T O P I C R E V I E W
Heather
Member # 3
posted 06-23-2000 11:13 AM
Below are the results sent from SIECUS of the 1999 centers for Disease Control Teen Sexuality Survey. *** This report summarizes results from the 1999 national school-based survey from a nationally representative sample of high school students in grades 9-12. Data were collected from February through May 1999.For the 1999 national survey, 15,349 questionnaires were completed in 144 schools. The school response rate was 77% and the student response rate was 86%, resulting in an overall response rate of 66%. Students were generally evenly distributed across grades and between sexes.
RESULTS Sexual Behaviors *50% of students reported having had sexual intercourse during their lifetime (48% of females and 52% of males). *36% of students reported being currently sexually active defined as having had sexual intercourse during the three-months preceding the survey. *16% of students reported having had sexual intercourse with four or more partners during their lifetime (13% of females and 19% of males). *8% of students reported having initiated sexual intercourse before 13 years of age (4% of females and 12% of males).
Contraception Use *58% of students who reported being currently sexually active reported using a condom during last intercourse (51% of females and 66% of males). *16% of students who reported being currently sexually active reported that either they or their partner used birth control pills before last intercourse (20% of females and 12% of males).
Pregnancy *6% of students reported that they had ever been pregnant or had ever gotten someone pregnant.
Alcohol/Drug Use and Sexual Intercourse *Among currently sexually active students, 25% had used alcohol or drugs at last sexual intercourse (19% of females and 31% of males).
Sexual Violence *9% of students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend (9% of females and 8% of males). *9% of students reported ever being forced to have sexual intercourse (13% of females and 5% of males).
Results show that certain risk behaviors are more likely found among particular subpopulations of students. For example:
Male students were more likely than female students to report: *Initiating sexual intercourse before 13 years of age; having had four or more sexual partners during their lifetime; using alcohol or drugs at last sexual intercourse; and their partner not using birth control pills before last sexual intercourse.
Female students were more likely than male students to report: *Being forced to have sexual intercourse and their partner not using a condom at last sexual intercourse. *** What do you think? Does this speak to your experience and that of your friends or not? Do any of the findings surprise you?
What do you think it says about what we (you, sex educators like our staff, schools, parents, communities) need to do to best empower teens in regards to their sexuality?
[This message has been edited by Miz Scarlet (edited 23 June 2000).]
Mophead
Member # 7
posted 06-23-2000 03:30 PM
1) Intercourse isn't all that people do. A.k.a I could go down on a guy and get sick.2)Teach people to use condoms. Porno/erotica is NOT real life. You need to protect yourself in real life.
3)Let's say I were a lesbian. Would I need birth control pills? Enough said.
This survey does seem extremely heterosexist.
sunflower
Member # 117
posted 06-23-2000 03:40 PM
Just one more thing that I wanted to comment about this survey, and it probably doesn't matter, but they said that 6% of the students had either been pregnant, or had gotten someone pregnant. Isn't that mostly double counting each pregnancy. Since the boys and girls go to the same schools isn't it good chance that both the mother and the father were both saying yes on the survey. My only reason for saying this is that it makes a surprisingly low number a lot lower!!!! I would have thought that it would have been a lot more.
Heather
Member # 3
posted 06-23-2000 03:44 PM
I''m fairly certain they accounted for that issue, sunflower. But teen pregancy HAS gone down a lot on the last couple decades. On the other hand, STDs have gone up, and not everyone wants to say they have been pregnant or have had an STD. That given, unfortunately, I think we can probably guess BOTH those statistics are higher than reports.Mophead, I'd agree with everything you just said, and yes, it does seem a little heterosexist, but the CDC is a government organization, so...
HotGrrl99
Member # 105
posted 06-23-2000 04:36 PM
I think the survey may be somewhat underestimating what is really happening with teens today, probably because a lot of kids may feel unconfortable telling people about stuff in their personal lives.
timida
Member # 197
posted 07-01-2000 08:50 PM
As Mophead said, this survey should definitely have had questions about sexual activity other than intercouse, such as oral sex. I think the results would have been a lot more informative and representative of sexual activity among high school students.
HotGrrl99
Member # 105
posted 07-02-2000 01:19 AM
I agree. The teens I know are having much more sexual activity than that survey seems to indicate. I think it's really hard to get kids to admit private stuff like that on a survey that is gonna be read by total strangers.
Rhiannon
Member # 319
posted 07-02-2000 01:24 AM
quote: Originally posted by HotGrrl99: The teens I know are having much more sexual activity than that survey seems to indicate. Yeah, but my friends are having much LESS sexual activity than the survey indicates, so maybe it reflects a balance between the two.
------------------ But that's just my two cents..
HotGrrl99
Member # 105
posted 07-02-2000 02:21 PM
I think it also depends on what area of the country you are in. Like in areas of the the Bible belt or the religious right, kids are probably more conservative than in areas which are more liberal and left wing. Plus, many friends won't even tell you about their personal sex lives, or how much sex they may really be having! That is why this type of survey about sex can be so totally innacurate.
