Copyright Information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be

reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is

appreciated.

Trade name disclaimer

The use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply

endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services.

Suggested Citation

Abma JC, Sonenstein FL. Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Practices Among

Teenagers in the United States, 1988 and 1995. National Center for Health

Statistics. Vital Health Stat 23(21). 2001.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Abma, Joyce C.

Sexual activity and contraceptive practices among teenagers in the United

States, 1988 and 1995 / Joyce Abma, Freya Sonenstein.

p. cm.—(Vital and health statistics. Series 23, Data from the national

survey of family growth ; no. 21) (DHHS publication ; no. (PHS) 2001-1997)

‘‘February 2001.’’

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-8406-0569-2

1. Teenage girls—United States—Sexual behavior—Statistics. 2. Teenage

boys—United States—Sexual behavior—Statistics. 3. Contraceptives—United

States—Statistics. 4. Vital statistics—United States. 5. Medical statistics—United

States. I. Sonenstein, Freya L. II. Title. III. Series. IV. Series: DHHS publication ;

no. (PHS) 2001-1997.

HQ27.5 .A35 2001

306.7’0835’0973—dc21

2001030171

For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents

Mail Stop: SSOP

Washington, DC 20402-9328

Printed on acid-free paper.
Sexual Activity and

Contraceptive Practices

Among Teenagers in the

United States, 1988 and 1995

Series 23:

Data From the National Survey

of Family Growth

No. 21

Hyattsville, Maryland

April 2001

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2001-1997

Vital and

Health Statistics

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D., Director

Jack R. Anderson, Deputy Director

Jack R. Anderson, Acting Associate Director for

International Statistics

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Lawrence H. Cox, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research

and Methodology

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Acting Associate Director for

Analysis, Epidemiology, and Health Promotion

P. Douglas Williams, Acting Associate Director for Data

Standards, Program Development, and Extramural Programs

Edward L. Hunter, Associate Director for Planning, Budget,

and Legislation

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Acting Associate Director for

Vital and Health Statistics Systems

Douglas L. Zinn, Acting Associate Director for

Management

Charles J. Rothwell, Associate Director for Information

Division of Vital Statistics

Mary Anne Freedman, Director

James A. Weed, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Stephanie Ventura, Chief, Reproductive Statistics Branch

Ronald Chamblee, Chief, Data Acquisition and Evaluation

Branch
Contents

Abstract .................................................................................................. 1

Highlights ................................................................................................ 1

Sexual Experience and Activity ............................................................................. 1

Contraceptive Use ....................................................................................... 2

Other Aspects of Sexual Behavior .......................................................................... 3

Introduction ............................................................................................... 3

Trends in Adolescents’ Sexual Behavior and Contraceptive Use ................................................... 4

Previous Research: Factors Associated with Adolescents’ Sexual Behavior and Contraceptive Use ....................... 5

Sources and Methods ....................................................................................... 5

The National Survey of Family Growth ...................................................................... 6

The National Survey of Adolescent Males .................................................................... 6

General Comparability .................................................................................... 7

Comparing Male and Female Estimates....................................................................... 8

Results .................................................................................................. 8

Sexual Experience ....................................................................................... 8

Age at First Sexual Intercourse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Current Sexual Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Contraceptive Use at Last Intercourse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

No Method Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Condom Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Hormonal Method Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Contraceptive Use at First Intercourse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

No Method Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Condom Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Hormonal Method Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Other Aspects of Sexual Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Number of Sexual Partners in Lifetime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Number of Sexual Partners in Past 3 Months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Age Differences Between Teenagers and Their Opposite-Sex Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Age Differences: Recent Sexual Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Age Differences: First Sexual Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Appendix I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Sampling Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Appendix II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Definitions of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Sexual Behavior and Contraceptive Use Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Selected Demographic Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

iii
Appendix III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Availability of Data and Related Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Text Tables

A. Number of sample males in the National Survey of Adolescent Males and sample females in the National Survey of

Family Growth aged 15–19 years on the day of interview, by survey year: 1988 and 1995......................... 7

B. Number and percent of males and females 15–19 years of age who have had sexual intercourse, by age race, and

Hispanic origin: United States, 1988 and 1995 ............................................................ 8

Figures

1. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who have ever had sexual intercourse by year of survey:

United States, 1971–95................................................................................ 9

2. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who have ever had sexual intercourse by year of survey, race, and

Hispanic origin: United States, 1988 and 1995............................................................. 9

3. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who have ever had sexual intercourse by year of survey and school

status: United States, 1988 and 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who had sexual intercourse before 15 years of age by age at interview:

United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

5. Percent of sexually active females and males aged 15–19 years who used a hormonal method at last sexual intercourse

by race: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

6. Percent of sexually active females and males aged 15–19 years who used a condom at last sexual intercourse by race:

United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

7. Percent of sexually active females and males aged 15–19 years who used no contraceptive method at last sexual

intercourse by race: United States, 1988 and 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

8. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who used no contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse by race:

United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

9. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who used a condom at first sexual intercourse by race: United States,

1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

10. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years with specified number of sexual partners in lifetime by age at first

sexual intercourse: United States, 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

11. Percent of males and females aged 15–19 years with specified number of sexual partners in the 3 months prior to the

survey: United States, 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

12. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years with specified risk by mother’s education: United States, 1995. . . . . . . 22

13. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years with specified risk by mother’s age at first birth: United States,

1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

14. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years with specified risk by school status: United States, 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Detailed Tables

1. Number and percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who have had sexual intercourse by selected

characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

2. Cumulative percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse before reaching

selected ages by race: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

3. Percent of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse before age 15 years by

age at interview and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

4. Percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by

selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

5. Percent of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last sexual

intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by race: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

6. Percent of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last sexual

intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

7. Percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse who used specified contraception

during first sexual intercourse, by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

8. Percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse who used a specified method of

contraception during first sexual intercourse by selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

9. Percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by

number of opposite-sex sexual partners in lifetime, according to selected characteristics: United States,

1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

iv
10. Percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by

number of opposite-sex sexual partners in the past 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States,

1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

11. Percent distribution of sexually active never-married females 15–19 years of age by age difference between female

and last male sexual partner in the past 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995 . . . . . . . . . 44

12. Percent distribution of sexually active never-married males 15–19 years of age by age difference between male and

last female sexual partner within the last 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995

and 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

13. Percent distribution of never-married females 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age

difference between female and first male sexual partner, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995. . . . . 48

14. Percent distribution of never-married males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age

difference between male and first female sexual partner, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1988

and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Appendix Tables

I. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who have had sexual intercourse by selected

characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

II. Standard errors for cumulative percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual

intercourse before reaching selected ages by race: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

III. Standard errors for percents of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse

before age 15 years by age at interview and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

IV. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse in the 3 months

prior to the survey by selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

V. Standard errors for percents of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception

during last sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by race: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

VI. Standard errors for percents of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception

during last sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by selected characteristics: United States, 1988

and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

VII. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse who used

specified contraception during first sexual intercourse by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . 63

VIII. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse who used a

specified method of contraception during first sexual intercourse by selected characteristics: United States, 1988

and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

IX. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had

sexual intercourse by number of opposite-sex sexual partners in lifetime and selected characteristics: United States,

1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

X. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had

sexual intercourse, by number of opposite-sex sexual partners in the past 3 months and selected characteristics:

United States, 1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

XI. Standard errors for percent distribution of sexually active never-married females 15–19 years of age by age difference

between female and last male sexual partner in the past 3 months and selected characteristics: United States, 1995 . . . 70

XII. Standard errors for percent distribution of sexually active never-married males 15–19 years of age by age difference

between male and last female sexual partner within the last 3 months and selected characteristics: United States,

1995 and 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

XIII. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married females 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual

intercourse by age difference between female and first male sexual partner and selected characteristics: United States,

1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

XIV. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual

intercourse by age difference between male and first female sexual partner and selected characteristics: United States,

1988 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

XV. Question wording and variable construction details for sexual activity and contraceptive use measures: National

Survey of Family Growth and National Survey of Adolescent Males, 1995 and 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

v
Objectives

This report presents national

estimates of sexual experience,

contraceptive use, and selected

aspects of sexual behavior among

never-married males and females aged

15–19 years in the United States. Data

are presented for the years 1988 and

1995 according to age, race and

Hispanic origin, progress in school, and

other relevant characteristics. Tables

present trends over time as well as

comparisons between subgroups.

Methods

Descriptive tables of numbers and

percents are presented and interpreted.

Data for females are from the National

Survey of Family Growth, and data for

males are from the National Survey of

Adolescent Males.

Results

About half of all never-married

teenagers, about 17.5 million, had had

sexual intercourse at least once in

1995. For male teenagers, this

represents a decline since 1988, and

for females, the proportion was stable

across the two time points. The

proportion of teen females who had sex

before age 15 years increased.

In 1995, 29 percent of females and

19 percent of males had unprotected

recent sexual intercourse. About

one-quarter of teens used no

contraceptives during their first sexual

intercourse. The condom remained the

most popular method of contraception.

Although teenagers’ use of oral

contraceptives dropped between 1988

and 1995, use of injectable and implant

contraceptives began. Teenagers with

more highly educated mothers, mothers

who delayed their first birth beyond age

19 years, those from two-parent

families, and those whose schooling

was on schedule, were less likely to

engage in sexual risk behaviors. These

teenagers, along with those who were

Protestant, also experienced the largest

improvements across time in sexual risk

behaviors.

Keywords: adolescent sexual

activity c adolescent contraceptive

use c teenage pregnancy

Sexual Activity and

Contraceptive Practices Among

Teenagers in the United States,

1988 and 1995

Joyce C. Abma, Ph.D., Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for

Health Statistics, and Freya L. Sonenstein, Ph.D., Population Studies

Center, The Urban Institute

Highlights

This report presents detailed

information on sexual activity and

contraception among teenagers aged

15–19 years in the United States. Data

are presented for never-married

teenagers for 1988 and 1995. The report

also contains discussions and

interpretations of differences in sexual

activity and contraception among

teenagers by age, race, and other

important demographic and social

factors.

Sexual Experience and

Activity

About half of all never-married

teenagers aged 15–19 years had had

sexual intercourse at least once (referred

to in this report as ‘‘sexually

experienced’’) in 1995. This proportion,

52 percent, represents a statistically

significant decline from the proportion

who were sexually experienced in 1988

(56 percent). Among males, the

proportion declined significantly from

60 to 55 percent between 1988 and

1995. Among females, the proportions

who were sexually experienced were

similar for the two time periods, at

51 percent in 1988 and 49 percent in

1995. These patterns represent the first

decline or lack of increase since national

surveys started tracking levels of sexual

experience among teenagers in the early

1970’s.

Among males 15–19 years old,

declines in the proportion who were

sexually experienced between 1988 and

1995 occurred among white youth and

among younger males aged 15–17 years

(7-percentage-point declines in both

cases). The percent who were sexually

experienced remained stable among

black and Hispanic male teenagers.

Among females, sexual experience

levels remained similar across these age

and racial/ethnic groups. (Non-Hispanic

white teenagers are referred to as

‘‘white’’ and non-Hispanic black

teenagers are referred to as ‘‘black’’ for

easier comprehension of the discussions.

All discussions of racial and ethnic

differences in the results in this report

refer to estimates calculated separately

for Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, and

non-Hispanic white teenagers.)

Changes in the age at first sexual

intercourse occurred across time for

female teenagers, but not for male

teenagers. Although the overall

proportion of female teenagers who

engage in sexual intercourse has not

increased, female teenagers in 1995 had

first sexual intercourse at younger ages

than in 1988. Nineteen percent of

female teenagers had had sex before age

15 in 1995, compared with 11 percent in

1988. This trend among females toward

earlier sex was evident across all

demographic subgroups and family

Page 1
background categories. Among male

teenagers, the proportion who had

sexual intercourse before age 15 years

held stable at 21 percent in both time

periods. At both time points, black

males and females began having

intercourse at earlier ages than white

teenagers.

In 1995, not as many teenagers

were sexually active, that is, had had

sex recently, as were sexually

experienced (had ever had sex).

Thirty-eight percent of all teenagers had

had sex within 3 months of the survey.

Among males, the proportion of those

sexually active had declined since 1988,

particularly among white and

15–17-year-old males. Among females,

the proportion remained relatively stable

across time for these race and age

groups. Black teenagers, however, were

more likely to be sexually active than

white and Hispanic teenagers at both

time points.

Adolescents’ family and parental

characteristics were associated with their

sexual behavior. Among teenagers

whose mothers had higher education,

whose mothers had delayed the first

birth beyond age 19 years, and who

were from families with both biological

or adoptive parents present in the

household, lower percents were sexually

experienced, were sexually active, and

began sex early.

Adolescents’ progress in school was

also clearly associated with their

propensity to engage in sexual risk

behaviors. Male and female teenagers

who were behind in school were more

likely to be sexually experienced, have

had first sexual intercourse earlier, and

to be currently sexually active than their

counterparts whose schooling was on

schedule.

Teenagers who experienced

significant declines in levels of sexual

behavior are those with background

characteristics associated historically

with the lowest levels of risk. Protestant

teenagers and those who attended

religious services frequently, those

whose mothers had higher levels of

education or delayed the first birth, and

those who were not behind in school,

had significant declines in sexual

experience. These same characteristics,

along with growing up in a two-parent

household and in a suburban residence,

were associated with significant declines

in sexual activity. (These associations

with sexual activity vary for males and

females by some characteristics, see full

text for details.)

Contraceptive Use

In 1995, 29 percent of female and

18 percent of male teenagers who were

sexually active within 3 months of the

survey had unprotected sexual

intercourse the last time they had sex.

For sexually active females, this

represents a significant increase in the

proportion whose last sexual intercourse

was without contraception, up

9 percentage points from 1988. This

change is explained by a significant

drop in the use of the pill, partially

compensated for by the adoption of

implant or injectable contraception, and

by a significant increase in condom use.

Males also reported significant drops in

partners’ pill use and increases in

condom use during last sexual

intercourse. However, males experienced

no significant decline in the proportion

whose last sexual intercourse was

protected. Although still uncommon at

8 percent, the simultaneous use of a

hormonal method and the condom

during last sexual intercourse increased

significantly among sexually active

females from 1988 to 1995. A higher

proportion (17 percent) of male

teenagers used dual methods than did

female teenagers, and the prevalence

among males remained stable between

the surveys.

Among females, the increase in

unprotected last sexual intercourse from

1988 to 1995 occurred among white

sexually active teenagers, while it

remained stable among their black

counterparts. Both white and black

females report less pill use and more

condom use during their last sexual

intercourse in 1995 compared with

1988, but black teenagers also report

considerable use of implants or

injectibles in 1995. As a result, the gap

in unprotected sex evident in 1988

between black and white female

teenagers closed by 1995 as white

teenagers’ protection levels decreased.

Estimates of contraceptive use at

first intercourse are important as an

indication of how well teenagers were

prepared for the onset of sexual activity.

In 1995, about three-quarters of

teenaged males and females used some

method of contraception during their

first sexual intercourse. This is a

significant improvement from 1988 for

females, when 67 percent used

contraception during their first sexual

intercourse. Among male teenagers, the

use of any method at first sex has

remained stable. The condom is the

method most commonly chosen at first

sexual intercourse. In 1995, 70 percent

of both females and males reported

condom use at first sex, a significantly

higher proportion than was true in 1988.

The use of hormonal methods is very

uncommon at first sex, and this was the

case in both 1988 and 1995. Only

8 percent of teenaged females reported

using a hormonal method at first sex in

1995. Increases in contraception at first

intercourse and condom use at first

intercourse were evident among both

black and white teenagers, although in

both 1988 and 1995, black teenagers

were less likely to use a method at first

sex.

Age at first sex was associated with

method use at first and last sexual

intercourse. Teenagers whose first sexual

experience occurred at younger ages

were less likely to use a contraceptive

method at first intercourse. Females

were also less likely to have used a

contraceptive method at their last

intercourse. Between 1988 and 1995,

females who began having sex earlier

showed improvements in using a

method at first sexual intercourse, but

decreases in using a method at their last

sexual encounter.

For both 1988 and 1995, teenagers’

contraceptive use at first and last sexual

intercourse was associated with their

parents’ characteristics and with their

progress in school. Teenagers whose

mothers had higher levels of education

and male teenagers whose mothers

delayed their own first birth were more

likely to use contraception at both their

first and last sexual encounter. Teenagers

who were behind schedule in their

schooling had substantially higher

Page 2 [ Series 23, No. 21
percents of having unprotected first and

last sexual intercourse.

For females, the increase in

percents having protected first sexual

intercourse have been pervasive, that is,

it occurred regardless of family type,

mother’s education, mother’s age at first

birth, and school status. Increases in

levels of condom use at first intercourse

have also occurred pervasively for both

male and female teenagers, showing

improvement for virtually all subgroups.

Similarly, among female teenagers, the

declines in any use of contraceptive

method during last sexual intercourse

and, specifically, declines in hormonal

method use, occurred across all family

background, religion, and school status

subgroups. At the same time, the

offsetting increases in condom use at

last sexual intercourse occurred

selectively, primarily among those with

historically higher levels of condom use.

Thus, gaps in prevalence of method use

at last sex between teenagers with

different background factors widened.

Other Aspects of Sexual

Behavior

The number of sexual partners that

teenagers have over their lifetimes has

an important influence on their risk of

contracting a sexually transmitted

disease (STD), including human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

According to 1995 data presented here,

close to 40 percent of the sexually

experienced female teenagers had had

only one partner in their lifetimes.

Fourteen percent had had six or more

sexual partners. Sexually experienced

males in 1995 tended to have more

sexual partners than females, with

27 percent having had only one partner,

and one-quarter having had six or more

partners. Also of interest is the number

of partners teenagers have within a

short, recent time period. In the 3

months preceding the 1995 survey,

22 percent of sexually experienced

females had had no partners, and

17 percent had had 2 or more partners.

Compared with females, males had

fewer sexual partners in the recent past:

31 percent had had no sexual partners in

the 3 months prior to the survey, and

13 percent had had two or more

partners. The younger the age at which

first intercourse occurred, the more

lifetime partners teenagers had. Males

also had more recent partners when they

had started sexual activity before they

were 17 years old.

