Condom and Contraceptive Use Among Sexually Active High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019

Abstract

Preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, among adolescents is a public health priority. This report presents prevalence estimates for condom and contraceptive use among sexually active U.S. high school students from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Behaviors examined included any condom use, primary contraceptive method use, and condom use with a more effective contraceptive method, all reported at last sexual intercourse. Analyses were limited to sexually active students (i.e., those who had sexual intercourse with one or more persons during the 3 months before the survey). Except for any condom use, students reporting only same-sex sexual contact were excluded from analyses. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated, and bivariate differences in prevalence were examined by demographic characteristics (sex, race/ethnicity, and grade) and other sexual risk behaviors (age of sexual initiation, previous 3-month and lifetime number of sex partners, and substance use before last sexual intercourse). Nationwide, 27.4% of high school students reported being sexually active (n = 3,226). Among sexually active students who reported having had sexual contact with someone of the opposite sex (n = 2,698), most students (89.7%) had used a condom or a primary contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse. Prevalence of any condom use at last sexual intercourse was 54.3%, and condoms were the most prevalent primary contraceptive method (43.9% versus 23.3% for birth control pills; 4.8% for intrauterine device [IUD] or implant; and 3.3% for shot, patch, or ring). Approximately 9% had used condoms with an IUD, implant, shot, patch, ring, or birth control pills. Using no pregnancy prevention method was more common among non-Hispanic black (23.2%) and Hispanic (12.8%) students compared with non-Hispanic white students (6.8%); compared with Hispanic students, using no pregnancy prevention method was more common among non-Hispanic black students. Prevalence of condom use was consistently lower among students with other sexual risk behaviors. Results underscore the need for public health professionals to provide quality sexual and reproductive health education and clinical services for preventing unintended pregnancy and STDs/HIV and decreasing disparities among sexually active youths.

Adolescent sibling associations among alcohol, cannabis, and sexual risk behavior: A test of interdependence

“…The finding that substance use is positively associated with engagement in sexual risk behavior is consistent with prior research (Graves et al, 2019;Hendershot, Magnan, & Bryan, 2010;Ritchwood, Ford, DeCoster, Sutton, & Lochman, 2015;Szucs et al, 2020). It is notable that although siblings had a significantly lower rate of both alcohol and cannabis use compared to referred adolescents, siblings also had significant associations between alcohol use, cannabis use, and co-use and sexual risk behavior like referred adolescents.…”

“…To illustrate, in one study, earlier onset of alcohol use was associated with lower age at first sexual intercourse (Doran & Waldron, 2017). Among sexually active high school students, 21.2% report using alcohol or other drugs before their last sexual intercourse (Szucs et al, 2020).…”

Behavioral economics and safe sex: Examining condom use decisions from a reinforcer pathology framework

“…With an estimate of 110 million prevalent STIs in the United States in 2008 alone (across 19.7 million incident cases), the spread of STIs remains a substantial public health concern (Satterwhite et al, 2013). Although condom use paired with another form of birth control is the most effective means of preventing both STI contraction and unwanted pregnancies (Szucs et al, 2020), condom use alone is an effective means for addressing both major negative outcomes (National Health Service, 2017). Condom use is also the most frequently used form of contraception among high school and college students, with over 50% of college students reporting condoms being their primary form of birth control (Elflein, 2020; Szucs et al, 2020), making it a suitable target for behavioral study and intervention.…”

“…Although condom use paired with another form of birth control is the most effective means of preventing both STI contraction and unwanted pregnancies (Szucs et al, 2020), condom use alone is an effective means for addressing both major negative outcomes (National Health Service, 2017). Condom use is also the most frequently used form of contraception among high school and college students, with over 50% of college students reporting condoms being their primary form of birth control (Elflein, 2020; Szucs et al, 2020), making it a suitable target for behavioral study and intervention. A unique aspect of these outcomes and health issues, then, is that they are mostly preventable—but only when contraception is available, accessible, and appropriately used.…”

Representações sociais de adolescentes sobre a transmissão do HIV/AIDS nas relações sexuais: vulnerabilidades e riscos

“…O achado se repete no contexto internacional, um estudo sobre o comportamento de risco relacionado ao uso de preservativos e anticoncepcionais entre estudantes sexualmente ativos do ensino médio nos Estados Unidos (EUA) demonstrou que a prevalência do uso de preservativo foi consistentemente menor entre os alunos que consumiram drogas e outras substâncias psicoativas como o álcool 17 .…”