1995 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)

Sexual Behaviors that Contribute to Unintended Pregnancy and STD, Including HIV Infection

In 1995, as part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey among a representative sample of 10,904 high school students in grades 9-12. These data are summarized from that survey. For more information see CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance -- United States, 1995. MMWR; 45(No. SS-4), 1-86, 1996.

• Sexual Intercourse
  • 53.1% of students had had sexual intercourse during their lifetime (i.e., sexual experience).
  • Black students (73.4%) were significantly more likely than white (48.9%) and Hispanic (57.6%) students to have ever had sexual intercourse.
  • Students in grade 11 (58.6%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 (36.9%) and 10 (48.0%) to have ever had sexual intercourse.
  • Students in grade 12 (66.4%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 (36.9%) and 10 (48.0%) to have ever had sexual intercourse.

• Initiation of Sexual Intercourse Before Age 13
  • 9.0% of students had initiated sexual intercourse before age 13.
  • Male students (12.7%) were significantly more likely than female students (4.9%) to have initiated sexual intercourse before age 13.
  • Black students (24.2%) were significantly more likely than white (5.7%) and Hispanic (8.8%) students to have initiated sexual intercourse before age 13.

• Four or More Sexual Partners During Lifetime
  • 17.8% of students had had sexual intercourse with four or more sex partners during their lifetime.
  • Male students (20.9%) were significantly more likely than female students (14.4%) to have had sexual intercourse with four or more sex partners.
  • Black students (35.6%) were significantly more likely than white (14.2%) and Hispanic (17.6%) students to have had sexual intercourse with four or more sex partners.
  • Students in grade 12 (22.9%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 (12.9%) and 10 (15.6%) to have had sexual intercourse with four or more sex partners.

• Current Sexual Activity
  • 37.9% of students had had sexual intercourse during the 3 months preceding the survey (i.e., current sexual activity).
  • Black students (54.2%) were significantly more likely than white (34.8%) and Hispanic (39.3%) students to report current sexual activity.
  • Students in grade 12 (49.7%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 (23.6%) and 10 (33.7%) to report current sexual activity.
  • Students in grade 11 (42.4%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 (23.6%) and 10 (33.7%) to report current sexual activity.
  • Students in grade 10 (33.7%) were significantly more likely than students in grade 9 (23.6%) to report current sexual activity.

• Current Abstinence
  • 28.5% of students who had had sexual intercourse during their lifetime had been abstinent during the 3 months preceding the survey (i.e., current abstinence).
  • Male students (34.0%) were significantly more likely than female students (22.5%) to report current abstinence.
  • Students in grade 9 (35.9%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 11 (27.6%) and 12 (25.0%) to report current abstinence.

• Condom Use
  • 54.4% of currently sexually active students reported that they or their partner had used a condom during last sexual intercourse.
  • Male students (60.5%) were significantly more likely than female students (48.6%) to report that they or their partner had used a condom during last sexual intercourse.
  • Black students (66.1%) were significantly more likely than white (52.5%) and Hispanic (44.4%) students to report that they or their partner had used a condom during last sexual intercourse.
  • Students in grade 9 (62.9%) were significantly more likely than students in grade 12 (49.5%) to report that they or their partner had used a condom during last sexual intercourse.
  • Students in grade 10 (59.7%) were significantly more likely than students in grade 12 (49.5%) to report that they or their partner had used a condom during last sexual intercourse.

• Birth Control Pill Use
  • 17.4% of currently sexually active students reported that they or their partner had used birth control pills during last sexual intercourse.
  • White students (21.4%) were significantly more likely than black (10.2%) or Hispanic (11.4%) students to report that they or their partner had used birth control pills during last sexual intercourse.
  • Students in grade 12 (25.0%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 (10.9%), 10 (12.2%), and 11 (15.4%) to report that they or their partner had used birth control pills during last sexual intercourse.

• Alcohol and Drug Use at Last Sexual Intercourse
  • 24.8% of currently sexually active students reported that they used alcohol or drugs at last sexual intercourse.
  • Male students (32.8%) were significantly more likely than female students (16.8%) to report that they used alcohol or drugs at last sexual intercourse.

• Pregnancy
  • 6.9% of students reported that they had been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant.
  • Black (14.8%) and Hispanic (12.5%) students were significantly more likely than white students (4.0%) to report having been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant.
  • Students in grade 12 (9.6%) were significantly more likely than students in grades 9 (4.3%) and 10 (5.7%) to report having been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant.

• HIV Education
  • 86.3% of students had been taught about AIDS or HIV infection in school.
  • 63.2% of students had talked about AIDS or HIV infection with a parent or other adult family member.
  • Female students (69.9%) were significantly more likely than male students (57.1%) to have talked about AIDS or HIV infection with a parent or other adult family member.
  • Black students (73.4%) were significantly more likely than white (62.1%) or Hispanic (61.5%) students to have talked about AIDS or HIV infection with a parent or other adult family member.
  • Students in grades 10 (65.0%) and 11 (65.2%) were significantly more likely than students in grade 9 (58.9%) to have talked about AIDS or HIV infection with a parent or other adult family member.