The risks associated with multiple

partners appear to have decreased

between 1988 and 1995 among both

female and male teenagers for particular

subgroups. Younger female teenagers

(those aged 15 and 17 years)

experienced slight improvements from

1988 to 1995 in multiple-partner risk

over their lifetimes, and older females

and black females experienced higher

risk. Among males in 1995, those aged

18 years or who were white had lower

proportions with six or more sexual

partners in their lifetimes, and lower

proportions with two or more partners in

the 3 months before the interview,

compared with their counterparts in

1988.

Recent concern about large age

differences between female teenagers

and older sexual partners warrants

analyses of these national data. In 1995,

20 percent of females had a first male

sexual partner 4 or more years older

than they were, and 24 percent had a

last male sexual partner (in the 3

months prior to the survey) 4 or more

years older than they were. Younger age

at first sexual intercourse was associated

with having an older recent partner.

Data for 1988 are not available to

examine shifts over time among female

teenagers.

Among male teenagers, having a

first female partner who was 4 or more

years older was extremely rare

(6 percent). It was more common to

have had a first female partner who was

1–3 years older (36 percent) or the same

age (32 percent). Similar to the pattern

for females, among males, younger age

at first sexual intercourse was associated

with having an older first partner.

Between 1988 and 1995, the patterns of

age difference between male teenagers

and their female partners were stable.

Introduction

This report presents detailed

information on sexual activity and

contraception among never-married male

and female teenagers in the United

States in 1988 and 1995. Monitoring

changes over time in these sexual

behaviors is important because of

concern about the health and social

costs of pregnancy, childbearing, and

sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s)

among this population. While aggregate

national trends are of interest, previous

research has found that teenagers

sharing particular characteristics are

more likely than others to engage in

behaviors that carry risk of pregnancy

and STD transmission. Therefore, this

report also presents detailed breakdowns

of the prevalence of sexual risk

behaviors among population subgroups

and examines shifts in these behaviors

between 1988 and 1995. It should be

noted that this report marks the first

effort by NCHS to present data from the

National Survey of Family Growth with

data from the National Survey of

Adolescent Males. The parallel

information for females and males

presented in this report illustrates the

importance of monitoring the behavior

of both sexes to provide a more

complete picture of sexual health risks

among teenagers.

The sexual and contraceptive

behavior of teenagers has implications

for their rates of pregnancy and STD

infection. Recent trends have been

encouraging. In 1999, the birth rate

among teenagers was 49.6 per 1,000

female teenagers, a record low that is

down from 62.1 in 1991 (1). The

pregnancy rate (including live births,

induced abortions, and fetal losses) fell

15 percent from 1991 to 1996 (2).

Despite recent declines, however, the

teenage pregnancy rate is 2 to 9 times

higher in the United States than those in

other industrialized countries (3,4).

Public concern with the personal and

social costs of teenage pregnancy and

childbearing is reflected in the

proliferation of programs to prevent

these pregnancies (5) and in recent

policies and legislation. For example,

the Welfare Reform Act of 1996

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 3
characterizes the current rate of

childbearing among teenagers as a

national crisis and proclaims that

reducing this rate is a ‘‘very important

government interest’’ (6).

Each year, about 3 million teenagers

acquire a sexually transmitted disease

(STD) (7). One-quarter of all sexually

transmitted infection cases in the United

States are among teenagers. Rates of

chlamydia, gonorrhea, vaginitis, and

pelvic inflammatory disease are all

highest in adolescents and decline

dramatically with increasing age (8).

Adolescents are more vulnerable to

STD’s than adults not only because of

their higher likelihood of having had sex

with multiple partners, but also because

young female adolescents are

biologically more susceptible to

infection (7). There have been signs of

improvement, however, as rates of

gonorrhea among both male and female

adolescents decreased between 1994 and

1998. (9). Recently, in the overall

population, gonorrhea rates have

increased by about 9 percent (between

1997 and 1999). However, rates among

male and female adolescents have

maintained a decline between 1995 and

1999 (10).

Trends in Adolescents’

Sexual Behavior and

Contraceptive Use

About one-half of all teenagers

report being sexually experienced

(having had sex at least once). However,

recently, the percent of teenagers who

are sexually experienced has declined,

after steadily increasing through the

1970’s and 1980’s (3,11). This decline

has occurred primarily among male

teenagers (12,13). For female teenagers,

the level of sexual experience has

stabilized or declined slightly (14–16).

Trends in the prevalence of overall

contraceptive use among teenaged

females are not clear-cut, but the use of

contraceptives at first intercourse has

increased steadily since the early 1980’s

among females (13,14,17). Reports on

teenaged males also show recent

increases in the prevalence of condom

use, continuing the upward trend shown

by data collected since the late 1970’s

(12,13,18).

The recent trends in the proportion

of teenagers who are sexually

experienced have been previously

reported using data from three separate

national surveys. The National Survey

of Family Growth (NSFG), conducted

by the National Center for Health

Statistics, revealed stability between

1988 and 1995 in the proportion of

female teenagers who were sexually

experienced (53 and 50 percent,

respectively) (14). These figures include

female teenagers of all marital statuses.

The National Survey of Adolescent

Males (NSAM), conducted by The

Urban Institute, showed an increase in

the percent of those who were sexually

experienced between 1979 and 1988

among never- married males and a

decline from 60 to 55 percent between

1988 and 1995 (12). Finally, the Youth

Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS),

conducted by the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, showed that

among high school students in grades 9

through 12, the percent who were

sexually experienced declined

significantly between 1991 and 1997,

from 54 to 48 percent. Examining trends

by subgroups, the YRBS showed

significant declines for males, for black

students, and for white students (13).

Recent data from the YRBS show that

in 1999, 50 percent of high school

students reported that they were sexually

experienced (19). Males’ declines in

sexual experience parallel significant

changes in their attitudes about

premarital sex and childbearing, toward

a more conservative direction (20).

These three national surveys have

also been the basis for recent reports of

trends in contraceptive use among

teenagers. According to NSFG data, the

percent of teenaged females who used a

method of contraception at first sex has

increased through the 1980’s and

1990’s: from 48 percent in 1982 (21) to

65 percent in 1988 and to 76 percent in

1995. This increase is due primarily to

an increase in condom use, while use of

the pill has declined. Two other

measures of contraceptive use, use at

last sex and ‘‘current’’ use (use in the

same month as the survey), show very

little change or a decline between 1988

and 1995 (22,23).

Earlier analysis of NSAM and its

predecessor, the 1979 National Survey

of Young Men, showed that among

males aged 17–19 years living in

metropolitan areas, condom use at last

sexual intercourse more than doubled

between 1979 and 1988. Condom use

during first sexual intercourse was much

more likely among males who had sex

for the first time in the late 1980’s

compared to those having had first

sexual intercourse in the mid-1970’s to

early 1980’s (18). More recently,

analyses of NSAM data show that

condom use at last sexual intercourse

among males aged 15 through 19 years

increased significantly from 57 percent

in 1988 to 67 percent in 1995. In

addition, the proportion of males using

the condom consistently (during every

sexual intercourse in the past year)

increased significantly between 1988

and 1995 (12). Other recent analyses

show that in 1995, 17 percent of

sexually active males reported dual use

(use of a condom while the female

partner also used a contraceptive

method), and that the amount an

adolescent worried about AIDS and

STD’s significantly predicted dual use

(24).

Consistent with the other national

surveys, recent data from the YRBS

showed steady increases in condom use

among sexually active teenagers

(teenagers who had sexual intercourse

within 3 months of the survey) for each

year between 1991 and 1997. Significant

increases were apparent for both males

and females and for both black and

white students (13). Data for 1999 show

that 51 percent of female students and

66 percent of male students used a

condom during last sexual intercourse

(19).

These three national surveys are not

directly comparable because they differ

in the age range and types of youth

included, the way the surveys are

administered, and sampling frame. The

NSFG and the NSAM are household

surveys using in-person interviews while

YRBS collects data from high school

students through self-administered paper

questionnaires completed in classrooms.

Page 4 [ Series 23, No. 21
However, despite these differences, the

surveys show similar trends in sexual

experience and condom use among

young adolescents (25).

Previous Research: Factors

Associated with

Adolescents’ Sexual

Behavior and

Contraceptive Use

Research on the antecedents of

adolescents’ sexual behavior and

contraceptive use has demonstrated that

certain characteristics and background

factors correlate with sexual and

contraceptive behavior among teenagers.

These include age, race and Hispanic

origin, mother’s education, age at which

the mother had her first birth,

characteristics of the family in which

the teenager was raised, religiosity as

measured by religious affiliation and the

frequency of attendance at religious

services, and progress in school.

Teenagers who are younger at first

sexual intercourse not only begin earlier

exposure to STD’s and pregnancy, but

also have higher subsequent risks. They

are more likely to have sexual

intercourse more frequently, to have

higher numbers of lifetime partners, and

to accumulate partners at a faster pace

(26–29), in turn increasing the odds of

STD transmission and pregnancy.

Among teenagers, age is an

important predictor of contraceptive use

(3,18,30,31). Male and female teenagers

who are younger at first sexual

intercourse are less likely to have used a

contraceptive method (3,14,18,32).

Among male teenagers, condom use

decreases and reliance on a female

contraceptive method increases with

age (31).

Previous studies have found racial

and ethnic group differences in sexual

experience and contraceptive use. Black

adolescents begin sexual activity at a

younger age than Hispanic and white

adolescents (3,12,33,34). Black and

Hispanic females and males are less

likely to use contraception at first sexual

intercourse than white teenagers (18,21).

Other measures of contraceptive use

(such as use at most recent sexual

intercourse) for female teenagers show,

however, that black and Hispanic

females are as likely as white females to

use contraception. Among males, for

specific measures of contraceptive and

sexual risk behaviors, Hispanic and

black adolescents experience greater

exposure to risk than white males

(12,24).

Socioeconomic status is inversely

related to certain sexual risk behaviors

among teenagers (35,36). For example,

higher maternal education, an indicator

of socioeconomic status, is associated

with later initiation of sex and lower

risk of unprotected intercourse, and a

lower probability of birth during

adolescence (14,15,35,37). Black and

Hispanic youth and their families have

lower levels of education, income, and

access to health care and health

insurance than white youth (38,39).

These and related factors account for

much of the difference in sexual and

contraceptive behaviors among white,

black, and Hispanic youth (noted above)

rather than race and ethnicity per se

(40,25).

Closely related to socioeconomic

status is family structure, which reflects

a number of related factors: experiences

with family disruption, the parents or

parent-figures in the household, and the

number of adult income earners in the

household. Female teenagers who grow

up in two-parent households begin sex

later, use condoms during first sexual

intercourse compared with choosing

another method or no method at all, and

have lower probabilities of giving birth

compared with those who were raised in

any other type of family (14,15,37). One

recent study found that both parental

education and family structure

influenced the likelihood of adolescents’

ever having had sex, and for female

adolescents, the likelihood of using a

condom during recent sexual

intercourse, but they were not found to

be independently related to other

important measures of sexual risk (41).

Research has documented a

relationship between teenaged sexual

and reproductive behaviors and the age

of the teenager’s mother when she had

her first birth. Female teenagers begin

sex earlier and are more likely to have a

birth if their mothers had a birth during

the teenage years (15,42). Maternal

teenage childbearing is also positively

associated with males’ propensity for

sexual risk behaviors (43).

Religious affiliation and religiosity

are associated with adolescents’ sexual

behavior (33,44,45,46,47). For example,

teenagers who are more strongly

religious are less likely to have

premarital or early sex and less likely to

use a contraceptive method at first

sexual intercourse (48). Analysis of

1988 NSAM data for teenage males

showed fundamentalist religious

affiliation to be negatively related to

sexual risk behaviors compared with

nonfundamentalist religions or no

religious affiliation, which were

positively associated (46).

There is some evidence that

academic involvement and achievement

is associated with sexual behavior

among adolescents (49). Some analyses

suggest that adolescents who engage in

risky behaviors related to academic

problems may also be more likely to

take risks concerning sex and

contraception (50,51).

Based on the research evidence

cited above, this report provides detailed

information about these characteristics

and the correlation of background

factors with sexual and contraceptive

behavior among teenagers.

Sources and Methods

To examine changes in the sexual

and contraceptive behaviors of male and

female teenagers in the past decade, this

report presents data from two national

surveys, each administered in 1988 and

1995. The report examines a variety of

sexual and contraceptive measures: the

proportion of teenagers who have had

sex, the age at first sexual intercourse,

recent sexual activity, contraceptive

method use at first intercourse and in

the last 3 months, the number of

opposite-sex sexual partners, and the age

differences between teenagers and their

opposite-sex sexual partners. The

measures of sexual activity refer to

heterosexual vaginal sexual intercourse.

Appendix I and appendix table XV

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 5
contain the wording of the questions

measuring the behaviors covered in this

report.

These sexual and contraceptive

behavioral outcomes were selected

because they are key indicators of

exposure to the risk of pregnancy and

sexually transmitted diseases. Multiple

measures of behavior also provide a

more comprehensive picture of overall

risk than single items. Therefore, the

measures presented reflect both recent

behavior and lifetime experience or first

experiences.

Estimates are presented for a variety

of social and demographic

characteristics and background factors

that were discussed in the previous

section as important antecedents or

correlates of teenagers’ sexual and

contraceptive behavior. These include

age, race and Hispanic origin, parental

education, the age of the teenager’s

mother at her first birth, the type of

family in which the youth was raised,

religiosity, and whether the teenager is

behind in school (that is, has dropped

out or is at least two grades behind the

grade he/she should be in). Teenagers

living in different regions of the country

and in different types of communities

are contrasted. Residence is presented

only in conjunction with recent

behaviors because current residence

does not necessarily reflect residence at

the time of events occurring prior to the

interview.

This report shows associations

between teenagers’ characteristics and

sexual and contraceptive behavior in

bivariate tabulations. Tests of

significance for differences between

estimates were performed for females

and for males and are denoted in the

tables. If the level of significance of a

difference between two estimates

reached 10 percent or better (p <.10), it

was denoted in the tables with a @

symbol as significant and discussed in

the text. Tests of significance were

performed for the following types of

comparisons: between estimates for the

years 1988 and 1995; between

categories of the characteristics, within

years; and in selected cases, between

males and females’ estimates for the

same year. Significance of the

1988-to-1995 comparisons are denoted

in the tables, but for legibility and

clarity of the tables, symbols denoting

significance are not presented for the

other two types of comparisons.

Changes are not discussed (exceptions

are clearly specified in the text) if they

fell below the 10-percent significance

level (p<.10).

Standard errors for all figures are

presented in tables I–XIV. If an estimate

fell short of the standard of reliability or

precision (see appendix I: Sampling

Errors for the criterion), it was not

tested for significance of difference from

another estimate nor discussed in the

text. These estimates are denoted with

an asterisk (*) in the tables. Sample

sizes are also presented in the tables to

assist in identifying the subsample of

analysis for each table.

It is important to note that the data

presented do not control for the complex

associations that occur between the

various measures of teenagers’

characteristics and background factors.

For example, being behind in school is

closely associated with family

characteristics such as income. Thus, the

association between being behind in

school and sexual activity shown in the

tables is partially due to other factors

such as family income. The primary

purpose of the tables is to identify

subgroups’ relative risk levels and how

they have changed over time.

In all tables in this report, the racial

and ethnic subgroupings are

non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black,

and Hispanic. Hispanic teenagers may

be of any race. However, for ease of

understanding the results, non-Hispanic

black teenagers are referred to as

‘‘black’’ and non-Hispanic white

teenagers are referred to as ‘‘white’’ in

the text figures.

The National Survey of

Family Growth

Data for females are from cycles 4

and 5 of the National Survey of Family

Growth (NSFG), conducted by the

National Center for Health Statistics

(NCHS). Both cycles were based on

multistage probability samples of the

civilian noninstitutionalized population

of women in the United States and yield

estimates that are representative of the

national population of women 15–44

years of age. For both cycles, a

probability sample of women aged

15–44 years was selected from among

households that had recently responded

to the National Health Interview Survey,

another survey conducted by NCHS.

This sample served as the sampling

frame for the NSFG for both cycles. For

the 1988 survey, black women of all

ages were oversampled, and for the

1995 survey, Hispanic women were

oversampled in addition to black

women. More information about the

funding, mission, sample design,

calculation of weights, and data

collection procedures of these cycles of

the NSFG are available in several

published reports (52–54).

The 1988 and 1995 NSFG surveys

were based on personal, in-home

interviews with women 15–44 years of

age. The 1988 cycle involved interviews

with 8,450 women between January and

August, and the 1995 cycle interviewed

10,847 women between January and

October. The 1988 sample yielded 1,252

females in the subgroup aged 15–19

years: 122 Hispanic teenagers, 720

white teenagers, 375 black teenagers,

and 35 teenagers of other races and

ethnic origins. The 1995 data contain

1,408 teenagers: 213 Hispanic teenagers,

848 white teenagers, 293 black

teenagers, and 54 teenagers of other

races and ethnic origins.

The 1995 survey was the first

NSFG to use computer-assisted personal

interviews (CAPI), and included a small

section implemented with audiocomputer-assisted self-interviewing

(ACASI). Earlier cycles of the NSFG

were conducted using paper-and-pencil

interviews (PAPI), with short

paper-and-pencil self-administered

sections.

The National Survey of

Adolescent Males

Data for males comes from the

National Survey of Adolescent Males

(NSAM), a survey initiated to fill a void

in information on the sexual and

reproductive behavior among teenage

males in the United States. The survey,

first conducted in 1988 and repeated in

Page 6 [ Series 23, No. 21
1995, was designed to parallel the

information on teenaged females’ sexual

and reproductive behavior provided by

the NSFG. Together these surveys

provide comparable but separately

collected data for male and female

teenagers at two points in time.

The NSAM was originally designed

by investigators funded by the National

Institute of Child Health and Human

Development (18). The surveys used

multistage probability samples of the

civilian noninstitutionalized population

of males aged 15–19 years in the United

States, yielding estimates that are

representative of the national population

of never-married teenaged males in

1988 and all teenaged males in 1995.

Like the NSFG, the NSAM included

oversamples of black and Hispanic

respondents to bolster the stability of the

estimates for these smaller subgroups.

Weights were designed to adjust for this

oversampling in addition to

nonresponse, so that the figures remain

nationally representative. The 1988

sample yielded 1,880 never-married

males aged 15–19 years: 386 Hispanic

teenagers, 755 white teenagers, 677

black teenagers, and 62 teenagers of

other races and ethnic origins. The 1995

data contain 1,729 male teenagers of all

marital statuses: 558 Hispanic teenagers,

618 non-Hispanic white teenagers, 494

non-Hispanic black teenagers, and 59

teenagers of other races and ethnic

origins.

