Citation

Valois RF, Oeltmann JE, Waller J, Hussey JR. J. Adolesc. Health 1999; 25(5): 328-335.

Affiliation

Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10551663

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between a number of sexual partners and selected health risk behaviors among public high school students. 56 schools took part in the study with approximately 125 participants from each school. A total of 3805 respondents (52% female, 48% males) were included in the final analysis that consisted of 1506 Black students and 2299 White students. The findings showed that a significant number of public high school students are engaging in sexual intercourse. Black males had the highest percentage (88%) engaging in sexual intercourse, followed by Black females (70%), White males (61%), and White females (52%). Furthermore, an increased number of sexual intercourse partners were correlated with certain risk behaviors that place adolescents at risk for unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections. The strongest predictors of an increased number or sexual partners for White females were alcohol, tobacco, marijuana use, and dating violence; Black females had similar predictors with the addition of physical fighting. For White males, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana use, physical fighting, carrying weapons, and dating violence were the strongest predictors of an increased number of sex partners. Black males have similar predictors with the addition of binge alcohol use. These findings suggest the need for a comprehensive prevention program that focuses on adolescent behavior changes and environmental modifications.

Language: en