Cover: Understanding the Sexual Behavior of Adolescents

Understanding the Sexual Behavior of Adolescents

by Mark A. Schuster, Robert M. Bell, Sandra H. Berry, David E. Kanouse, Laura Petersen, Gene Nakajima

This research brief describes work documented in Impact of a High School Condom Availability Program on Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors (RP-706), The Sexual Practices of Adolescent Virgins: Genital Sexual Activities of High School Students Who Have Never had Vaginal Intercourse (RP-601), Students' Acquisition and Use of School Condoms in a High School Condom Availability Program (RP-687), Communication Between Adolescents and Physicians About Sexual Behavior and Risk Prevention (RP-569) and The Sexual Practices of Asian and Pacific Islander High School Students (RP-744).

Excerpt: Public health officials and educators have a long-standing interest in adolescent sexual behavior and risk prevention — an interest intensified by the spread of HIV. Unfortunately, understanding of adolescent sexuality is quite limited. Research on adolescent sexual behavior has typically concentrated on vaginal intercourse. However, adolescents who are virgins (defined as never having had vaginal intercourse) may still be sexually active and may behave in ways that put them at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

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