Like the NSFG, the 1988 and 1995

NSAM surveys were conducted through

face-to-face interviews by trained

interviewers in the respondents’ homes

or other confidential locations. Both

survey rounds were based on

paper-and-pencil interviews (PAPI), and

included a self-administered component

for the most sensitive questions. The

1995 survey included an experiment

contrasting information collected in an

audio-computer-assisted-selfadministered interview (ACASI) section

to a parallel paper-and-pencil

self-administered questionnaire (55).

Additional information about the

methods used to develop the instrument

is available elsewhere (56).

Table A presents the sample sizes of

NSAM and the sample sizes of the

teenaged portion of the NSFG for 1988

and 1995. The response rates for the

surveys for both years have been above

74 percent. For the NSFG, the response

rate for the 15–19 year old age group

was 81 percent. The 1995 response rate

was 83 percent for ages 15–17 years and

82 percent for ages 18–24 years. These

response rates, however, do not take into

account nonresponse to the National

Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which

provided the sampling frames for both

NSFG surveys. The response rate for

NHIS was 95 percent for both time

points. (See Judkins et al., 1991 (52)

and Kelly et al., 1997 (53) for more

information.) Response rates for the

NSAM were 74 and 75 percent for 1988

and 1995, respectively.

In addition to the percents of

sexually experienced teenagers, tables B

and 1 present the total number of male

and female teenagers in the United

States and the numbers corresponding to

each subgroup shown in the tables.

These numbers are derived using the

sampling weights (described above) that

were created for each of the four data

sets, which are used in every table in

this report.

Analyses in this report are limited

to never-married males and females

15–19 years of age on the day of the

interview, and the data presented come

from the interviewer-administered

portions of the surveys. Questions about

sexual experience were asked in the

interviewer-administered section because

so many subsequent questions and

routing throughout the questionnaires

depended upon the answers to these

questions. To reap the benefits of

privacy that ACASI offers,

interviewer-administered questions

cannot follow self-administered

questions, particularly if the

interviewer-administered questions

imply knowledge of the selfadministered answers (sexual experience

status). Because the measures involve

reports of sensitive behaviors to an

interviewer, they may be subject to

some intentional and unintentional

reporting errors. According to recent

research on adolescents, males’ reports

of sexual events, such as the timing of

first sexual intercourse, are more

inconsistent across interview waves than

those of females (57). However, because

the surveys used in this report are

cross-sectional and all respondents are

interviewed for the first (and only) time,

the tendency to change reports at

subsequent interviews should not

systematically affect the trends revealed

by the four surveys. Further, analyses of

the consistency of the reporting of

sexual experience and condom use at

last intercourse for males in the NSAM

within the same interview indicate high

levels of internal consistency (18,56).

General Comparability

Questions ascertaining sexual and

contraceptive behavior were designed to

be comparable across the survey years

and between the two surveys. However,

for some measures, differences between

the surveys exist that limit the

comparability between the male and

female figures. For a very small number

of measures, differences in wording or

construction exist between survey years

that limit interpretation of trends.

Appendix I provides definitions of all

the measures in the tables of this report,

and table XV presents question wording,

descriptions of universes who were

Table A. Number of sample males in the National Survey of Adolescent Males and sample

females in the National Survey of Family Growth aged 15–19 years on the day of interview

by survey year: 1988 and 1995

Male Female1,2

19883 1995 1988 1995

Total ......................... 1,880 1,729 1,231 1,396

Never-married ................... 1,880 1,710 1,186 1,344

1The National Survey of Family Growth sample contains females aged 15–44 years. Teenage females constitute 15 percent of the

total 1988 sample and 13 percent of the total 1995 sample.

2Figures for females aged 15–19 years might not match other published reports because age is defined here as ‘‘age at the day of

interview,’’ whereas in other reports it is defined as ‘‘age at the midpoint of the interviewing period.’’

3The 1988 National Survey of Adolescent Males was limited to never-married males.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 7
asked the questions, and other technical

details of the primary measures used in

this report.

Comparing Male and

Female Estimates

Both female and male analysis

samples are restricted to individuals

ages 15–19 years, but neither the male

nor female teenagers necessarily draw

from the 15–19 year-old population for

their sexual partners. For example, in

1995 a 19 year-old female’s most recent

partner was, on average, almost 2 years

older than she was (20.7 years old).

Among males aged 15–19 years who

had sexual intercourse in the 3 months

prior to the survey, 17 percent had

female partners who were either

younger than 15 years old or older than

19 years old. Among females, the

proportion with recent male partners

who were out of the age range 15–19

years was considerably higher, at

43 percent (only 0.2 percent were under

15 years old, the rest were older than 19

years). Therefore, many of the

teenagers’ sexual partners, especially

those of the females, are not among the

group of opposite-sex teenagers covered

in this report. One should, therefore, not

expect congruence between males and

females of the same age in their reports

of the prevalence of sexual behaviors.

Meaningful contrasts of risk levels of

teenage males vis-a-vis teenage females

can still be made.

With the exception of the condom,

use of most contraceptive methods is

more easily and perhaps more accurately

reported by females than by males.

Females have direct experience using

female contraceptive methods, while

males are reporting on behalf of their

partners, possibly without full

information. These female methods

include the pill, Norplant, DepoProvera (implant contraceptives and

injectable contraceptives, respectively,

both newly introduced to the United

States in 1993), and most methods

included in the category ‘‘other,’’ such

as the IUD and the diaphragm. Thus,

interpretation of the contraceptive use

tables will focus on the female data,

with the exception of the condom-use

statistics.

The results are presented in the

following order for most tables. First,

trends for the total sample of teenagers

are discussed. Next, trends and

differentials for racial and ethnic

subgroups are discussed, followed by

specific ages or age groups, sometimes

combined with a racial and ethnic

subgroup. Finally, trends and

differentials in background

characteristics, such as mother’s

education, family structure, and status in

school, are interpreted. When a

noteworthy pattern exists for the

comparison of males with females, this

is also discussed in the appropriate

section. This order follows the order of

explanatory factors listed in the tables.

Results

Sexual Experience

For the first time since national

surveys started tracking levels of sexual

experience among teenagers, the data

indicate a slight decline in the

proportion of teenagers who have ever

had sexual intercourse. Fifty-two percent

of all never-married teenagers had had

sexual intercourse in 1995 compared

with 56 percent in 1988 (table B). With

males and females grouped together,

estimates for subgroups defined by age,

race, and Hispanic origin reveal that the

decline was concentrated primarily

among white teenagers. There was a

significant decline in the percent of

sexually experienced white

never-married teenagers over the 7-year

period from 54 to 49 percent. The

proportion of their black counterparts

who were sexually experienced

remained stable and increased among

Table B. Number and percent of males and females 15–19 years of age who have had sexual intercourse by age, race, and Hispanic origin:

United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

1988 1995

Number in

thousands

Sample

number Percent

Number in

thousands

Sample

number Percent

Total ......................... 17,536 3,066 55.9 17,547 3,054 @52.3

Age

15–17 years .................... 10,729 1,920 43.8 10,951 1,955 40.6

18–19 years .................... 6,806 1,145 75.0 6,596 1,099 71.8

Race, Hispanic origin, and age

White ........................ 12,604 1,434 53.7 11,751 1,418 @49.0

15–17 years ................... 7,577 877 39.7 7,250 901 35.2

18–19 years ................... 5,027 557 74.8 4,500 517 71.5

Black ......................... 2,615 1,039 70.4 2,656 774 69.7

15–17 years ................... 1,645 662 63.5 1,676 501 62.1

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 971 376 82.4 979 273 82.9

Hispanic ....................... 1,755 497 53.1 2,198 749 57.1

15–17 years ................... 1,124 320 46.3 1,358 473 49.4

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 631 177 65.3 831 276 69.2

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

Page 8 [ Series 23, No. 21
Hispanic teenagers, although the

increase was not statistically significant.

Table 1, which presents estimates

separately for never-married male and

female teenagers, shows that in 1995

about half (49 percent) of female

teenagers and just over half (55 percent)

of their male counterparts reported

having had sexual intercourse at least

once. The proportion of male teenagers

who were sexually experienced declined

by 5 percentage points between 1995

and 1998. The percent of female

teenagers who were sexually

experienced remained virtually stable, as

shown by only slight differences

between the percent in 1988 (51 percent)

and 1995 (49 percent). Although the

slight decline in the percent of female

teenagers who were sexually

experienced was not statistically

significant, it nonetheless represents a

departure from the long-term upward

trend that has been in place since the

early 1970’s (3). Figure 1 is based on

periodic surveys since 1971 and shows

that the proportion of females aged

15–19 years who have ever had sexual

intercourse steadily increased up to the

1988 survey. For males, fewer data

points are available and the sample is

more restricted, but the trend is similar.

The share of metropolitan males ages

17–19 years who were sexually

experienced rose between 1979 and

1988 and decreased between 1988 and

1995. Although these data show a recent

decline, the proportion of teenagers who

are sexually experienced remains higher

than the proportion sexually experienced

in the 1970’s.

The proportion of teenagers who are

sexually experienced differs markedly

depending on their exact age. Table 1

shows that while three-quarters of older

teenaged males (18–19 years old)

reported having had sexual intercourse

in 1995, only 43 percent of younger

teenaged males (15–17 years old) were

sexually experienced. This proportion

among younger males represents a

7-percentage-point decline from 1988.

Among females in 1995, 38 percent of

the younger teenagers were sexually

experienced, while 68 percent of older

teenagers were sexually experienced.

Older female teenagers experienced a

5-percentage-point decline from the

level of their 1988 counterparts, which

is marginally significant, while younger

teenagers (15–17 years old) experienced

no change.

For both males and females, a

higher percent of black teenagers were

sexually experienced in 1995 than were

white and Hispanic teenagers (although

among females, differences between

Hispanics and the other groups were not

significant) (figure 2). For example,

80 percent of black males had had

sexual intercourse at least once

compared with 61 percent and

50 percent among Hispanic and white

male teenagers, respectively.

Comparisons by race and Hispanic

origin show that the decline in sexual

experience among males occurred

primarily among younger white males (a

significant decline from 44 to

35 percent). Hispanic males aged 15–17

years are the only other group showing

a notable percentage-point decline, but it

1

Never-married metropolitan males ages 17-19 years

2

Never-married females ages 15-19 years

1971 1976

Percent

1979 1982 1988 1995

0

20

30

41 43

51 49

68

76

66

40

60

80

100

Female2 

Male1

Figure 1. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who have ever had sexual

intercourse by year of survey: United States, 1971–95

x

x x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x xx

x x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

x x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x xx

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x

x x

xx x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x x x

x

x

xx

x x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x x x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x

x x

xx x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x x

x x

x

x

x x

x x x

x

x

xx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x x

x x

x x

x

x

x

x

Figure 2. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who have ever had sexual

intercourse by year of survey, race, and Hispanic origin: United States, 1988 and 1995

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 9
is not statistically significant. Among

females, the stability or modest decline

from 1988 to 1995 in percents of those

sexually experienced is similar across

virtually all of the age and race/Hispanic

origin groups. The one exception is

younger Hispanic females, among whom

the proportion of those sexually

experienced increased.

Teenagers with certain family

background characteristics were less

likely to have engaged in sexual

intercourse in both 1988 and 1995.

Table 1 generally shows lower percents

of sexually experienced teenagers

among those whose mothers had higher

levels of education, whose mothers had

had their first birth after the teenaged

years, and among those who were raised

by both parents rather than in a singleparent or stepparent family or other

family type. Among teenagers with no

religious affiliation and with infrequent

or no church attendance, higher

proportions had engaged in sexual

intercourse.

Much higher proportions of

teenagers who were behind in school

had engaged in sexual intercourse than

was the case for those whose educations

were on schedule. Among female

teenagers in 1995, 71 percent of those

who were at least two years behind

grade level or who had left school

before graduation were sexually

experienced in contrast to 47 percent of

those who were at grade level. Among

male teenagers, 86 percent of those who

were behind in school were sexually

experienced compared with 53 percent

of those who were at grade level.

Similar large differences were evident in

1988.

Significant declines in proportions

of sexually experienced teenagers

occurred between 1988 and 1995 for

several subgroups defined by the social

and background measures presented. For

females, those whose mothers had the

highest educational level (16 or more

years of education) and those from

stepparent families experienced

significant declines. Females who were

Protestant or who attended religious

services most frequently (once a week

or more) experienced significant

declines. These declines among more

frequent service attenders and those with

higher maternal education were

accompanied by actual increases among

the least frequent attenders and those

with the lowest maternal education,

resulting in a widening of the

differences among these teenagers across

time. Among males, significant declines

occurred among those whose mothers

had a high school education, those

whose mothers delayed the first birth

until age 20 years or older, and those

who were Protestant. Males whose

schooling was on schedule experienced

a significant decline, while males who

were behind in school actually

experienced a significant increase in the

percent of those who were sexually

experienced (figure 3). These patterns

suggest that teenagers from subgroups

with historically lower levels of sexual

experience have further reduced their

sexual experience levels. One exception

to this pattern was that females whose

mothers had a teenaged first birth did

not differ appreciably from those whose

mothers had the first birth at a later age.

Neither group experienced statistically

significant declines in sexual experience

across time.

Age at First Sexual

Intercourse

Table 2 shows the cumulative

percent of males and females having

had sexual intercourse before reaching

specific ages. Based on a question

asking respondents to report their age at

first intercourse (see appendix II and

table XV), it is different from the

question underlying the estimates in

table 1, which asked if the respondent

had ever (even once) had sexual

intercourse.

Very few teenagers had sexual

intercourse before age 13 years. In

1995, 4 percent of males and 3 percent

of females were sexually experienced by

the time they turned 13 years old. By

the time they turned 17 years old, about

half of male and female teenagers were

sexually experienced. By age 19 years,

83 percent of males and 70 percent of

females were sexually experienced. This

suggests that the transition to sexual

experience among older female

teenagers is more attenuated than among

older male teenagers.

Black males and females become

sexually experienced at earlier ages than

white males and females. In 1995,

2 percent of white teenagers (both male

and female) were sexually experienced

before age 13 years. Among black

teenagers, it was 6 percent for females

and 14 percent for males. By age 17

years, under half of white males and

females had had sex, but over

60 percent of black females and almost

80 percent of black males had done so.

Despite the overall pattern of no

increase in sexual experience levels

among female teenagers from 1988 to

1995, as noted in table 1, those

interviewed in 1995 began having sex

earlier than their 1988 counterparts. This

seemingly inconsistent set of findings

reflects the fact that the decrease in

sexual experience was concentrated

among the older teens, and was

substantial enough to offset the

acceleration of sexual experience among

a relatively small group of younger

teens. Table 2 helps demonstrate this

pattern by ‘‘decomposing’’ by age this

trend in the timing of first sexual

intercourse for female teenagers between

71 71

68

86

48 47

59

53

1988 1995 1988 1995

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Behind in school On schedule

Female Male

Figure 3. Percent of females and males

aged 15–19 years who have ever had

sexual intercourse by year of survey and

school status: United States, 1988 and

1995

Page 10 [ Series 23, No. 21
1988 and 1995. For each individual age

except ages 18 and 19 years,

significantly higher cumulative percents

had had sexual intercourse in 1995 than

in 1988 (although the estimates for age

13 years within the white and black

subgroups fall short of precision

requirements and should not be

considered reliable). For example, in

1988, 11 percent of never-married

females had had sexual intercourse

before turning 15 years old compared

with 19 percent in 1995. However,

lower cumulative percents of teens

interviewed in 1995 had had sex before

turning 19 years old compared with the

1988 cohort (77 percent and 70 percent,

respectively). Thus, in the 1995 survey,

transitions to sexual experience occurred

more rapidly among younger female

teenagers and more slowly among older

female teenagers compared with 1988,

and this pattern was evident for both

white and black teenagers.

The pattern for male teenagers

differed by race. White males show a

significant increase over time in the

proportion of those having had sex

before age 19 years, while black males

show a significant decrease in the

percent having had sex at very early

ages (before age 14 years).

Therefore, while the overall

proportion of teenagers who were

sexually experienced declined, female

teenagers started sexual activity earlier

and some male teenagers, notably black

teenagers, started sexual activity slightly

later.

Using a set of background and

sociodemographic characteristics, table 3

expands the information in table 2 by

contrasting teenagers who experience

sexual intercourse early (by age 15

years) with those who do not. One

characteristic is the teenager’s specific

age at the time of the interview. Among

female teenagers, all single-year age

cohorts from ages 16 through 19 years

report higher proportions beginning

sexual intercourse before age 15 years

in 1995 than in 1988 (figure 4). For

example, among those aged 16 years in

1988, 9 percent had had sexual

intercourse before they turned 15 years

old, while among the 16-year-olds in

1995, 22 percent had done so, a

statistically significant increase. The one

exception to this pattern was among

those aged 15 years at the interview.

Among male teenagers, the increase

in early initiation of sexual intercourse

that was observed among the females is

not evident (figure 4). Twenty-one

percent had sex before age 15 years in

both 1988 and 1995. Although the 1995

survey showed that 17-year-olds began

having sexual intercourse earlier, this

was the only specific age cohort that

experienced a significant change. This

pattern is roughly consistent with the

interpretation of table 2, although this

age breakdown identifies age cohorts’

contribution to the overall pattern.

Female teenagers of all three racial

and Hispanic origin groups experienced

significant increases in the proportions

of those who were sexually experienced

before age 15 years between 1988 and

1995. This was true of both younger and

older teenagers within white and black

subgroups.

Among male teenagers, shifts over

time in the proportion of those having

sex by age 15 years were not evident

among white or black teenagers.

However, among their Hispanic

counterparts, there was a significant rise

in the percent of those having sexual

intercourse before age 15 years, and it

paralleled the increase seen among

Hispanic females.

Consistent with the patterns shown

in table 1, the 1988 and 1995 surveys

both revealed that certain subgroups

have higher proportions of those who

had early sexual experience. With few

exceptions, teenagers whose mothers

had lower levels of education, whose

mothers were teenagers when they had

their first birth, who were not raised by

both biological or adopted parents, who

had no religious affiliation, who attended

religious services infrequently, and who

were behind in school were more likely

in both periods to initiate sex by age 15

years than were teenagers without these

characteristics.

