Posted on 05/20/2004 4:04:34 PM PDT by chance33_98
Sexual Activity and Condom Use Up Among High School Students; 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Released
5/20/2004 7:00:00 PM
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To: National Desk
Contact: Adrienne Verrilli of Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S., 212-819-9770
NEW YORK, May 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2003 (YRBS). This report monitors six categories of health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults, including sexual behavior. Overall, trends in sexual behavior among high school students have been positive over the last 12 years. High school students who have ever had sexual intercourse declined from 54 percent in 1991 to 47 percent in 2003. Condom use among high school students at last intercourse increased from 46 percent in 1991 to 63 percent in 2003.
"The overall decline in sexual activity and increased condom use among high school students since 1991 is a healthy and positive trend, but we still have a long way to go," said Tamara Kreinin, president and CEO of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS). "Parents, lawmakers, community leaders, and educators must recommit themselves to giving young people what they want, need, and deserve - medically accurate, life-saving sexual health information, communication skills, and relationship skills to help them become sexually healthy adults," Kreinin continued.
According to the YRBS, sexual activity among high school students increased 1.1 percent, from 45.6 percent in 2001 to 46.7 percent in 2003. This is the first increase in sexual activity since 1991. By 12th grade, 61.6 percent of high school students have had sexual intercourse.
Since 1998, federal and state governments have poured nearly $900 million into abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that are prohibited from discussing contraception or condoms, and, in fact, may undermine their use. No program has yet been proven to be effective. President Bush is seeking to sink an additional $270 million into these unproven programs this year alone.
"After almost $1 billion in taxpayer dollars spent on promoting abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, we are still finding that over 60 percent of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse," "This new data shows that we need to reexamine what and how we are teaching our children to ensure they have the information and skills they need to delay sexual intercourse," Kreinin continued.
In good news, the YRBS showed that condom use among sexually active high school students has increased from 57.9 percent in 2001 to 63 percent in 2003.
"Increased condom use among sexually active high school students is excellent news. It reaffirms that young people can and do make responsible decisions about their sexual health," said Kreinin. "Many abstinence-only-until-marriage programs provide inaccurate and harmful messages designed to undermine condom use, it is heartening to see that young people are rejecting that message," Kreinin continued.
To see the full report, go to http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm
The real problem is with greedy media and entertainment giants, as well as big abortion business, pornographers and all of that, who market promiscuity to teens. Then they say "but the teens are doing it. That's real life. That's what they want." Give me a break.
The same people have an absolute cow over Joe Camel or too much smoking by actors on TV and radio. They know the power of marketing and suggestion.
Marijuana use is down (again) from the 1995/97/99 high. Ditto alcohol.
How sad. Most kids in their senior year are already active sexually.
How I read this is, most kids, while still minors and before ever reaching legal adulthood, are putting themselves at risk of life ruining disease or in the trap of raising a child while still a child themselves.
Can you imagine a 17 year old boy, impregnating a girl, having to start thinking about paying child support before ever entering the work force? Life destroying.
Thanks for posting this - one more piece of evidence that the media don't have a clue.
It's not a very balanced report. Where are the comments by even one person who believes that sex belongs in marriage? Does Ms SIECUS have any evidence that "sexually healthy" teens are not abstinent? Or that abstinence until marriage is not the best practice in order to achieve sexual health?
Horse puckey.
I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut that the REAL truth is like this:
the YRBS showed that reported condom use among sexually active high school students has increased from 57.9 percent in 2001 to 63 percent in 2003.
The percentage who CLAIM they use one has gone up, but I'll bet the surveyors aren't going door to door with a flashlight and checking...
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