Citation

Ansari-Thomas Z, Desai S, Lindberg LD. Contraception 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY, 10038, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.contraception.2019.11.001

PMID

31809701

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the prevalence of select sexual behaviors and experiences among Asian high school students in the U.S. and compares them to students of other race/ethnicities, to better understand the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) patterns and needs of this population. STUDY DESIGN: We pooled data from the 2013, 2015 and 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a school-based survey of US students in grades 9-12 (N=42,854). Logistic regression was used to identify differences between Asian students and students of other racial/ethnic groups on measures of sexual activity, contraceptive use and sexual violence overall and stratified by sex.

RESULTS: Compared to their peers, a significantly smaller proportion of Asian students reported ever having sex, being currently sexually active and having multiple sexual partners in their lifetime. A significantly smaller proportion of Asian students reported using any contraceptive method at last sex (77.8%) compared to White students (88.2%), or a prescription method at last sex (16.1%) compared to White (34.3%) and other race (28.0%) students. Asian students reported fewer experiences of forced sexual intercourse (5.1%) compared to Black (7.8%), Hispanic/Latino (7.6%), and other race (11.2%) students.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate distinct patterns in Asian students' sexual health behaviors compared to their peers' and future research should examine the underlying drivers of these differences. IMPLICATIONS: This analysis contributes data on sexual activity, contraceptive use and sexual violence among Asian high school students in the U.S., filling a critical gap in the literature. This information can inform culturally competent and inclusive education and health practices that support the SRH needs of Asian and all adolescents.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Asians; Contraceptive use; Racial/ethnic differences; Sexual behaviors; Sexual violence