Table 3 also presents trends between

the 1988 and 1995 surveys in early

sexual initiation according to

background and family characteristics.

Among female teenagers, the significant

increase between 1988 and 1995 in the

proportion of those having sexual

intercourse before age 15 years appears

to have occurred across most of the

subgroups. Significant increases are seen

among teenagers regardless of maternal

education, maternal age at first birth,

family type, religious affiliation and

attendance, and school status. The trend

towards earlier initiation of sex appears

to be broadly based among the female

teenage population. One exception

involves maternal education. Female

11 12 9

21 23

19 19 21

15

21 23

19

Total 15-17 years 18-19 years Total 15-17 years 18-19 years

0

20

40

60

80

100

1988 1995

Female Male

15-19 years 15-19 years

Percent

Figure 4. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who had sexual intercourse

before 15 years of age by age at interview: United States, 1988 and 1995

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 11
teenagers whose mothers had the highest

education did not experience an increase

in early initiation of sexual activity.

In contrast, among male teenagers,

there does not appear to be such a

broad-based increase in early initiation.

An examination of subgroup differences

between 1988 and 1995 reveals few

significant trends. The only subgroup

showing marginal change is males

whose mothers have less than a high

school education. In 1995, this group

was less likely to report sexual initiation

by age 15 years in contrast to the survey

findings in 1988.

Current Sexual Activity

Whether teenagers have ever had

sex and their age at the time of their

first sexual intercourse are key

indicators of risk for pregnancy and

STD transmission. But it is also useful

to know about the recency of teenagers’

sexual activity. Many teenagers have sex

sporadically (2,3,29) so there may be

intermittent periods of time of varying

duration during which no risk of

pregnancy and STD infection exists.

Table 4 shows the proportion of

teenagers who were recently sexually

active—that is, they had engaged in

sexual intercourse at least once in the 3

months prior to the survey.

Not all teenagers who were sexually

experienced in 1995 were sexually

active. Although about half had had sex

at least once, 38 percent of all teens had

had sex recently. For males, this

proportion was significantly smaller than

it was in 1988, when 43 percent were

sexually active. Among females between

1988 and 1995, the proportion of those

who were sexually active went from 41

to 38 percent. However, some shifts

have occurred among subgroups that are

described below.

Among males, fewer younger

teenagers (15–17 years old) were

sexually active in 1995 compared with

those in the 1988 survey, while the

proportions did not shift for older male

teenagers. In contrast, among females, a

decline was evident among the older

subgroup, although this change was not

statistically significant.

In general, white and Hispanic

youth were less likely to be sexually

active than black youth, but between

1988 and 1995, some shifts occurred.

Among male teenagers, the proportion

of those who were sexually active

declined for white teenagers from

41 percent to 32 percent while remaining

stable among black and Hispanic youth.

Thus for males, the gap between white

teenagers and black or Hispanic

teenagers widened during the period. In

contrast, among female teenagers, the

proportion of those who were sexually

active rose significantly for Hispanic

females from 29 percent to 41 percent,

resulting in a narrowing of the

differences by race and Hispanic origin

by 1995. However, significant racial

differences remain in 1995 among

females.

Table 4 also shows that sexual

activity levels among teenagers vary by

family and sociodemographic

characteristics, much in the same way

that sexual experience levels vary, as

discussed previously.

Between 1988 and 1995, males and

females shared some of the same

patterns in trends across family and

sociodemographic characteristics,

patterns that again suggest that those

from backgrounds and with

characteristics associated with less risk

experienced the most reduction in risk.

The proportion of male and female

teenagers who were sexually active

declined significantly among those who

were Protestant, those who attended

religious service at least weekly, and

those who lived in the suburbs. In

addition, among female teenagers, those

with college-educated mothers also

experienced significant declines in

sexual activity. Among males, those

from two-parent families, those whose

mothers had a high school education,

and those whose mothers had delayed

their first birth also experienced

significant declines in sexual activity

over the period, as did those who lived

in the Northeast or the South, and those

who were not behind in school. In

contrast, males who were behind in

school actually experienced significant

increases in the percent who were

sexually active. Because teens with the

lowest risk experienced the largest

declines in recent sexual intercourse, the

gaps between teens with various

characteristics widened.

Contraceptive Use at Last

Intercourse

If teenagers are sexually active, the

risk of pregnancy and STD’s can be

offset by the use of effective

contraceptive methods. Table 5 shows

use of contraceptive methods for

teenagers who had sex in the 3 months

prior to the survey. In 1995, 29 percent

of sexually active female teenagers and

18 percent of sexually active male

teenagers had unprotected sex the last

time they had sex. Among females, the

proportion using no contraceptive

method at last intercourse increased

significantly between 1988 and 1995

from 20 to 29 percent. The prevalence

of unprotected recent sex among males

stayed relatively stable across the survey

years.

There have also been marked

changes over the period in the type of

contraceptives used by sexually active

teenagers during their last sexual

intercourse. The contraceptive method

associated with the largest drop in use is

the pill. Among females, 43 percent

were using the pill during their last

sexual intercourse in 1988, while only

25 percent were doing so in 1995. There

was also a significant decline in pill use

according to the second-hand reports of

males about their partners’ contraception

at last sexual intercourse. The decrease

in pill use was only partially offset by

the adoption of the highly effective

hormonal contraceptives, Norplant

implants and Depo-Provera injectables,

which were newly introduced before the

1995 survey. Seven percent of sexually

active females reported using implants

or injectables during their last sexual

intercourse in the 3 months prior to the

1995 survey. Black female teenagers

were more than 3 times more likely to

be using implant or injectable

contraception than their white

counterparts (16 versus 5 percent)

(figure 5). (Note: non-Hispanic white

teenagers are referred to as ‘‘white,’’ and

non-Hispanic black teenagers are

referred to as ‘‘black,’’ for ease of

comprehension of the discussions. All

Page 12 [ Series 23, No. 21
discussion of racial and ethnic

differences refer to estimates calculated

separately for Hispanic, non-Hispanic

black, and non-Hispanic white

teenagers.)

The popularity of the condom as a

method of protection against pregnancy

and STD’s grew between 1988 and

1995. Sexually active teenagers’ use of

the condom during their last sexual

intercourse increased significantly

between 1988 and 1995. Females’

reports of their partners’ condom use

during their last sexual intercourse

showed an increase from 31 to

38 percent, and males’ reports of their

own condom use increased from 53 to

64 percent (figure 6).

Although still relatively uncommon,

there was an encouraging increase in the

dual use of hormonal methods and the

condom reported by teenage females.

Only 3 percent of sexually active

females used this STD- and

pregnancy-protecting combination

during their last sexual intercourse,

according to the 1988 survey, but this

proportion rose significantly to 8 percent

by 1995. However, among male

teenagers, the dual use of condoms and

hormonal methods did not shift during

the period, although it was twice as high

as the female level. In 1995, 17 percent

of sexually active males used dual

methods during their last sexual

intercourse.

The shifts observed in the use of

contraceptive methods between 1988

and 1995 vary somewhat between white

and black teenagers. During the period,

the use of dual methods at last

intercourse stayed about the same for

white males, while it decreased

significantly for black males. Two

patterns common to white and black

teenagers of both sexes were the

increase in condom use and the decrease

in pill use. However, differences in

overall method use varied by race, most

notably for female teenagers. The

incidence of using no method at all at

last sexual intercourse increased the

most for white female teenagers. Among

black females, decreased use of the pill

during the period was offset somewhat

by an increased use of hormonal

implants and injectibles and condoms.

This resulted in little overall change in

levels of protection. Thus the prevalence

of unprotected recent sex among black

and white female teens converged,

closing a very large gap that had existed

during the previous decade (figure 7).

Table 6 provides further insight into

shifts in contraceptive method use at last

sexual intercourse among specific

subgroups. Like table 5, it presents the

percent using contraception at last

sexual intercourse and the specific

methods used among teenagers having

sex within 3 months of the interview.

The contraceptive methods used at last

sexual intercourse have been aggregated

into four categories: no method,

condom, hormonal method, and ‘‘other’’

methods. These categories are not

mutually exclusive because some

teenagers used more than one method at

the same time.

No Method Use

Trends in no method use were

consistent across age groups for both

Percent

1988 pill

1995 pill

1995 Norplant or Depo-Provera

Female Male

37

44

37

43

48

43

28 24

34

1 35

25

32

15

30

3

31

5

29

7

16

31 5

35

Total White Black Total White Black

0

20

40

60

80

100

Figure 5. Percent of sexually active females and males aged 15–19 years who used a

hormonal method at last sexual intercourse by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

31 31

24

53 50

67

38

41 41

64 64

71

Total White Black Total White Black

0

20

40

60

80

100 1988 1995

Female Male

Percent

Figure 6. Percent of sexually active females and males aged 15–19 years who used a

condom at last sexual intercourse by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 13
female and male teenagers. The

significant increase in no method use

among female teenagers was evident

among both the 15–17 year-old and the

18–19 year-old females. Both the

younger and older males showed

stability or no significant change in

levels of no-method use at recent

intercourse.

Examination of the trends among

sexually active black and white teenage

females by age group further pinpoints

groups who had improvements in

contraceptive use. Both younger and

older white sexually active female

teenagers experienced decreases in

protected last intercourse, with

significant decreases occurring among

older females. However, sexually active

younger black female youth experienced

an improvement in protection, although

the increase was not statistically

significant. Among male teenagers, not

much change was evident, with the

exception of 18-year-olds, whose

method use decreased significantly.

As a result of changes among

Hispanic teenagers, significant gaps are

apparent in 1995 between Hispanic and

black and white teenagers, both males

and females. For example, the percent

of Hispanic teenagers having had

unprotected recent intercourse was more

than double that of both white and black

males.

Female teenagers who were under

15 years old at first intercourse

experienced a large, significant increase

in unprotected last sexual intercourse,

while those who were at least 17 years

old at the time of their first intercourse

had no change. In 1995, 37 percent of

those whose first sexual intercourse was

before age 15 years used no method

during their last sexual intercourse. In

1988, it was 24 percent. Among those

who delayed first sexual intercourse

until they were 17 years or older, the

level of unprotected last sexual

intercourse remained stable at

17 percent.

Teenagers’ failure to use a

contraceptive method at last intercourse

varies among social and demographic

subgroups. This variation remained

relatively constant across the two survey

periods. For females, the rise in

unprotected last intercourse is apparent

across all demographic subgroups for

which estimates were reliable. The

subgroups of females that have

historically had higher rates of nomethod use continue to experience

higher rates. The same is true of males,

although their levels of unprotected last

sex have changed very little.

Unprotected sex is associated with

mother’s education. For females in

particular, higher proportions used no

contraception at last intercourse if their

mothers had less than 12 years of

education, compared with those whose

mothers had higher education levels. This

is especially true for females in 1995 for

whom unprotected sex was twice as high

when their mothers had less than 12 years

of school, compared with those whose

mothers had 16 years or more of school.

Despite these differences, the estimates

that meet the statistical precision criterion

show that nonuse of contraception at last

intercourse by female teenagers rose for at

least two of the categories of maternal

education: those whose mothers had less

than a high school education and those

whose mothers completed high school.

Similarly, nonuse of a contraceptive

method at last sexual intercourse was

associated with having a mother who

had her first birth as a teenager, living

in a single-parent family, and being

behind in school. For example, the

percent of sexually active teenage

females who had unprotected last

intercourse was more than twice that of

those whose schooling was not on

schedule (53 percent versus 25 percent

in 1995). Nonetheless, the share of

female teenagers not using a

contraceptive method at last sexual

intercourse rose for all these subgroups

between 1988 and 1995.

Condom Use

Several patterns stand out regarding

condom use at last intercourse among

sexually active teenagers when specific

subgroups are examined by age, race

and Hispanic origin, and age at first

sexual intercourse. Among sexually

active white females, the increase in the

proportion using condoms was

concentrated primarily in the older age

group (18–19 years). Among black

females, both older and younger

teenagers showed increases, with

statistically significant increases for the

younger subgroup. Sexually active

females who were at least 17 years old

at first intercourse had larger

improvements in condom use across the

period than those initiating sex at earlier

ages. They showed an 18-percent

increase in the proportion using

condoms (33 percent in 1988 versus

51 percent in 1995).

Among sexually active white males,

both younger and older teenagers

20 17

32

16 15 14

29 27 27

18

14 17

Total White Black Total White Black

0

20

40

60

80

100

1988 1995

Female Male

Percent

Figure 7. Percent of sexually active females and males aged 15–19 years who used no

contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Page 14 [ Series 23, No. 21
showed improvements in condom use at

last intercourse, while percents were

more stable across time for black males.

The percent of younger black males

using condoms increased, but not

significantly. However, the proportion

using a condom in 1988 was already

comparatively high for older black

sexually active male teenagers, higher

than that for comparable white males.

Thus in 1995, the older white male

teenagers ‘‘caught up’’ and had levels of

condom use at last intercourse similar to

that of black teenagers (61 percent

versus 62 percent). Younger white male

teenagers, however, continued to have

lower percents of those using the

condom at last intercourse than their

black counterparts (69 percent versus

78 percent).

Significant improvements in the

rates of condom use occurred selectively

among males according to age at first

intercourse. Particularly notable is the

significant increase of 18 percent (from

53 percent to 71 percent) among those

who began having intercourse by age 16

years.

Family background factors are

associated with condom use. For both

sexually active females and males, the

proportion of those using condoms at

last intercourse is substantially higher

when their mother’s education is higher.

Between 1988 and 1995, condom use

rose among teenagers with more highly

educated mothers. For example, condom

use among females whose mothers had

16 or more years of education rose from

32 percent to 48 percent.

Condom-use patterns and trends

varied by maternal age at the first birth.

In 1995, condom use was lower among

both male and female teenagers whose

mothers had been teenage mothers.

Condom use significantly increased

across time for both female and male

teenagers whose mothers had delayed

their first births beyond their teenage

years.

Family structure also appears

associated with changes in condom use

at last intercourse. Condom use

increased substantially among females

raised in two-parent families (biological

or adoptive) while it decreased

(although not significantly) among those

from families with a stepparent. Among

young men, condom use rose across all

family types and significantly so for

males raised in single-parent or

stepparent families.

In general, lower levels of

religiosity were associated with less

condom use at last intercourse in both

1988 and 1995. With the exception of

females in 1988, those with no religious

affiliation had lower percents of those

using the condom than Protestant and

Catholic teenagers. Such differences are

statistically significant in the case of

males in 1988 and male Protestants

compared with males of no religion in

1995. Sexually active male teenagers

who never attended religious services

were also less likely to use the condom

at last sexual intercourse compared with

those attending services. For males,

across time, it is these groups with the

lowest rates of condom use that show

increases. Among the sexually active

male teenagers, condom use at last

sexual intercourse rose for those who

had no religious affiliation and for those

who attended a religious service

infrequently or never. Among both

males and females, Protestant youth

experienced increases in condom use,

and among females only, those attending

religious services most frequently

experienced such increases.

Of the regional subgroups, sexually

active males and females living in the

Northeast and females in the South

experienced the largest improvements in

condom use at last sexual intercourse

between 1988 and 1995.

School status also strongly

differentiated female teenagers in their

use of condoms at last sexual

intercourse. Condom use at last

intercourse was higher for those who

were not behind in school. Although the

percentage-point difference in condom

use by school status was large for

males, it fell short of statistical

significance due to small sample sizes.

For both females and males who were

not behind in school, condom use at last

intercourse increased between 1988 and

1995. In contrast, males who were

behind in school had more moderate

increase in condom use, and their

female counterparts had decreased

condom use.

Hormonal Method Use

Table 6 shows that the drop in use

of hormonal contraception (synonymous

with pill use in 1988 and primarily pill

use in 1995) at last sexual intercourse

occurred in virtually all subgroups of

teenagers. This decline was experienced

by both the younger (age 15–17 years)

and older (age 18–19 years) teenage

females, although it was larger and only

significant among the older age group.

The older teenagers had further to drop

because they had much higher percents

using hormonal methods at last sexual

intercourse than younger teenagers in

1988. By 1995, their percents were still

higher than their younger counterparts,

although only slightly. Both black and

white females experienced this decrease

in pill use, with the exception of the

younger white teenagers, who

experienced virtually no change.

Sexually active teenage females who

began having sexual intercourse after

age 16 years were the least likely to use

hormonal methods and showed the

largest decrease since 1988.

With few exceptions, among

sexually active teenage females,

hormonal method use at last intercourse

decreased between 1988 and 1995

across all the categories of maternal

education, maternal age at first birth,

and family structure. Sexually active

females remaining most likely to use

hormonal contraceptives in 1995 were

those whose mothers had a high school

diploma and whose mothers had a birth

during the teenage years. Those in

two-parent families at age 14 years had

higher levels of hormonal contraceptive

use than those from single-parent or

stepparent families.

Hormonal method use at last

intercourse among sexually active

teenage females also decreased for every

category of religion, religious

attendance, and residence, with two

exceptions—those from rural areas

experienced a (nonsignificant) increase

in hormonal method use, and those who

attended religious services 1–3 times a

month (rather than more or less

frequently) experienced no change.

Similar to the patterns for condom

use, sexually active females who were

behind in school had lower percents

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 15
using hormonal methods at last sexual

intercourse than their counterparts

whose schooling was on schedule. Both

groups had a decline in hormonal

method use between 1988 and 1995,

although the shift was not statistically

significant for those who were behind in

school.

Contraceptive Use at First

Intercourse

Table 7 adds to the picture of

overall contraceptive use among

teenagers by presenting contraceptive

use at first intercourse. Method use at

first sexual intercourse is an important

measure of how well teenagers

anticipate and plan for protection at the

initiation of sexual activity. Additionally,

using a method at first sexual

intercourse may be an indicator of an

ongoing propensity to take precautions

against pregnancy. Teenage males who

used condoms at first intercourse are

more likely to use them at most recent

intercourse (58). Teenage females who

used contraception at first sexual

intercourse are much less likely than

those who did not to have a birth during

the teenage years according to analysis

of the NSFG data (15).

Teenagers are generally better

prepared for first intercourse, in terms of

offsetting risks, than was true a decade

ago. The percent of teenage females

who had unprotected first intercourse

dropped significantly from 33 to

23 percent, and male teenagers

experienced a slight drop that was not

statistically significant. Still, in 1995,

about one-quarter of teenage females

and males had first intercourse with no

protection from pregnancy and STD’s.

