271223 Grade-cohort trends in sexual activity among adolescents: From 1991-2009

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Erica Payton, MPH , Department of health and recreation professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Jiunn-Jye Sheu, PhD, MSPH, MCHES , Department of Health and Recreation Professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
     
Background: Sexually active students are at a greater risk for unplanned pregnancies, acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Methods:Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) monitors sexual risk behaviors among adolescents. YRBS currently conducts longitudinal analyses based upon the same grade across the years. This study attempts to analyze this data using the 9th and 10th graders as cohorts. YRBS data on reported sexual activity among adolescents from 1991 to 2009 was analyzed using grade cohorts. Based upon the national representativeness of YRBS 9th graders can be ecologically comparable to 11th graders within the following 2 years. The same is applicable to 10th grade cohorts.

Results: All sex-race specific 9th and 10th grade cohorts had increased proportions of sexual active adolescents however: • Among female, 9th grade cohorts had higher percent increase in the proportion of sexually active adolescents than female, 10th grade cohorts. • White female 9th grade cohort had the largest percent of increase in the proportion of sexual active adolescents than any other sex and race specific grade cohort. • A slight descending trend occurred in 1999 among black males but continued to increase thereafter.

Conclusions: Providing sex education to adolescents earlier, particularly prior to 9th grade, may have a greater impact in reducing sexual risk behaviors.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
The audience will be able to: Compare the grade cohort trends of sexual activity by race/ethnicity Compare the grade cohort trends of sexual activity by gender

Keywords: Adolescents, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am a doctoral student in public health and I work in tandem with my professors who are experienced, well respected public health researchers. I also have past experience as a public health practitioner at both the local and state levels.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4042.0: HIV Studies in Specific Groups/Regions