Adolescent sexual activity in Alabama.

Abstract

Objective: Early adolescent sexuality has reached epidemic proportions in the US. Most investigations on adolescent sexuality have focused on large urban populations. The objective of this study was to identify the rate of adolescent sexuality in a Southern population and make comparisons to national studies.

Methods: Data were collected by surveying 3370 students in the eighth and tenth grades from across the state of Alabama. The survey utilized was a modified version of the Alabama Adolescent Student Health Survey, an instrument derived from the National Adolescent Student Health Survey.

Results: The male sexual experience rate was 41% compared to the female rate of 39%. Tenth graders (44%) were more sexually experienced than eighth graders (37%). Blacks (50%) were more sexually active than whites (35%). Adolescents from single parent (45%) or non-parent households (46%) were more likely to be sexually active than those from two-parent households (36%).

Conclusions: The rates of reported sexual activity in this survey are alarming and are similar to rates reported in the literature. This study helps document the increasing rate of sexual activity as teenagers span the adolescent years. Family physicians are in an ideal position to help educate adolescents about risky sexual behaviors.