When they do use contraception at first

intercourse, teenagers tend to rely on the

condom rather than hormonal

contraceptives. About 70 percent of both

male and female teenagers reported

condom use at first sexual intercourse.

This represents a significant increase

over the 1988 condom-use statistics,

which were 50 percent for females and

55 percent for males. Only 8 percent of

teenage females in 1995 were using the

pill at first intercourse, and less than

1 percent were using injectables or

implants. As was the case for method

use at last intercourse, dual use of the

condom and a hormonal contraceptive at

first intercourse is uncommon. Five

percent of females used this

combination at first sex in 1995. For

male teenagers, dual use increased

significantly from 3 percent to 7 percent

between the 1988 and 1995 surveys.

Teenagers of both races and genders

have experienced improvements in

protection at first sexual intercourse,

although among white males it is not

statistically significant. These

improvements across racial groups,

however, have not eliminated a

persistent racial gap. Black teenagers

remain more likely to have unprotected

first sexual intercourse than white

teenagers. Thirty-three to 34 percent of

sexually experienced black teenagers

used no method at first sexual

intercourse compared with 18 percent of

white teenagers (figure 8).

In 1988, black teenage females had

substantially higher percents using the

pill at first sexual intercourse than white

females, but by 1995, black females’

pill use dropped, and the proportions

using the pill at first intercourse were

similar for both white and black

females. Although condom use increased

and offset black teens’ decrease in pill

use to some degree, white teens still had

higher levels of condom use at first

sexual intercourse than black teens did

by 1995 (figure 9).

An important question is whether

the rise in no-method use at last sexual

intercourse among female teenagers was

associated with the lack of a method at

first sexual intercourse. Therefore, the

contraceptive method used at first sexual

intercourse among the teenagers who

had sex within 3 months of the survey

was examined. The analyses (not

shown) revealed that these sexually

active teens did not differ from the

larger sexually experienced group of

teenagers in either 1988 or 1995. Their

use of contraceptives at first intercourse

and the patterns of specific method use

were very similar to those of the larger

sexually experienced teen population at

both time points. Thus although sexually

active teenagers were less protected at

the last instance of sex in 1995 than

they were in 1988, they were more

protected at first sexual intercourse in

1995 compared with 1988. This suggests

a changing pattern of contraceptive use

across the teen years, among individual

teenagers.

Table 8 shows method use among

teenagers at first sexual intercourse in

1988 and 1995 by subgroups of the

population, thereby providing more

detailed information on the patterns

shown in table 7. Like table 6, the

33

29

46

29

24

43

23

18

33

24

18

34

Total White Black Total White Black

0

20

40

60

80

100

1988 1995

Female

Percent

Male

Figure 8. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who used no contraceptive

method at first sexual intercourse by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Page 16 [ Series 23, No. 21
methods have been grouped into four

categories—no method, condoms,

hormonal methods, and all other

methods. Again, these categories are not

mutually exclusive because some

teenagers used more than one method at

the same time. The discussion of

findings first examines differences in

method use at first intercourse by age

and ethnicity and then by background

characteristics.

No Method Use

The improvements in protection at

first intercourse (shown in table 7) are

evident among teenagers of all ages.

Notably, among older white female

teenagers (18–19 years old) and younger

female black teenagers (15–17 years

old), this increase in the percent having

protected first sexual intercourse is large

and statistically significant. For males,

both white and black teenagers

experienced increases in percents using

a method. The significant improvement

seen in table 6 among black teenagers is

concentrated among the older ages. The

18–19-year-olds decreased from

43 percent using no contraceptive

method at first sexual intercourse to

32 percent. Among Hispanic teenagers,

both male and female, there was no

improvement in the percent of those

using contraception during first

intercourse. By 1995, they were more

likely than their white counterparts, and

in the case of males, also more likely

than their black counterparts, to have

unprotected first intercourse.

Female teenagers who had sex

earlier were better prepared for first

sexual intercourse in the 1995 survey

compared with the 1988 survey. Among

females who had sex before age 15

years in 1988, 46 percent used no

method of protection. In 1995, this

decreased to 27 percent. Although there

was improvement among females at all

ages of sexual initiation, the largest

improvement was among those initiating

sex at these youngest ages. Note that

this pattern is the opposite of the pattern

characterizing use of contraceptives at

last sex, among sexually active females

(table 6). Thus, females who began sex

earlier became more likely to use a

contraceptive method at first sex, and

less likely to use a method at last sex,

between 1988 and 1995. This pattern

was not evident among males who

showed little change in unprotected sex

across the period.

Although early female initiators

were better prepared than they were in

the past, use of a method at first sex is

still more likely among older initiators,

for both females and males. In 1995,

among males who had first sex before

age 15, 36 percent used no method,

compared with 17 percent for males

beginning sex at age 17 or older.

Contrary to prevailing patterns, males

who began sex at the oldest ages (17 or

older) had a slight, but nonsignificant

decrease in percents using contraception

at first sex.

The incidence of unprotected first

intercourse is lower among teenagers

whose mothers have higher levels of

education, whose mothers had delayed

childbearing, who lived in two-parent

families and who were not behind in

school. Unprotected first intercourse

decreased between 1988 and 1995 in all

categories of family types, mother’s

education, mother’s age at first birth,

and school status, especially for female

teenagers. However, differences remain

between the subgroups.

Religiosity did not appear to be

associated with unprotected sex among

female teenagers. However, males who

had no religious affiliation and never

attended religious services had larger

percents having unprotected first sex in

both 1988 and 1995. Additionally, there

was a significant decrease in

unprotected sex for Protestant male

teenagers.

Condom Use

The significant increases in condom

use at first sex that were documented in

table 7 occurred for both the younger

(aged 15–17 years) and the older (aged

18–19 years) cohorts of teenagers. In

1995, close to 70 percent of the sexually

experienced in both age groups used a

condom at first sexual intercourse. In

addition, these significant increases in

condom use are evident within the white

and black subpopulations for both the

older and younger teens. However, the

resulting levels of condom use at first sex

remain substantially lower in 1995 among

black teenagers compared with white

teenagers. For example, 51 percent of

black females ages 18–19 years used a

condom at first sexual intercourse

compared with 78 percent of like-aged

white females.

The estimates suggest that Hispanic

females may have shared in the

increased percent of condom use at first

sexual intercourse (with the exception of

those aged 18–19 years), but the

50

55

38

55

58

44

70

78

56

69

76

61

Total White Black Total White Black

0

20

40

60

80

100 1988 1995

Female Male

Percent

Figure 9. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years who used a condom at first

sexual intercourse by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 17
changes fall short of statistical

significance. Nonetheless, their condom

use at first sex was substantially lower

than that among white teenagers and

similar to or slightly lower than that

among black teenagers in 1995.

Condom use is more prevalent among

teenagers who delayed first sexual

intercourse until age 17 years than it is for

those who began having sex at an earlier

age. Increased use of contraceptives

occurred regardless of age at first sex, but

those who were youngest at first sex

experienced particularly large

improvements in condom use. Teenagers

who had first sex at a younger age were

more apt to use condoms in 1995 than

their counterparts in 1988.

As expected, condom use at first

sex is higher among teenagers whose

schooling was at grade level, whose

mothers were more highly educated, and

whose mothers delayed their first births

(although not significant for females in

1995). Among females, condom use at

first sex was lower among those from

single-parent families compared with the

other family types, with a statistically

significant difference in the case of the

stepparent family. Improvements in

condom use at first sex are apparent for

all teenagers whether or not they had

these attributes. Thus, between 1988 and

1995, these subgroup differences

persisted because all groups were

equally affected.

Similarly, condom use at first sex

increased notably between 1988 and 1995

regardless of religiosity. However, male

Protestants experienced the largest

percentage-point increase of the religious

affiliation groups (19 percentage points).

Among females, those who attended

religious services the most frequently

experienced the largest increase of the

religious-attendance-frequency groups

(23 percentage points).

Hormonal Method Use

Hormonal methods are relatively

uncommon as a contraceptive method

used at first sexual intercourse, and no

significant changes in their use were

detected between 1988 and 1995. In 1995,

the group with the highest percents using

hormonal methods at first intercourse was

black females aged 18–19 years

(16 percent). Only 9 percent of white

females of the same age reported using

hormonal methods at first intercourse.

However, this difference by race is not

statistically significant. Males’ reports of

hormonal method use by their partners are

very similar to those of the females.

Generally, because hormonal method use

at first sexual intercourse is such a rare

phenomenon, statistics by background and

sociodemographic characteristics did not

meet standards of reliability or precision.

Other Aspects of Sexual

Behavior

Number of Sexual Partners in

Lifetime

The number of sexual partners

teenagers have is an important indicator

of their risk of contracting a sexually

transmitted disease (STD), including

HIV. Generally speaking, having higher

numbers of sexual partners is associated

with increased likelihood of

encountering a partner with an STD

(26,59).

Table 9 is limited to sexually

experienced teenagers and shows the

number of sexual partners that they

reported having had in their lives for

both survey years. In 1995, 37 percent

of sexually experienced females had a

total of one partner and 14 percent had

had six or more partners. Males reported

more lifetime sexual partners than

females, and older teenagers have

accumulated more sexual partners than

younger teenagers.

Overall, there has been little change

between 1988 and 1995 in the number

of sexual partners that sexually

experienced teenagers had accumulated,

although slightly fewer teenagers were

sexually experienced (table 1). (Tests of

significance were conducted and are

denoted in the table for trends in every

category of number of partners.

However, trends are discussed below for

the two extreme categories only, for the

clearest illustration of trends in risk.)

Some shifts did occur among the

females, but not among males. Sexually

experienced 18- and 19-year-old females

experienced a significant decrease in the

percent with only one partner. Black

females, especially those 15–17 years of

age, also show a significant decrease in

the proportion with only one partner.

There was also little change in the

proportions reporting six or more

lifetime partners. Among males, there

were some improvements; for the

18-year-olds and for white males

overall, a significantly smaller percent

had six or more partners.

Fewer sexually experienced black

teenagers had a single partner in their

lifetime than is true of white and

Hispanic youth. In 1995, 22 percent of

black females had only one partner

compared with 39 and 44 percent of

white and Hispanic female teenagers,

respectively. This difference by race and

ethnic subgroup was also apparent

among male teenagers.

When teenagers initiate sex early,

they have more opportunity to

accumulate partners over their teenage

years. Among male teenagers whose first

sexual intercourse was at age 17 years

or later, 58 percent had had only one

partner compared with only 11 percent

among those who had begun having

sexual intercourse before age 15 years.

The same pattern prevailed among

females (figure 10). Although more

teenage females had sexual intercourse

before age 15 years in 1995 than in

20 23

11

40

53

2

58

3

1

partner

6 partners

or more 1 partner

6 partners

or more

0

20

40

60

80

100

First sexual 

intercourse at

less than 15

years of age

First sexual

intercourse at

17-19 years 

of age

Female

Percent

Male

Figure 10. Percent of females and males

aged 15–19 years with specified number of

sexual partners in lifetime by age at first

sexual intercourse: United States, 1995

Page 18 [ Series 23, No. 21
1988, this trend has apparently not yet

resulted in increases in the number of

lifetime partners at the aggregate level.

The patterns of association between

family background characteristics and

the number of lifetime partners vary for

female and male teenagers. Among

sexually experienced females, in both

1988 and 1995, those with higher

maternal education had slightly higher,

but not significantly higher, percents

with multiple lifetime partners. Thus,

although not definitive, the data suggest

that maternal education may not be

associated with lower risk via fewer

partners, in the same way as it was for

the other sexual risk behaviors. In

contrast, the anticipated pattern for

males prevails: Those whose mothers

had less education were more likely to

have multiple lifetime partners. These

patterns have not shifted appreciably

between 1988 and 1995—with one

exception. Whereas the association of

mother’s education with male teenagers

having only one partner was strong in

1988, this association had disappeared

by 1995.

For sexually experienced teenagers,

many of the other background

characteristics thought to protect them

from risky behavior are indeed

associated with their having fewer

lifetime sexual partners. Sexually

experienced females and males who

were living with two biological or

adoptive parents were less likely to have

multiple lifetime partners than teenagers

from stepparent families (females) and

single-parent families (males). In

addition, among the females, attending

religious services one or more times a

month was associated with a lower

proportion of having six or more sexual

partners. Among males, those whose

mothers had delayed their first births

and those who were on schedule

academically had fewer lifetime partners

than their peers without these

characteristics. Over half the males who

were behind academically had six or

more sexual partners, compared with

one-fifth among those on schedule.

Between 1988 and 1995, few

changes occurred for males within the

subgroups of family background and

sociodemographic characteristics. Only

sexually experienced males who lived

with two biological or adoptive parents

showed a significant decrease in the

proportion of those having six or more

sexual partners. On the other hand, this

type of risk increased for sexually

experienced females who lived in

stepparent families, whose mothers were

teens at their first birth, who were

Protestant, and who were behind in

school. These groups showed a

significant decrease in the proportion

with only a single lifetime partner.

Number of Sexual Partners in

Past 3 Months

Table 10 shows the number of

sexual partners that sexually experienced

teenagers had in the 3 months prior to

the survey. This measure is particularly

relevant for assessing STD risk because

of the ease of transmission from one

partner to the next when relatively short

time intervals exist between partners.

For females, data are presented only for

1995 because there are substantial

differences between 1988 and 1995 in

the ways the data were collected from

respondents (appendix II and table XV).

In the 3 months before the 1995

survey, about one-fifth of sexually

experienced female teenagers and

one-third of sexually experienced male

teenagers had no sexual partners

(figure 11). This pattern suggests that

once they have begun having sexual

intercourse, sex may be more sporadic

for males than for females. This could

be due, at least in part, to the likely

younger age of their female partners.

The majority of sexually experienced

teenagers had a single sexual partner in

the past 3 months: 61 percent of the

females and 56 percent of males. A

smaller proportion—17 percent of the

females and 13 percent of the

males—had two or more partners in the

past 3 months.

Older female teenagers—those aged

18–19 years—were likely to have more

recent sexual partners than younger

teens aged 15–17 years. Almost a

quarter of 19-year-old females in 1995

had two or more recent partners. In

contrast, among males, the older

teenagers were less likely to have had

two or more recent partners than the

younger teenagers. This pattern

represents a reversal from 1988 when

older male teenagers had more partners

than younger ones, although that

difference falls short of statistical

significance.

Black male teenagers were the most

likely to have multiple recent partners,

consistent with their higher numbers of

lifetime partners seen in table 9.

Approximately one-quarter of sexually

experienced black male teenagers in

1995 had two or more partners in the

past 3 months. This proportion was the

same for black females, although

differences among females identified by

race and ethnic groups are not

significant. In contrast, the proportion of

Hispanic teenagers with two or more

recent partners was close to 15 percent

for Hispanic males and females and for

white females. Only 7 percent of

sexually experienced white males had

two or more recent partners.

Contrasting the number of recent

partners between teenagers who began

having sexual intercourse early with

those who began later shows whether

longer duration of sexual activity leads

to a faster pace of accumulating

partners. For males, early initiation does

appear to be associated with

faster-paced partner accumulation in

both survey years. The younger a male

22

61

17

31

56

13

0 partners 1 partner 2 partners

or more

0

20

40

60

80

100

Female Male

Number of sexual partners

Percent

Figure 11. Percent of males and females

aged 15–19 years with specified number of

sexual partners in the 3 months prior to

the survey: United States, 1995

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 19
was at first sexual intercourse, the more

likely he was to report multiple recent

partners. This pattern was not evident

among female teenagers in 1995.

However, this pattern has been

previously documented among females

in analyses using the 1988 NSFG

(26,27).

Among sexually experienced

females, few other background

characteristics differentiated those

having more numerous recent sexual

partners from those having fewer

partners. Two exceptions were maternal

education and school progress. Similar

to the pattern evident for lifetime

numbers of partners (table 9), higher

maternal education was not associated

with lower risk. In fact, the proportion

of those with higher maternal education

who had multiple recent partners was

significantly greater than among those

with lower maternal education. In

contrast, females who were behind in

school also were more likely to report

two or more partners in the past 3

months. This latter pattern was also

evident among the male teenagers.

Among sexually experienced males

in 1995, those with mothers who

delayed their first births, those living

with two biological or adopted parents,

or those living in the suburbs (compared

to the central city) had lower percents

with multiple recent partners compared

with males without these characteristics.

Trend data are only available for

sexually experienced teenage males. In

1988 and 1995, the overall distributions

of males having zero, one or two, or

more partners in the past 3 months look

very similar. However, there appear to

be significant shifts among certain

subgroups. Older males (aged 18–19

years) and white males were less likely

to have two or more recent sexual

partners in 1995 than in 1988. This

decline is consistent with the trend in

number of lifetime partners (table 9).

There were also significant declines

in the number of recent sexual partners

among males whose mothers had less

than 12 years education; whose mothers

had delayed their first childbearing; who

lived with two biological or adopted

parents; who attended a religious service

1–3 times per month; who lived in the

suburbs, rural areas, or in the South; or

who were not behind in school. Thus,

for males, there appear to be substantial

changes between 1988 and 1995 in the

distribution of those with multiple recent

sexual partners across a variety of

demographic and individual

characteristics.

Age Differences Between

Teenagers and Their

Opposite-Sex Sexual Partners

Interpersonal dynamics between

teenage sexual partners can be affected

by their relative ages. Until recently,

national data have not been available

about age differences between teenagers

who engage in sexual intercourse. Prior

research using the 1995 NSFG data

showed that 7 percent of sexually active

females aged 17 years or younger were

currently in a sexual relationship with a

male who was 6 or more years older.

These women were more likely to

become pregnant and have a birth than

women whose partners were closer to

their own age (60). Only rarely have

male teenagers’ reports of age

differences with their sexual partners

been examined (61). Tables 11–14

present data on the age differences

between teenagers and their

opposite-gender sexual partners.

Tables 11 and 12 present age differences

between teenagers and their most recent

opposite-sex partners in the past 3

months. Tables 13 and 14 present age

differences between teenagers and their

first sexual partners. For females, these

data are only available for 1995, as this

information was not collected in the

1988 NSFG.

Age Differences: Recent Sexual

Partners

Sexually active female teenagers

most often have recent male sexual

partners who are relatively close in age.

