Influence of prior sexual experience on sexual health knowledge and attitudes among youth

Background:  In MA, some of the highest teen birth rates and greatest racial/ethnic disparities in teen birth rates are found in Holyoke and Springfield.  Youth First (YF) is an initiative reaching teens with evidence-based sexual health programs (EBPs).  Since 2011, over 2,000 youth have participated and overall significant improvements in sexual health knowledge, skills and intended behaviors were observed.  It remains unclear how youths’ prior sexual experience may influence baseline knowledge and attitudes or whether prior sexual experience may influence change in outcomes at follow-up.   

Methods:  As part of the YF outcomes evaluation, baseline surveys were collected and analyzed from 420 high-school age youth.  Youth were categorized according to self-reported sexual behavior at baseline (‘abstinent’, ‘previously sexually active’ or ‘currently sexually active’).  Associations between sexual experience and sexual health knowledge and attitudes at baseline were compared using chi-square and t- tests.  Longitudinal analyses are planned to compare change between the three groups at follow-up. 

Results:  71% reported ever having sexual intercourse, of those 58% were currently sexually active. Mean sexual knowledge scores were significantly lower among those abstinent compared to those previously or currently sexually active (P<0.0001). Similar differences were observed for knowledge of community health services. However, attitudes were consistent across groups.  

Conclusions: Results suggest that prior sexual experience may greatly influence youths’ sexual health knowledge prior to participation in EBP programming. While delaying sexual debut is effective, timing of sexual education among sexually non-experienced youth could be critical for equipping youth’s readiness for sexual encounter.