Trends in the Prevalence of Sexual Behaviors and HIV Testing National YRBS: 1991—2017
The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors health behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. The national YRBS is conducted every two years during the spring semester and provides data representative of 9th through 12th grade students in public and private schools throughout the United States.
| Percentages | Trend from 1991–20171 | Change from 2015–20172 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | ||
| Ever had sexual intercourse | |||||||||||||||
| 54.1 | 53.0 | 53.1 | 48.4 | 49.9 | 45.6 | 46.7 | 46.8 | 47.8 | 46.0 | 47.4 | 46.8 | 41.2 | 39.5 | Decreased 1991—2017 | No change |
| Had sexual intercourse before age 13 years | |||||||||||||||
| 10.2 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 7.2 | 8.3 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.6 | 3.9 | 3.4 | Decreased 1991—2017 | No change |
| Had sexual intercourse with four or more persons (during their life) |
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| 18.7 | 18.7 | 17.8 | 16.0 | 16.2 | 14.2 | 14.4 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 15.3 | 15.0 | 11.5 | 9.7 | Decreased 1991—2017 | No change |
| Currently sexually active (had sexual intercourse with at least one person during the 3 months before the survey) |
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| 37.5 | 37.5 | 37.9 | 34.8 | 36.3 | 33.4 | 34.3 | 33.9 | 35.0 | 34.2 | 33.7 | 34.0 | 30.1 | 28.7 | Decreased 1991—2017 Decreased 1991—2013 Decreased 2013—2017 |
No change |
| Used a condom (during last sexual intercourse, among students who were currently sexually active) |
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| 46.2 | 52.8 | 54.4 | 56.8 | 58.0 | 57.9 | 63.0 | 62.8 | 61.5 | 61.1 | 60.2 | 59.1 | 56.9 | 53.8 | Increased 1991—2017 Increased 1991—2005 Decreased 2005—2017 |
No change |
| Used an IUD or implant (before last sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy, among students who were currently sexually active) |
|||||||||||||||
| —3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6 | 3.3 | 4.1 | Increased 2013—2017 | No change |
| Used birth control pills (before last sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy, among students who were currently sexually active) |
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| 20.8 | 18.4 | 17.4 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 18.2 | 17.0 | 17.6 | 16.0 | 19.8 | 18.0 | 19.0 | 18.2 | 20.7 | Increased 1991—2017 Decreased 1991—1995 Increased 1995—2017 |
No change |
| Did not use any method to prevent pregnancy (during last sexual intercourse, among students who were currently sexually active) |
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| 16.5 | 15.3 | 15.8 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.3 | 11.3 | 12.7 | 12.2 | 11.9 | 12.9 | 13.7 | 13.8 | 13.8 | Decreased 1991—2017 Decreased 1991—2007 No change 2007—2017 |
No change |
| Drank alcohol or used drugs (before last sexual intercourse, among students who were currently sexually active) |
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| 21.6 | 21.3 | 24.8 | 24.7 | 24.8 | 25.6 | 25.4 | 23.3 | 22.5 | 21.6 | 22.1 | 22.4 | 20.6 | 18.8 | Decreased 1991—2017 Increased 1991—1999 Decreased 1999—2017 |
No change |
| Ever been tested for HIV (not counting tests done if they donated blood) |
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| —3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11.9 | 12.9 | 12.7 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 10.2 | 9.3 | Decreased 2005—2017 No change 2005—2013 Decreased 2013—2017 |
No change |
- Based on linear and quadratic trend analyses using logistic regression models controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, and grade, p < 0.05. Significant linear trends (if present) across all available years are described first followed by linear changes in each segment of significant quadratic trends (if present).
- Based on t-test analysis, p < 0.05.
- Not available.
Page last reviewed: April 9, 2019