Improvements in Teen Sexual Risk Behavior Flatline
Advocates for Youth:
Today, the CDC released in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) an analysis of the latest survey on sexual behaviors of high school students (grades 9 through 12) from 1991 to 2005.
The report, "Trends in HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among High School Students -- United States, 1991-2005" found that much-touted improvements in adolescent sexual risk-taking behavior actually took place from 1991 to 1999, and that fewer additional improvements occurred after 2000.
"At first glance, the data in the MMWR seems positive," said Debra Hauser, executive vice president of Advocates for Youth.
Both the Advocates study and today's MMWR show the same thing - improvements in HIV preventive behavior among teens have slowed since the federally-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage initiative was launched.
Advocates for Youth is a national, nonprofit organization that creates programs and supports policies that help young people make safe, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
