use among currently sexually active students increased from 46.2% in 1991 to 58% in 1999 and then leveled off in 2001 (57.9%). The prevalence of multiple sex partners decreased by 24% from 18.7% to 14.2% from 1991 to 2001. In 2000, 86% of high schools required HIV prevention education.
Only 6% of currently sexual active high school students reported that they or their partner used birth controll pills the last time they had sexual intercourse.	One in twenty high school students (5%) was ever pregnant or had gotten someone pregnant. Students in 12th (8%) grades were more likely to report ever being pregnant or getting someone pregnant than students in other grades.
Among currently sexually active high school students, 67% reported that they or their partner used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse. Males (74%) were more likely than females (59%) to report condom use and use decreased with grade. In addition, students in 2003 (67%) were more likely than students in 1997 (54%) to report condom use.
Almost one-third, 31% of currently sexually active high school students drank alcohol or used drugs before the last time they had sexual intercourse. Males (38%) were more likely than females (24%) to report this behavior. Ninth grade students (38%) were more likely than 11th (30%) and 12th graders (26%) to report this behavior.	Almost three-fourths of high school students, 71% reported that they were ever taught about HIV/AIDS in school. Students in 2003 (71%) were less likely than students in 1997 (84%) to report ever having been taught about HIV/AIDS in school.