Over half have recent partners who are

1–3 years older than they are

(56 percent), and an additional

20 percent have partners of the same age

(table 11). However, 24 percent have

recent partners who are at least 4 years

older. Very rarely did females have a

recent male sexual partner who was

younger, but these statistics are included

in table 12 for contrast with the other

data.

There is little evidence of

differences between white, black, and

Hispanic teenage females in age gaps

with their most recent sexual partners.

Apparent differences among Hispanic

females cannot be considered reliable

because the estimates fall below

acceptable levels of reliability. The age

gap between sexually active teen

females and their recent male partners

also does not vary systematically by

most of the other social and background

factors presented in the table. One

exception is the age at sexual initiation.

When a female had begun having

intercourse early, she was more likely to

have a recent sexual partner who was 4

or more years older. Among those aged

15 years or younger at first sex,

31 percent had a recent male partner

who was 4 or more years older. Among

those aged 17–19 years at first sex,

19 percent had older partners. Female

teenagers who were behind in school

also had higher percents of older sexual

partners compared with those whose

schooling was on schedule. However,

this difference was not statistically

significant.

Table 12 presents these data for

male teenagers for 1988 and 1995.

Sexually active teen males roughly

mirror the pattern among females with

regard to the relative age of their last

partner. In 1995, most had female

partners that were their same age

(25 percent) or 1–3 years younger

(46 percent).

As age increased, the percent of

sexually active males having younger

female partners increased. For example,

among sexually active males aged 16

years in 1995, one-third had a last

female sexual partner who was 1–3

years younger (13–15 years old). Among

sexually active males aged 19 years,

more than half (55 percent) had a last

sexual partner who was 1–3 years

younger (16–18 years old).

As was the case for females, the

race and Hispanic origin subgroups of

males in 1995 did not differ

substantially with respect to age

differences between them and their

recent sexual partners. For each

race/ethnic group, however, the

Page 20 [ Series 23, No. 21
distribution was more highly skewed

toward younger partners among older

sexually active teenagers. Teens with

different social and background

characteristics varied little in terms of

the age gaps between the males and

their most recent sexual partners. As

with the females, being behind in school

was associated with the age of the most

recent partner. Males who were behind

academically were more likely to have

younger partners than those whose

schooling was on schedule.

Although the overall distribution of

males’ age differences with their most

recent partners did not vary between

1988 and 1995, a few changes occurred

in particular subgroups. Significant

changes across the two time points

occurred among sexually active

Hispanic males. Higher proportions of

them had partners of the same age in

1995 compared with 1988. By 1995, the

percent of sexually active Hispanic

males with a partner of the same age

had risen from 15 to 28 percent, making

them similar in 1995 to males of other

ethnic backgrounds. Black males

experienced a marginally significant

increase in the percent whose recent

sexual partner was 1–3 years older

(from 18 to 25 percent). Other groups

showing significant drops between 1988

and 1995 in the percent with partners of

the same age include males with highly

educated mothers, those living with a

single parent at age 14 years, and those

living in a central city or in the

Midwest.

Age Differences: First Sexual Partner

Table 13 shows the age differences

between sexually experienced females

and their first male sexual partners as

reported in the 1995 survey. The

majority of sexually experienced

females (61 percent) had a first partner

who was 1–3 years older. An additional

15 percent had a first partner of the

same age and a few (4 percent) had a

partner who was younger than they

were. Twenty percent had a partner who

was 4 or more years older. This latter

proportion is similar to the share of

sexually active females whose recent

partners were 4 or more years older.

Differences between white, black,

and Hispanic females were minimal, as

was the case for age differences with

recent partners (table 11). Again,

apparent differences between Hispanic

females (particularly those aged 15–17

years) and their black and white

counterparts cannot be interpreted with

confidence because the precision of

these statistics falls below acceptable

levels.

With very few exceptions, age

differences between female teenagers

and their first sexual partners seem

unrelated to the other social and

background characteristics presented in

the table. Females whose first sexual

intercourse was before age 15 years had

substantially higher percents with older

first partners compared with those

whose first sexual intercourse was at age

16 years, but this pattern by age at first

sex is not linear across the ages.

Differences appear between subgroups

of religious affiliation and frequency of

service attendance, but none are

statistically significant.

Table 13 presents data on age

differences between males and their first

sexual partners for 1988 and 1995. In

1995, most males reported first sexual

partners who were within 3 years of

their own age. Almost a third had first

female partners who were their same

age, 36 percent had first partners who

were 1–3 years older, and 24 percent

had first partners 1–3 years younger.

Only tiny percents had first female

partners 4 or more years older and the

percent with a female partner 4 or more

years younger was not statistically

reliable. A higher proportion of male

teenagers’ first partners were 1–3 years

older compared with their recent

partners (table 12). This pattern suggests

a progression towards younger partners

as males become more experienced.

Compared with black and Hispanic

males, white males were more likely to

have first female partners who were 1–3

years younger in 1995. However, this

difference was only marginally

statistically significant. Hispanic males

had higher percents with first female

partners who were 4 or more years older

compared with black males (11 percent

versus 5 percent).

Teenage males show a pattern

similar to teenage females with regard

to the age of their first sexual partner.

Those who were younger at sexual

initiation were more likely to have had

an older female partner compared with

those who delayed first sex until they

were older. Almost half of males

initiating sex before age 15 years had a

first partner 1–3 years older, and

12 percent had a partner at least 4 years

older. In contrast, among those waiting

until age 16 years to initiate sex, only

31 percent had an older partner.

Although the overall distributions of

age differences between males and their

first sexual partners look similar in the

1988 and 1995 surveys, there were a

few shifts among subgroups of male

teenagers. Hispanic males showed a

significant increase in first partners who

were at least 4 years older.

Discussion

Compared with a decade earlier,

many teenagers in 1995 were engaging

in fewer sex-related risk behaviors, but

risk increased among some groups.

+ A smaller proportion of teenagers

were sexually experienced in 1995.

Among some groups, fewer were

sexually active within 3 months of

the survey. Although teenage males

initiate sex at younger ages than

females do, as seen in both 1988

and 1995, there is evidence that

across this time period, females

were beginning to have sex at

younger ages.

+ Male and female teenagers increased

their use of contraception at first sex

between 1988 and 1995. Females,

however, became less likely to use

contraceptives at their last recent

sexual intercourse. The proportion

using no contraception remains a

cause for concern. (In 1995,

29 percent of females and 18 percent

of males used no method at last

sexual intercourse.)

+ Teenagers’ choices of contraceptive

methods changed. Teenagers less

often used the pill, a method with a

low failure rate (62,63). Their use of

condoms increased across all age

and race groups (with the exception

of Hispanic females at last sexual

intercourse). In 1995, teenage

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 21
females had also started to use new

methods (Norplant implants and

Depo-Provera injectables) that

analyses show are the most effective

methods.

+ Most teenagers do not have multiple

partners within a short time period.

However, 17 percent of females and

13 percent of males who are

sexually experienced had 2 or more

partners in the 3 months preceding

the 1995 interview. For males, this

risk factor did not change over time

(the trend for females could not be

analyzed). Males had more lifetime

partners than females, but females

had a larger number of recent

partners than males.

+ In 1995, most teenagers had sexual

partners who were the same age or

within 3 years of their own age.

However, 27 percent of females

initiating sex before age 15 years

had first partners who were older

than they were by 4 or more years,

as did 12 percent of males initiating

sex before age 15 years.

Two patterns stand out as possible

sources of concern: the rise in early

onset of sexual intercourse among

females in 1995, and the increase from

1988 to 1995 in percents having

unprotected recent sex. Early sex

exposes teenagers to adverse

consequences for longer periods of time.

Teenagers, particularly males, who have

first sexual intercourse at a young age

have more lifetime partners and higher

numbers of recent partners. For females,

younger age at first sex is linked to

having older male partners at recent

sexual intercourse. Finally, males and

females who are younger at first

intercourse are less likely to use

contraceptives, both during the first time

and at the most recent time.

The increase in the use of

contraception during first sexual

episodes and the decrease at the most

recent sexual encounters may mean that

females’ better preparedness for first sex

has not translated into improvements in

subsequent consistent use of

contraception.

Many of the sociodemographic and

family characteristics examined here

have clear and persistent associations

with teenagers’ sexual and contraceptive

behaviors. Teenagers with more highly

educated mothers, which is an indicator

of family socioeconomic status, begin

having sex later, are less likely to be

sexually active, and are more likely to

use contraceptives (figure 12). Whether

teenagers’ mothers began their own

childbearing as teenagers themselves is

clearly associated with these risk

behaviors. Daughters and sons of former

teen mothers engaged in higher levels of

sexual risk behavior (figure 13). Coming

from a single-parent family rather than a

family with two biological or adoptive

parents was associated with higher risk

with respect to sexual behaviors. Finally,

being behind in school (including

having dropped out), was strongly

correlated with higher levels of all the

sexual and contraceptive risks examined,

including a greater number of recent and

lifetime partners (males only)

(figure 14).

Across the period, teenagers coming

from families with historically lower

levels of teenage sexual risk behaviors

appear to have experienced the highest

levels of improvement. Teenagers whose

mothers had higher levels of education

were most likely to experience

reductions in sexual activity. Females in

this category were most likely to have

no increase in early sexual activity. For

males, improvement in these areas was

also seen for those whose mothers had

60

29

48

42

33

60

24

47

18

39

37

9

28

21

17

46

12

30

18

15

Ever had sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse before 15 years of age

Sexually active

No contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse

No contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse

Ever had sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse before 15 years of age

Sexually active

No contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse

No contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

Mother's education less than 12 years

Mother's education 16 years or more 

Female

Male

Figure 12. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years with specified risk by mother’s

education: United States, 1995

Page 22 [ Series 23, No. 21
delayed their first birth. Male and

female teenagers who were Protestant

also experienced significant

improvements in condom use and

reduced sexual activity. The group with

the lowest levels of improvement and in

some cases deterioration were the

teenagers who were behind their grade

level in school or who had dropped out.

These patterns suggest the need to give

special attention to those groups of

teenagers who are lagging behind those

whose levels of risk have gone down

during the period. Research should

further explore the mechanisms by

which these factors interact and

persistently affect male and female teen

sexual and contraceptive behavior, and

the ways in which their effects have

changed over time.

Racial differentials in most sexual

risk behaviors persisted over the decade.

Black teenagers, both male and female,

have higher levels of sexual experience,

earlier ages at sexual initiation, higher

percents who were sexually active in the

3 months before the survey, higher

proportions using no method at first sex,

and greater numbers of recent and

lifetime partners. The decline in sexual

experience and recent sexual activity

among males was concentrated primarily

among white males. Black females

experienced increases in numbers of

lifetime partners, and black males did

not share in the decreases in number of

recent partners that white males

experienced. On the other hand, black

teenagers shared equally in the

improvements in contraceptive use at

first sexual union; both black and white

youth had increases in condom use and

in method use overall at first

intercourse. Black males had higher

percents than Hispanic or white males

using the condom at last sexual

intercourse in 1988 and 1995.

Furthermore, for female teenagers, the

racial gap in method use at recent

sexual union closed primarily because

contraception decreased among white

females and remained stable among

black females because of their adoption

of injectable and implant contraceptives

(in addition to sharing in the trend of

increased condom use). Black and white

teen females were equally likely to use

contraception at last recent sexual

intercourse, whereas 14 percentage

points had separated them in 1988.

Hispanic teenagers generally had

levels between those of black and white

teenagers with respect to sexual risk

behaviors, but shifts between 1988 and

1995 suggest that Hispanic youth may

be at higher risk than in the past. Some

apparent differences between Hispanics

and the other two groups cannot be

considered reliable due to lack of

precision of some estimates. Only those

that are statistically significant are

discussed here unless otherwise stated.

In 1995, Hispanic males had higher

levels of sexual experience and sexual

activity than white teenagers and lower

levels than black teenagers. Hispanic

males and females began having sexual

intercourse earlier than white teenagers,

and later than black youth, but the

difference in estimates for Hispanic and

black females was not statistically

significant. Between 1988 and 1995,

increases in sexual experience and

sexual activity among Hispanic females

changed the ranking of their risk levels

from lowest to intermediate between

those of white and black female

teenagers.

Hispanic teenagers were the only

group for whom the increase in condom

use was not pervasive. Hispanic females

declined in condom use at last sexual

intercourse, and Hispanic males’

60

28

46

32

27

69

30

50

15

28

44

14

33

27

21

47

16

30

13

20

Ever had sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse before 15 years of age

Sexually active

No contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse

No contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse

Ever had sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse before 15 years of age

Sexually active

No contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse

No contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

Under age 20 years

Age 20 years or older

Female

Male

Figure 13. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years with specified risk by mother’s

age at first birth: United States, 1995

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 23
condom use at first intercourse did not

improve between 1988 and 1995.

Hispanic teenagers, both male and

female, had the highest percents using

no method and the lowest percents using

condoms at first and at last sexual

episode in 1995.

These shifts in the sexual and

contraceptive behavior of teenagers help

explain declines over the past decade in

their pregnancy and birth rates (2).

Teenage pregnancy rates declined

15 percent between 1991 and 1996, to a

low of 99 per 1,000 teenage females.

During this same time period, teenagers’

birth rates declined 12 percent. The most

recent data show that the birth rates

have declined even further, to 49.6 live

births per 1,000 teenagers in 1999 (1).

The leveling of sexual experience rates

and increased use of contraceptive

methods at first sexual episode are

consistent with this pregnancy rate

decline. Decreased use of contraceptives

at the most recent incident of sex among

female teenagers is not consistent with

the declining pregnancy rate. However,

other factors, such as type of method

chosen, can affect pregnancy risk among

sexually active teenagers. Although not

widespread at the time of the 1995 data

collection, teenagers’ adoption of highly

effective methods such as Depo-Provera

injectables and Norplant implants may

have played a protective role. Indeed,

black teenage females, who have

experienced the largest declines in

pregnancy and birth rates, also have the

largest percents using injectable and

implant contraception.

Racial and ethnic differences in

sexual risk behaviors help to understand

the differences in their pregnancy and

birth rates. Echoing the patterns of

higher levels of sexual experience,

earlier initiation of sexual activity and

lower levels of contraceptive use (as

measured by contraception at first sexual

intercourse), the pregnancy rates for

Hispanic and black teenagers were about

twice as high as the rate for white

teenagers in 1996 (2). A strategy to

further understand differences in risk is

to examine differences in pregnancy

rates, but limited to those who were

sexually active in a recent time period

prior to the year of the rate. Among

those who had sex within the year

before the 1995 survey, the pregnancy

rate was still twice as high for black and

Hispanic teenagers as it was for white

teenagers. This reinforces the notion that

differences in contraceptive use may

play a large role in differences in

pregnancy rates.

Why have the changes taken place

in adolescents’ sexual and contraceptive

behavior? There is evidence that

attitudes towards teenage sexual activity

may have become less tolerant. The

passage of the Welfare Reform Law of

1996, for example, signaled a broad

concern with the negative consequences

of early sexual involvement and

increased support for abstinence

messages. There is evidence that

teenagers’ adoption of more

conservative attitudes toward premarital

sex is associated with reduced levels of

sexual activity, at least among males

(20). Programs have been developed at

the Federal, State, and local level to

promote postponement of sex and

correct and consistent use of

contraception among teenagers.

Research on evaluation of the success of

these programs remains largely

inconclusive, although some promising

prototypes have been identified (5).

Campaigns to increase public

awareness of HIV/AIDS and its

prevention probably account for some of

the increases in condom use among

teenagers since the 1980’s. The 1995

71

39

60

53

32

86

34

68

19

41

50

21

47

16

35

25

22

53

20

35

13

23

21

11

Ever had sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse before 15 years of age

Sexually active

No contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse

No contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse

Ever had sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse before 15 years of age

Sexually active

No contraceptive method at last sexual intercourse

No contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse

6 partners or more in lifetime

2 partners or more in last 3 months

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

Behind in school

On schedule

Female

Male

Figure 14. Percent of females and males aged 15–19 years with specified risk by school

status: United States, 1995

Page 24 [ Series 23, No. 21
NSAM and NSFG data show that the

vast majority of teenagers are receiving

instruction about birth control methods,

how to prevent AIDS, and abstinence or

how to say ‘‘no’’ to sex. In 1995,

88 percent of female teenagers reported

receiving instruction on birth control

methods, up from 72 percent in 1988.

Seventy-nine percent of males received

instruction on contraceptives in 1995, up

slightly from the 1988 level. Instruction

on how to prevent AIDS by using safe

sex practices is virtually universal:

92 percent of males and 94 percent of

females reported this instruction.

Equally common among females is

instruction on how to say ‘‘no’’ to sex.

Ninety-three percent received such

instruction, although fewer males report

being taught how to say ‘‘no’’ (64).

Summary

Between 1988 and 1995, the overall

level of teenagers’ sexual risk-taking

appears to have declined. These shifts in

sexual and contraceptive behavior help

explain declines over the past decade in

teenage pregnancy and birth rates.

However, not all teenagers have

participated in the movement towards

less risk-taking, and long-standing racial

differences persist. In addition, across

the period, teenagers coming from

families with historically lower levels of

sexual risk behaviors appear to have

experienced the highest levels of

improvement. These patterns suggest the

need to give special attention to the

groups of teenagers who are lagging

behind their peers.

References

1. Curtin SC, Martin JA. Births:

Preliminary data for 1999. National

vital statistics reports; vol 48, no 14.

Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center

for Health Statistics. 2000.

2. Ventura SJ, Mosher WD, Curtin SC, et

al. Trends in pregnancies and

pregnancy rates by outcome: Estimates

for the United States, 1976–96.

National Center for Health Statistics.

Vital Health Stat 21(56). 2000.

3. The Alan Guttmacher Institute. Sex and

America’s teenagers. New York: The

Alan Guttmacher Institute. 1994.

4. Singh S, Darroch JE. Adolescent

pregnancy and childbearing: Levels and

trends in developing countries. Fam

Plann Persp 32(1):14–23. 2000.

5. Kirby D. No easy answers: Research

findings on programs to reduce teen

pregnancy. The National Campaign to

Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Washington.

1997.

6. The Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of

1996, PL 104–193, section 101(10).

7. Institute of Medicine. The hidden

epidemic. Washington: National

Academy Press. 1997.

