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Youth Indicators, 2005: Trends in the Well-Being of American Youth

Indicator 50: HIV/AIDS Education and Sexual Behavior

Figure 50. Percentage of high school students receiving HIV/AIDS education, percentage who never had sexual intercourse, and percentage who are currently sexually active: Various years, 1991 to 2003

Percentage of high school students receiving HIV/AIDS education, percentage who never had sexual intercourse, and percentage who are currently sexually active: Various years, 1991 to 2003
1Sexual intercourse within the 3 months preceding the survey.
NOTE: Data for 1991 and 1993 are not available for percentage of students who received HIV/AIDS education.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003.

The percentage of high school students who reported never having had sexual intercourse increased from 46 percent in 1991 to 52 percent in 1997, but has not changed significantly since then. The percentage of high school students who reported being sexually active in the 3 months preceding the survey has not changed measurably during the survey years. In 2003, 34 percent of high school students reported recent sexual activity with similar percentages for males and females. However, percentages did differ by race/ethnicity. A higher percentage of Black students (49 percent) than White students (31 percent) and Hispanic students (37 percent) reported being recently sexually active. Among those who are sexually active in the 3 months preceding the survey, condom use has increased since 1991. About 63 percent of sexually active high school students reported using condoms in 2003, higher than the 46 percent in 1991. In 2003, a higher percentage of Black students (73 percent) reported condom use than either White (63 percent) or Hispanic (57 percent) students.


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