Heather
Member # 3
posted 07-02-2000 02:28 PM
Actually, Hot, in more conservative places people are often generally more rebllious, not more obedient.But none of this makes it inaccurate, because it is an OVERVIEW of a lot of different areas, and thus an average, in the same way 5 and one half inches is the average male penis size, capisce?
"This report summarizes results from the 1999 national school-based survey from a nationally representative sample of high school students in grades 9-12."
...meaning, it is representative of a mean for the nation, overall.
Lee
Member # 381
posted 07-03-2000 02:55 AM
This survey is misleading because it is too broad. It groups together people from all over the country and tries to find an average. You'll meet every kind of person in the world except an average one.
They would do much better to break it down according to geographical region, religious background, race, socioeconomic status, or better yet all of the above.
There are over three hundred million people in this country from a wide variety of cultural, ethic, religious, and economic backgrounds. Any average derived from a group which varies so greatly has no meaning in the real world.
But then again I'm not really sure the CDC is interested in doing a sociological study of teenage sexuality. They are far more interested in determining the probable rate at which STDs are being propagated through the teenage population. I'm sure they are also interested in how many teenagers have children since that directly effects our nation's healthcare system. Economically speaking, there is no difference between a bastard born of too people our age, and some dread disease that reduces or eliminates a person's ability to contribute back to society. Either way you've got someone who is far more likely to be a burden on the rest of us.
But the good news is that people our age are having sex. I think this is good because it shows that the "wait training" BS that many of us are being spoonfed isn't working. Don't get me wrong, if someone wants to wait till they are older or married to have sex, then great. I'm just upset that organizations with religous backing are lying to people our age about sex and trying to get us to wait not until we are older, but specifically until we are married. Why? Because their religion tells them that premarital sex is a "sin" and that they as "good christians" must go out and stop others from doing this terrible thing. Who is the easiest target? That's right, people our age who might not know as much about sex as older people would. This survey would seem to indicate that the young are not so easily led after all.
Once again don't get me wrong. If you're someone who feels they are not ready for sex then please don't get the idea that I'm trying to talk you into doing it. Sex is a personal decision, something you have to decide for yourself. It is a very important decision, so please be sure you've got all the facts and that your facts come from a source you can trust, as in one without bias or an agenda for your life. I'm probably preaching to the choir here since if you're here then you're doing that already.
Lee
wear*a*smile!
Member # 161
posted 07-03-2000 02:06 PM
hot u seem to be small-minded with a lot of things. saying that "wahtever part of the country u r in defines how you'll act sexually" or whatever u said is so, well, hate to say it, but dumb. a lot of people who r sheltered rebel. and u said that your religion goes with your sex-life?!? right? well, i know i don't know every religion but u said u were jewish and i KNOW FOR SURE that Jewish citizens don't sleep with many different partners in a short time, especially before marriage, maybe u should re-consider your beliefs and actions, huh?
HotGrrl99
Member # 105
posted 07-03-2000 02:14 PM
Miz S... I till think that this survey is seriously innacurate, because no matter where you go, many teens are not gonna be comfortable writing down stuff about their intimate sexual activities! This is especially true in the conservative or Bible belt areas, because it is regarded as such a sin or so shameful for people to be doing all of these sexual things before marriage!
HotGrrl99
Member # 105
posted 07-03-2000 02:22 PM
Wear a smile.. Don't generalize so much. I know some Jewish teens who sleep with loads of people, and others who are virgins! Most religions are against premarital sex. It is up to the individual to follow the rules and guidelines of their own religion or not!
Heather
Member # 3
posted 07-03-2000 04:32 PM
Hot, I have to correct you there. Most judeo-christian religions are against premartial sex, and the majority of traditions around the globe are pagan (not judeo-christian).Beliefs and religious beliefs span all over the map, but in many traditions premarital sex, sex for the sole purpose of procreation and other such things are not, in fact, against dogma.
lemming
Member # 33
posted 07-03-2000 08:40 PM
First of all, as for "premartial sex," Miz Scarlet, I don't know what it's like - I have nothing to compare it to - POSTmartial sex? *smirks* but, yes, I agree with Scarlet on this one...And second - Lee, you sound like an absolutely fantastic wellbalanced unbiased person. That was a fabulous post and I hope you're a writer... ;]
And THIRD - yes, the survey should DEFINITELY have covered more than intercourse or pregnancy. I've only had 'plain vanilla' intercourse three times, but I could beat the hell out of most people I know on any purity test.
------------------ ~the semi-elusive lemming
HotGrrl99
Member # 105
posted 07-04-2000 01:40 PM
Miz S... I see your point. Let me rephrase my point then... The overwhelming majority of the religions of the people that I have known, seem to be seriously against having premarital sex.
Mistress Mary
Member # 344
posted 07-09-2000 12:51 AM
damn, i feel pretty left out from that survey. everyone's having sex but me. ------------------ http://darkhole.com/francesca