8. Hatcher R, Trussell J, Stewart F, et al.

Contraceptive technology (17th revised

edition). New York: Ardent Media, Inc.

1998.

9. Division of STD Prevention. Sexually

transmitted disease surveillance, 1998.

Department of Health and Human

Services, Atlanta: Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC),

September 1999.

10. Division of STD Prevention. Sexually

transmitted disease surveillance, 1999.

Department of Health and Human

Services, Atlanta: Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC),

September 2000.

11. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Premarital sexual

experience among adolescent women:

United States, 1970–88. MMWR

39(51–52):929–32. 1991.

12. Sonenstein FL, Ku L, Lindberg LD, et

al. Changes in sexual behavior and

condom use among teenaged males:

1988 to 1995. Am J Public Health

88(6): 956–59. 1998.

13. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Trends in sexual risk

behaviors among high school

students—United States, 1991–1997.

MMWR 47(36):749–52. 1998.

14. Abma J, Chandra A, Mosher W, et al.

Fertility, family planning, and women’s

health: New data from the 1995

National Survey of Family Growth.

National Center for Health Statistics.

Vital Health Stat 23(19). 1997.

15. Moore KA, Driscoll A, Lindberg LD. A

statistical portrait of adolescent sex,

contraception, and childbearing.

Washington: The National Campaign to

Prevent Teen Pregnancy. March 1998.

16. Singh S, Darroch JE. Trends in sexual

activity among adolescent American

women: 1982–1995. Fam Plann Persp

31(5):212–19. 1999.

17. Peterson LS. Contraceptive use in the

United States: 1982–1990. Advance

data from Vital and Health Stat; no

260. Hyattsville, Maryland: National

Center for Health Statistics. 1995.

18. Sonenstein FL, Pleck JH, Ku LC.

Sexual activity, condom use, and AIDS

awareness among adolescent males.

Fam Plann Persp. 21(4):152–58. 1989.

19. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Youth risk behavior

surveillance—United States, 1999.

MMWR 49(no. SS-5). 2000.

20. Ku L, Sonenstein F, Lindberg LD, et

al. Understanding changes in teenage

men’s sexual activity: 1979 to 1995.

Fam Plann Persp 30(6):256–62. 1998.

21. Forrest JD, Singh S. The sexual and

reproductive behavior of American

women, 1982–1988. Fam Plann Persp

22(5):206–14. 1990.

22. Piccinino LJ, Mosher WD. Trends in

contraceptive use in the United States:

1982–1995. Fam Plann Persp

30(1):4–10. 1998.

23. Abma J, Sonenstein F. Teenage sexual

behavior and contraceptive use: An

update. Paper presented at the

conference ‘‘Sexuality and American

Social Policy.’’ American Enterprise

Institute Welfare Reform Academy,

Washington. May 1998.

24. Lindberg LD, Ku LC, Sonenstein FL.

Adolescent males’ combined use of

condoms with partners’ use of female

contraceptive methods. Maternal and

Child Health Journal 2(4):201–09.

1998.

25. Santelli J, Lindberg LD, Abma J, et al.

Adolescent sexual behavior: Estimates

and trends from four nationally

representative surveys. Fam Plann

Persp 32(4):156–65. 2000.

26. Kost K, Forrest, JD. American

women’s sexual behavior and exposure

to risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

Fam Plann Persp 24(6):244–54. 1992.

27. Seidman SN, Mosher WD, Aral SD.

Predictors of high-risk behavior in

unmarried American women:

Adolescent environment as a risk

factor. Journal of Adolescent Health

15(2):126–132. 1994.

28. Seidman SN, Mosher WD, Aral SD.

Women with multiple sexual partners:

United States, 1988. Am J Public

Health 82(10):1388–94. 1992.

29. Sonenstein FL, Pleck JH, Ku LC.

Levels of sexual activity among

adolescent males. Fam Plann Persp

23(4):162–67. 1991.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 25
30. Brewster KL, Billy JOG, Grady WR.

Social context and adolescent behavior:

The impact of community on the

transition to sexual activity. Social

Forces 71(3):713–40. 1993.

31. Ku L, Sonenstein F, Pleck J. Young

men’s risk behaviors for HIV infection

and sexually transmitted diseases, 1988

through 1991. Am J Public Health

83(11):1609–1615. 1993.

32. Mosher WD, McNally JW.

Contraceptive use at first premarital

intercourse: United States, 1965–1988.

Fam Plann Persp 23(3):108–16. 1991.

33. Mott FL, Fondell MM, Hu PN, et al.

The determinants of first sex by age 14

in a high-risk adolescent population.

Fam Plann Persp 28(1):13–18. 1996.

34. Moore KA, Miller BC, Glei D,

Morrison DR. Adolescent sex,

contraception, and childbearing: A

review of recent research. Washington:

Child Trends, Inc. 1995.

35. Hayward MD, Grady WR, Billy JO.

The influence of socioeconomic status

on adolescent pregnancy. Social

Science Quarterly 73(4):750–72. 1992.

36. Wu L. Effects of family instability,

income, and income instability on the

risk of a premarital birth. Am Soc Rev

61(3):386–406. 1996.

37. Kahn JR, Rindfuss RR, Guilkey DK.

Adolescent contraceptive method

choices. Demography 27(3):323–35.

1990.

38. Campbell JA. Health insurance

coverage. U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Current population reports; P-26–208.

Washington: U.S. Department of

Commerce. 1999.

39. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Statistical

abstract of the United States, 1998

(116th edition). Washington: U.S.

Department of Commerce. 1998.

Tables 51, 52, 55, 181.

40. Forste R, Tienda M. What’s behind

racial and ethnic fertility differentials?

In: Casterline JB, Lee RD, Foote, KA,

eds, Fertility in the United States: New

patterns, new theories. Popul Dev Rev.

Suppl. vol 22:109–33. 1996.

41. Santelli J, Lowry R, Brener ND, Robin

L. The association of sexual behaviors

with socioeconomic status, family

structure, and race/ethnicity among

U.S. adolescents. Am J Public Health

90(10):1582–88. 2000.

42. Kahn JR, Anderson KE.

Intergenerational patterns of teenage

fertility. Demography 29(1):39–57.

1992.

43. Sonenstein FL, Ku L, Pleck J. Why

young men don’t use condoms: Factors

related to the consistency of utilization

In: Besharov D, Stewart F, Gardiner K,

Parker M, eds. Why some men don’t

use condoms: Male attitudes about

condoms and other contraceptives.

Menlo Park: The Henry J. Kaiser

Foundation, 1–26. 1997.

44. Thornton A, Camburn D. Religious

participation and adolescent sexual

behavior and attitudes. Journal of

Marriage and the Family 51(3):641–53.

1989.

45. Billy JO, Brewster KL, Grady WR.

Contextual effects on the sexual

behavior of adolescent women. Journal

of Marriage and the Family

56(2):387–404. 1994.

46. Ku L, Sonenstein F, Pleck J. The

association of AIDS education and sex

education with sexual behavior and

condom use among teenage men. Fam

Plann Persp 24(3):100–06. 1992.

47. Resnick MD, Bearman PS, Blum RW,

et al. Protecting adolescents from harm:

Findings from the National

Longitudinal Study on Adolescent

Health. Journal of the American

Medical Association 278(10):823–32.

1997.

48. Brewster KL, Cooksey EC, Guilkey

DK, Rindfuss RR. The changing impact

of religion on the sexual and

contraceptive behavior of adolescent

women in the United States. Journal of

Marriage and the Family

60(2):493–504. 1998.

49. Ohannessian C, Crockett L. A

longitudinal investigation of the

relationship between educational

investment and adolescent sexual

activity. Journal of Adolescent Research

8(2):167–82. 1993.

50. Ensminger ME. Adolescent sexual

behavior as it relates to other transition

behaviors in youth. In: Hofferth SL,

Hayes CD, eds. Risking the future:

Adolescent sexuality, pregnancy, and

childbearing, vol. II. Washington:

National Academy Press, 36–55. 1987.

51. Ku L, Sonenstein F, Pleck J. Patterns of

HIV risk and preventive behaviors

among teenage men. Public Health

Reports 107:131–138. 1992.

52. Judkins D, Mosher W, Botman S.

National Survey of Family Growth,

Cycle IV: Design, estimation and

inference. National Center for Health

Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(109).

1991.

53. Kelly JE, Mosher WD, Duffer AP,

Kinsey SH. Plan and operation of the

1995 National Survey of Family

Growth. National Center for Health

Statistics. Vital Health Stat 1(36). 1997.

54. Potter FJ, Iannacchione VG, Mosher

WD, et al. Sample design, sampling

weights, and variance estimation in the

1995 National Survey of Family

Growth. National Center for Health

Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(124).

1998.

55. Turner C, Ku L, Rogers S, et al.

Adolescent sexual behavior, drug use

and violence: New survey technology

detects elevated prevalence among U.S.

males. Science 280(5365):867–73.

1998.

56. Sonenstein FL, Ku L, Pleck J.

Measuring sexual behavior among

teenage males in the United States,

researching sexual behavior:

Methodological issues. In: Bancroft J,

ed. Bloomington: Indiana University

Press, 87–105. 1997.

57. Upchurch DM, Lillard LA.

Inconsistencies in reporting occurrence

and timing of sexual initiation in the

Add Health Survey. Paper presented at

the Annual Meeting of the Population

Association of America, New York.

March 1999.

58. Pleck JH, Sonenstein FL, Ku L.

Adolescent males’ condom use:

Relationships between perceived

cost-benefits and consistency. Journal

of Marriage and the Family

53(4):733–46. 1991.

59. Cates W, Stone KM. Family planning,

sexually transmitted diseases and

contraceptive choice: A literature

update—part 1. Fam Plann Persp

24(2):75–84. 1992.

60. Darroch JE, Landry DJ, Oslak S. Age

differences between sexual partners in

the United States. Fam Plann Persp

31(4):160–67. 1999.

61. Sonenstein FL, Stewart K, Lindberg

LD, et al. Involving males in

preventing teen pregnancy. Washington:

The Urban Institute. 1997.

62. Fu H, Darroch J, Haas T, Ranjit N.

Contraceptive failure rates: New

estimates from the 1995 National

Survey of Growth. Fam Plann Persp

31(2):56–63. 1999.

63. Trussell J, Vaughan B. Contraceptive

failure, method-related discontinuation

and resumption of use: Results from

the 1995 NSFG. Fam Plann Persp

31(2):64–72. 1999.

64. Lindberg LD, Ku LC, Sonenstein FL.

Adolescents’ reports of reproductive

health education, 1988 and 1995. Fam

Plann Persp 32(5):220–26. 2000.

Page 26 [ Series 23, No. 21
65. National Center for Health Statistics.

Public use datafile documentation:

National Survey of Family Growth,

Cycle 5: 1995. National Center for

Health Statistics. Hyattsville, MD.

1997.

66. Shah BV, Barnwell BG, Bieler GS.

SUDAAN: Software for the statistical

analysis of correlated data: User’s

manual, release 7.0. Research Triangle

Park, NC: Research Triangle Park.

1996.

67. WesVar, Inc. WesVar complex samples

3.0: User’s guide. Chicago, Ill: SPSS

Inc. 1998.

68. Sonenstein FL, Pleck JH, Turner C.

National Survey of Adolescent Males,

New Cohort, 1995: A user’s guide to

the machine readablefiles and

documentation. Los Altos, CA:

Sociometrics Corp. 1998.

Series 23, No. 21[ Page 27
Table 1. Number and percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who have had sexual intercourse by selected characteristics:

United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

Number in

thousands

Sample

number Percent

Number in

thousands

Sample

number Percent

Number in

thousands

Sample

number Percent

Number in

thousands

Sample

number Percent

All teenagers1 .............. 8,631 1,186 51.1 8,509 1,344 49.3 8,905 1,880 60.4 9,038 1,710 @55.2

Age

15 years .................. 1,586 210 27.9 1,692 252 24.3 1,790 389 32.6 1,943 400 27.1

16 years .................. 1,719 237 34.1 1,839 281 38.3 1,692 395 49.9 1,862 389 44.6

17 years .................. 1,939 259 47.6 1,762 273 50.8 2,004 430 65.6 1,862 360 58.4

18 years .................. 1,700 246 65.5 1,669 280 62.3 2,030 389 71.6 1,717 327 67.0

19 years .................. 1,687 234 79.7 1,547 258 74.0 1,389 276 85.7 1,663 234 84.0

15–17 years ............... 5,244 706 37.2 5,293 806 38.0 5,485 1,214 50.0 5,658 1,149 @43.1

18–19 years ............... 3,387 480 72.6 3,216 538 @68.0 3,419 665 77.3 3,380 561 75.4

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white . . . . . . . . . . . 6,113 679 50.4 5,650 809 48.5 6,491 755 56.8 6,101 609 @49.5

15–17 years .............. 3,588 390 34.7 3,409 469 35.6 3,989 487 44.4 3,841 432 @34.8

18–19 years .............. 2,525 289 72.7 2,241 340 68.0 2,502 268 76.8 2,259 177 74.7

Non-Hispanic black ........... 1,315 362 60.4 1,355 284 59.3 1,300 677 80.6 1,301 490 80.4

15–17 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826 224 50.2 854 177 48.9 819 438 76.6 822 324 75.4

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 490 138 77.5 500 107 77.1 481 238 87.7 479 166 89.0

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 927 111 45.8 1,050 197 52.7 828 386 59.7 1,148 552 60.9

15–17 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625 68 35.2 662 120 @49.0 499 252 57.1 696 353 49.7

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 43 67.5 388 77 59.0 329 134 63.6 443 199 @78.6

Mother’s education

0–11 years ................ 2,199 315 55.4 1,547 269 60.2 1,380 427 67.3 1,419 355 59.8

12 years .................. 3,574 503 49.4 3,407 532 47.2 4,078 751 65.3 3,751 634 @58.0

13–15 years ............... 1,385 184 51.2 1,655 253 55.2 1,309 232 53.9 1,627 263 57.5

16 years or more ............ 1,473 184 48.5 1,819 276 @37.2 2,137 275 50.9 2,250 307 45.5

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ............. 3,161 474 63.7 2,761 450 59.8 2,832 733 71.6 3,597 708 68.6

20 years or older ............ 5,470 712 43.8 5,666 880 43.8 6,073 1,060 55.0 5,441 926 @46.8

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents . . . 5,547 717 44.9 4,851 738 42.5 6,278 1,171 57.0 6,173 1,024 @50.4

Single parent2 .............. 1,868 296 58.7 2,288 384 58.9 1,621 487 71.1 1,952 456 67.6

Parent and stepparent . . . . . . . . . 971 117 66.2 1,082 167 @55.3 793 154 56.5 714 135 54.0

Nonparent/other . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 56 72.8 289 55 64.2 214 66 91.0 199 67 80.3

Religious affiliation

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693 91 61.5 1,183 189 70.1 864 178 66.0 1,301 225 66.9

Protestant ................. 5,086 763 52.9 4,620 722 @46.4 4,719 1,064 61.4 5,314 899 @53.0

Catholic .................. 2,686 312 45.8 2,265 369 48.2 3,010 585 58.4 2,124 520 52.1

Other3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 20 38.7 441 64 29.2 312 44 46.4 307 50 59.1

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ......... 5,244 730 46.1 4,420 701 @40.9 4,345 953 53.4 4,085 791 46.9

1–3 times a month ........... 1,325 196 56.2 1,383 225 52.5 1,567 372 66.2 1,762 347 62.8

Less than once a month ........ 1,100 142 62.6 1,370 208 57.7 1,451 294 67.5 1,292 244 59.2

Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 962 118 58.2 1,332 209 65.6 1,540 258 67.5 1,898 322 62.6

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 975 152 71.1 873 155 71.2 1,057 301 68.0 651 117 @85.7

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,600 1,024 48.2 7,637 1,189 46.8 7,863 1,579 59.4 8,387 1,588 @52.5

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

Page 28 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 2. Cumulative percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse before reaching selected ages,

by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

Percent

All teenagers1 .......................... 51.1 49.3 60.4 @55.2

Age

13 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 @3.0 5.4 @3.9

14 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 @8.0 11.0 11.0

15 years .............................. 10.9 @18.6 21.1 21.3

16 years .............................. 22.6 @31.9 37.6 35.2

17 years .............................. 38.3 @47.4 57.2 52.6

18 years .............................. 55.7 59.2 67.1 65.1

19 years .............................. 76.5 69.7 78.0 83.4

Race and age

Non-Hispanic white:

13 years .............................. *0.6 2.1 2.9 1.9

14 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 @5.9 7.1 7.5

15 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.9 @15.7 16.1 14.1

16 years .............................. 20.1 @27.6 32.9 28.0

17 years .............................. 35.5 @44.8 52.7 47.1

18 years .............................. 54.5 58.1 64.5 61.9

19 years .............................. 77.1 69.4 74.8 @85.9

Non-Hispanic black:

13 years .............................. *3.0 6.2 19.6 @14.0

14 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6 @15.4 34.2 @27.4

15 years .............................. 16.3 @30.5 47.3 48.8

16 years .............................. 33.2 @48.3 62.6 64.1

17 years .............................. 55.0 62.6 77.2 78.3

18 years .............................. 64.4 68.5 84.1 84.6

19 years .............................. 78.7 74.0 94.0 93.5

Number

Total sample (denominator) .................. 1,186 1,344 1,880 1,710

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix II: Sampling Errors).

1Includes races other than black and white.

