Racial-ethnic disparities in adolescent sexual behaviours: the cross-sectional Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2009–19
Zewditu Demissie
A B , Kathleen Ethier A , Kymber Williams A , Richard Dunville A B , Yolanda Cavalier A , Rebecca Payne A and J. Michael Underwood A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop US8-1, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
B U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rockville, MD, USA.
Sexual Health 19(5) 456-463 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH22007
Submitted: 8 January 2022 Accepted: 3 July 2022 Published: 3 August 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Background: There are notable disparities by race/ethnicity in the sexual health of US adolescents and young adults. Our objective was to examine change over time in racial-ethnic disparities in sexual behaviours among US high school students.
Methods: Data were analysed from six biennial cycles of the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2009–19), conducted among cross-sectional, nationally representative samples of 9th−12th grade students. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression models tested for linear trends by race/ethnicity (White, Black, Hispanic) and differences in these trends in: ever had sex, current sexual activity, having four or more lifetime sexual partners, and condomless sex. Prevalence ratios and risk differences by race/ethnicity for each cycle were used to calculate average percent change in the estimates to determine if health disparities changed over time.
Results: During 2009–19, prevalence estimates for ever had sex, current sexual activity, and having four or more lifetime sexual partners decreased overall and across all racial-ethnic groups. For condomless sex, prevalence estimates increased over time overall (38.9–45.7%) and for Black (37.6–51.8%) and White (36.7–44.2%) students, but not Hispanic (45.1–43.8%) students. Significant differences in trends by race/ethnicity were observed for all variables. Data suggest that racial-ethnic health disparities for sexual behaviours decreased over time, except for condomless sex.
Conclusions: Although racial-ethnic gaps in sexual behaviours may be shrinking for many behaviours, work is still needed to achieve health equity in risks associated with HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy.
Keywords: condoms, health inequities, public health surveillance, racial groups, sexual health, sexual partners, students, surveys and questionnaires, trends.
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