NOTE: The denominator for each percent includes only those having reached the specific age to which the percent pertains.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 29
Table 3. Percent of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse before age 15 years by age at

interview and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

Percent

All teenagers1 ..................... 10.9 @18.6 21.1 21.3

Age

15 years ......................... 19.1 17.6 29.0 21.8

16 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.9 @22.2 23.3 23.8

17 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4 @21.7 16.4 @22.2

18 years ......................... 12.1 16.3 18.5 15.1

19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 @14.3 19.0 23.1

15–17 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.8 @20.6 22.6 22.6

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4 @15.4 18.7 19.0

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.9 @15.7 16.1 14.1

15–17 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3 @17.3 16.1 13.7

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4 @13.4 16.2 14.8

Non-Hispanic black .................. 16.3 @30.5 47.3 48.8

15–17 years ..................... 19.0 @33.2 54.3 55.9

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7 @25.9 35.6 36.8

Hispanic ......................... 13.0 @24.1 19.4 @27.7

15–17 years ..................... *12.8 29.9 21.8 29.1

18–19 years ..................... *13.4 *14.1 *15.7 25.4

Mother’s education

0–11 years ....................... 12.4 @28.8 31.1 @23.5

12 years ......................... 10.7 @18.0 23.7 26.5

13–15 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.9 @20.0 19.8 19.9

16 years or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7 8.7 11.3 12.4

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years .................... 15.1 @28.4 30.9 29.5

20 years or older . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4 @13.5 16.8 16.2

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents . . . . . . . . . . 7.7 @11.8 17.1 16.8

Single parent2 ..................... 15.2 @29.0 34.3 34.7

Parent and stepparent ................ 18.8 24.4 24.1 16.1

Nonparent /other ................... *17.4 29.6 30.4 52.3

Religious affiliation

None ........................... 21.7 @33.2 22.0 26.0

Protestant ........................ 10.5 @16.2 23.1 20.6

Catholic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.9 @15.9 18.0 19.5

Other3 .......................... *8.3 19.3 22.2 26.5

Frequency of attendance at religious services

Once a week or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 @11.8 17.4 17.5

1–3 times a month .................. 13.4 @25.1 23.2 24.2

Less than once a month ............... 15.3 21.0 21.8 21.5

Never .......................... 17.8 @32.2 29.1 26.3

Page 30 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 3. Percent of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse before age 15 years by age at

interview and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.7 @39.4 27.0 33.8

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3 @16.2 20.4 19.8

Number

Total sample (denominator) ............. 1,186 1,344 1,880 1,710

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 31
Table 4. Percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by selected

characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

Percent

All teenagers1 ............................. 40.8 37.9 43.2 @37.8

Age

15 years ................................. 20.3 17.5 19.6 16.1

16 years ................................. 27.0 28.0 32.2 27.5

17 years ................................. 34.9 36.4 48.5 @38.1

18 years ................................. 53.6 48.2 52.4 49.0

19 years ................................. 68.3 62.7 67.4 62.9

15–17 years .............................. 27.9 27.4 34.0 @27.0

18–19 years .............................. 60.9 55.2 58.2 55.9

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white .......................... 41.2 37.7 40.8 @32.2

15–17 years ............................. 27.0 25.8 29.9 @19.9

18–19 years ............................. 61.6 55.9 58.4 53.2

Non-Hispanic black .......................... 50.0 44.8 59.6 59.2

15–17 years ............................. 39.1 34.3 53.4 51.8

18–19 years ............................. 68.6 62.9 70.0 71.7

Hispanic ................................. 28.5 @41.0 40.9 43.9

15–17 years ............................. 19.9 @38.4 37.8 34.3

18–19 years ............................. 46.4 45.5 45.6 59.0

Age at first sex2

Under 15 years ............................ 77.7 78.0 73.9 72.4

15 years ................................. 82.6 76.5 72.0 64.8

16 years ................................. 80.7 75.6 72.9 72.1

17–19 years .............................. 78.7 76.7 65.9 60.7

Mother’s education

0–11 years ............................... 47.3 48.4 42.4 46.5

12 years ................................. 38.7 35.6 48.9 @37.8

13–15 years .............................. 41.4 41.9 39.3 39.2

16 years or more ........................... 35.7 @28.0 34.7 30.1

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ............................ 50.8 46.2 54.0 49.8

20 years or older ........................... 35.1 33.3 37.9 @30.3

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents .................. 36.4 32.4 40.3 @34.2

Single parent3 ............................. 46.3 46.1 53.5 47.1

Parent and stepparent ........................ 50.8 42.0 38.7 35.8

Nonparent/other ............................ 59.1 50.9 67.3 55.2

Religious affiliation

None ................................... 44.5 55.8 40.8 45.5

Protestant ................................ 44.6 @35.2 43.3 @36.6

Catholic ................................. 33.9 37.1 44.4 @36.0

Other4 .................................. *21.8 22.3 36.3 35.2

Page 32 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 4. Percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by selected

characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

Frequency of attendance at religious services

Once a week or more ........................ 37.3 @32.0 38.7 @29.5

1–3 times a month .......................... 47.0 @36.0 48.2 45.4

Less than once a month ....................... 43.7 45.6 50.6 43.8

Never .................................. 48.3 51.8 43.7 44.3

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)5 .......................... 42.2 41.7 43.7 41.2

Suburban (MSA)5 ........................... 40.6 @34.3 42.4 @34.6

Rural (non-MSA) 5 .......................... 40.0 39.3 44.3 38.0

Region of residence

Northeast ................................ 36.4 41.1 50.5 @29.9

Midwest ................................. 41.2 38.4 43.3 43.6

South .................................. 44.6 37.5 47.8 @35.1

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.7 35.2 28.0 34.6

Behind in school6

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71.1 60.0 51.0 @68.2

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48.2 35.4 42.2 @35.1

Number

Total sample (denominator) ..................... 1,186 1,344 1,880 1,710

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Denominator is ‘‘ever had sex.’’

3Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adult.

4‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

5MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

6Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 33
Table 5. Percent of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last sexual intercourse

in the 3 months prior to the survey by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Contraceptive use during last sexual intercourse

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1 Percent

Hormonal contraceptives2 ...................... 42.7 @32.0 37.4 31.0

Pill ................................... 42.7 @25.0 37.4 @28.2

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - 7.0 - - - @2.8

Condom2 ................................ 31.3 @38.2 53.3 @63.9

All other methods3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3 9.6 13.6 10.0

Dual method (hormonal and condom) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3 @8.4 15.2 16.5

No method ............................... 20.1 @29.3 15.8 18.2

Race and contraceptive use

during last sexual intercourse

Non-Hispanic white:

Hormonal contraceptives2 43.0 @34.5 37.2 34.8

Pill ................................. 43.0 @29.6 37.2 33.8

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - 4.8 - - - *1.0

Condom2 ............................... 31.3 @40.8 49.7 @64.1

All other methods3 ......................... 12.0 8.6 15.2 12.1

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ............. *3.0 10.0 12.1 18.1

No method .............................. 16.7 @26.7 15.4 14.4

Non-Hispanic black:

Hormonal contraceptives2 .................... 48.3 @30.9 43.5 @29.3

Pill ................................. 48.3 @15.3 43.5 @24.1

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 15.6 - - - *5.2

Condom2 ............................... 23.9 @41.1 66.5 71.0

All other methods3 ......................... *1.8 *9.61 8.2 8.6

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ............. *6.3 *8.07 27.8 @19.0

No method .............................. 32.3 26.7 13.5 17.2

Number

Total sample (denominator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 540 895 695

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

- - - Data not available.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

1Includes races other than black and white.

2This reflects hormonal and condom use regardless of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

3All other methods besides condom and hormonal methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include sterilization, IUD, female

condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm, cervical cap, spermicidal foam, jelly, cream or suppository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and ‘‘other’’ methods.

NOTE: Figures do not add to 100 because dual users are also included in specific methods separately.

Page 34 [ Series 23, No. 21
emales and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by

tes, 1988 and 1995

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

o

od Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method2

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom2

Hormonal

method2

All other

methods2

Percent

1 31.3 42.7 9.3 @29.3 @38.2 @32.0 9.6 15.8 53.3 37.4 13.6 18.2 *63.9 31.0 10.0

9 50.2 28.6 *14.1 35.9 41.4 20.9 *12.3 *26.1 51.8 *12.1 *20.2 *19.3 66.1 35.0 *16.3

1 41.0 21.4 *10.2 38.8 46.3 15.8 *5.2 18.8 67.8 26.0 *10.5 15.2 75.0 *19.4 7.36 26.8 45.8 *2.1 28.3 32.4 40.6 *8.3 15.5 55.5 36.5 *7.0 17.3 68.3 @25.4 *7.49 31.7 50.8 *6.8 @24.8 31.1 @36.5 17.8 10.7 47.1 47.7 16.3 @21.5 52.5 35.9 14.20 24.3 46.9 13.6 26.6 @42.6 @34.4 @5.3 16.2 50.0 42.8 *16.5 17.4 @64.0 35.3 *7.98 36.4 34.3 7.3 @33.5 39.2 27.8 8.0 18.5 58.4 28.8 10.5 17.0 @70.1 25.4 9.28 27.6 48.6 10.7 @25.8 @37.4 @35.4 11.0 13.2 48.4 45.5 16.4 19.2 @58.9 @35.5 10.77 31.3 43.0 12.0 @26.7 @40.8 @34.5 8.6 15.4 49.7 37.2 15.2 14.4 @64.1 34.8 12.13 38.9 33.6 10.6 29.6 42.0 32.3 *5.1 18.7 54.7 25.5 11.8 14.5 @68.8 26.9 *12.3

5 26.5 48.9 12.8 @24.6 @40.0 @36.0 11.0 12.6 45.6 47.0 18.0 14.4 @61.0 39.8 12.03 23.9 48.3 *1.8 26.7 @41.1 @30.9 *9.6 13.5 66.5 43.5 8.2 17.2 71.0 @29.3 8.66 21.2 39.6 *1.5 27.6 @45.8 26.4 *10.3 14.0 69.5 39.0 7.6 17.7 78.2 @22.0 8.74 26.5 56.6 *2.1 26.0 36.7 @35.0 *9.0 12.8 62.6 49.3 8.9 16.7 62.3 38.0 *8.6

7 40.4 27.9 *5.0 48.6 @18.3 23.8 *11.5 25.9 46.7 32.8 *12.0 29.1 53.2 23.9 3.5

3 *48.6 *23.0 – 57.7 20.9 *14.0 *10.7 *30.7 55.4 31.9 3.9 20.0 58.7 29.3 3.4

3 *33.1 *32.3 *9.3 35.2 *14.5 37.8 *12.5 *19.7 35.7 33.9 *22.3 37.4 48.2 19.0 3.6

5 27.8 41.4 *9.9 @36.9 33.1 30.9 7.8 19.3 52.7 33.3 30.3 15.4 @64.2 33.1 11.62 30.5 43.4 *4.2 28.8 40.2 34.9 *6.3 14.4 51.3 36.6 28.9 *14.7 56.0 33.6 13.00 31.1 47.0 *10.0 25.7 35.1 @34.5 *12.6 *13.3 52.7 43.6 22.0 *6.5 @71.3 @25.9 6.48 34.5 39.4 12.7 *16.8 @50.5 @27.1 14.6 *13.7 59.0 38.4 34.7 *19.0 62.5 29.8 7.58 29.5 33.3 *7.5 42.3 30.9 24.5 *7.0 24.5 43.7 38.8 37.5 *17.5 46.5 39.0 9.22 31.5 44.5 10.7 25.5 36.2 36.5 11.1 14.7 55.3 35.6 25.4 12.3 @66.1 28.9 8.8

9 33.2 45.7 *8.6 27.4 43.2 @30.9 *9.5 *10.3 49.3 63.4 29.3 *4.5 @67.1 @29.3 @13.5

0 32.2 52.9 *9.7 21.0 @47.7 @31.8 *9.6 *12.5 58.7 25.7 27.2 18.0 72.8 34.1 12.9

1 28.4 37.6 9.3 32.3 31.9 36.1 7.3 19.2 54.1 36.6 35.6 14.8 59.2 31.4 7.95 33.7 46.8 9.2 @27.3 @42.7 @28.7 11.1 13.2 54.5 36.7 24.6 13.1 @68.6 30.6 12.7

1 27.9 45.7 10.2 24.1 @40.2 @35.3 9.2 15.6 53.1 38.0 25.4 12.2 61.2 33.4 10.1

0 33.9 43.1 *4.8 @34.7 35.6 @28.7 10.3 16.3 58.5 37.3 32.0 *11.9 @70.0 26.9 10.80 44.6 31.9 *11.9 @34.6 34.9 25.4 *11.3 *20.5 40.7 36.9 31.6 *18.8 @69.2 32.1 @2.4

8 *17.8 *33.8 *13.7 *29.0 @45.0 39.9 *4.4 *6.9 *48.3 *32.6 57.4 *36.3 65.1 *20.3 2.4

Series 23, No. 21[ Page 35
emales and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by

tes, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

o

od Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method2

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom2

Hormonal

method2

All other

methods2

4 39.5 33.5 *12.8 34.5 33.6 33.6 *7.6 *28.9 34.0 41.0 25.1 *13.1 @50.8 28.5 12.9

6 30.8 43.6 7.8 24.3 @41.1 @35.5 9.1 12.3 52.6 43.3 33.7 14.7 @67.8 @31.6 9.4

9 29.1 43.4 12.0 @34.3 36.5 @25.3 11.6 16.0 58.5 28.8 21.7 12.2 61.9 29.3 8.3

6 *46.7 *43.7 0.0 *37.0 36.7 *18.8 *14.4 *38.5 *49.2 *31.2 *33.8 *13.9 71.0 55.6 6.4

0 30.8 44.1 9.9 @26.3 @39.8 @31.0 10.6 14.3 58.9 39.1 30.5 11.4 66.9 @29.4 13.6

3 40.1 29.3 *9.2 28.2 43.7 28.6 *8.7 14.7 55.8 31.3 26.1 14.6 65.0 36.8 @5.5

0 25.0 48.8 *10.2 28.9 35.9 @33.3 *12.7 *12.2 55.9 45.3 25.9 *10.3 @71.8 @29.7 8.6

3 27.8 48.1 *5.8 36.6 33.1 @35.0 *5.5 24.7 32.3 32.0 29.5 *21.7 @52.6 29.1 10.3

7 25.7 41.9 *8.7 32.0 @36.1 @29.5 8.9 21.2 53.3 38.8 26.8 9.7 63.1 31.9 6.2

4 32.8 47.2 9.0 @30.9 37.0 @30.4 10.7 15.3 53.2 35.1 27.8 13.8 @65.1 33.4 11.2

6 25.0 33.0 10.5 22.5 @43.4 38.4 *9.0 *8.7 53.3 40.2 32.3 18.8 63.5 @27.3 13.1

7 26.3 42.7 *13.5 25.9 @41.5 @26.7 14.3 16.7 45.4 35.4 22.9 15.6 @74.3 37.4 @3.4

7 32.2 40.1 7.6 28.7 34.6 36.2 *9.7 10.9 60.4 41.4 28.4 @9.7 61.8 @30.7 6.97 28.5 44.4 10.7 27.1 @44.2 @32.8 *6.1 13.6 56.0 38.0 34.9 16.0 65.4 34.6 19.8

5 38.5 45.2 6.0 36.8 29.1 @31.3 *10.3 *29.8 45.0 31.6 18.3 *9.3 61.3 23.1 8.3

0 24.0 33.3 *2.5 53.2 16.5 25.8 *8.8 25.2 44.9 31.6 *38.2 *18.9 54.0 31.5 4.73 33.1 44.6 10.6 @24.7 @42.4 @33.1 9.8 14.3 54.5 38.3 *15.1 12.7 @65.5 @30.5 11.0

Number

97 . . . . . . . . . 540 . . . . . . . . . 895 . . . . . . . . . 695 . . . . . . . . .

0-percent level or better.

cision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

s of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

methods. Thus if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include sterilization, IUD, female condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm,

ository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and ‘‘other’’ methods.

s not shown separately.

other adults.

with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

se.

Page 36[ Series 23, No. 21
Table 7. Percent of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse who used specified contraception during first

sexual intercourse by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1 Percent

Hormonal contraceptives2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 8.3 9.5 10.5

Pill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 7.8 9.5 10.3

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- *0.5 - - - *0.4

Condom2 .................................. 50.4 @69.7 55.0 @69.3

All other methods3 ............................ 10.0 @4.3 10.6 @4.4

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ................. *1.8 5.2 2.6 @6.8

No method ................................. 33.1 @23.4 28.6 24.3

Race and contraceptive use during last sexual intercourse

Non-Hispanic white:

Hormonal contraceptives2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 8.5 9.8 10.8

Pill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 8.0 9.7 10.6

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- *0.5 - - - *0.3

Condom2 .................................. 54.7 @77.5 57.9 @75.6

All other methods3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.9 *2.8 11.9 *3.0

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ................. *1.8 5.8 *2.0 6.4

No method ................................. 28.8 @17.5 23.8 18.0

Non-Hispanic black:

Hormonal contraceptives2 ...................... 16.3 12.5 9.7 12.5

Pill ..................................... 16.3 11.4 9.7 12.2

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- *1.1 - - - *0.7

Condom2 .................................. 37.7 @56.0 43.5 @61.2

All other methods3 ............................ *3.0 *4.6 8.0 @5.1

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ................. *2.7 *6.4 *4.2 10.3

No method ................................. 45.5 @33.4 43.4 @34.3

Number

Total sample (denominator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 618 700 1,263 1,015

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

- - - Data not available.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

1Includes races other than black and white.

2This reflects hormonal and condom use regardless of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

3All other methods besides condom and hormonal methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include sterilization, IUD, female

condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm, cervical cap, spermicidal foam, jelly, cream or suppository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and ‘‘other’’ methods.

NOTE: Figures do not add to 100 because dual users are also included separately in specific methods.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 37
es 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse who used a specified method of contraception during first sexual intercourse, by

tes, 1988 and 1995

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

o

hod Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

Percent

.1 50.4 8.0 10.0 @23.4 @69.7 8.3 @4.3 28.6 55.0 9.5 10.6 24.3 @69.3 10.5 @4.3.5 53.2 *9.9 *15.0 27.3 68.3 *6.6 *1.7 26.3 59.3 *4.1 *14.1 23.7 @74.9 13.2 *2.8.2 48.9 *5.2 *10.7 25.1 @73.2 *4.5 *1.0 35.3 54.2 *5.3 6.7 25.8 @72.2 10.0 *1.8

.7 56.0 9.0 *6.3 @22.6 @68.3 9.1 *4.9 24.4 59.4 10.4 *11.5 24.0 68.7 10.2 *4.5.2 48.9 *4.7 *5.1 @19.9 @70.3 @13.3 *5.6 25.1 54.9 8.1 14.4 21.4 @72.9 *9.3 *4.2.3 47.6 10.5 14.5 24.7 @68.4 6.0 *5.8 33.9 48.7 15.8 *6.0 26.4 @62.9 *11.2 *6.4.5 53.2 8.1 9.6 24.4 @70.1 7.0 *2.9 28.2 57.7 7.5 10.6 24.6 @71.2 10.8 @3.2.2 48.2 7.9 10.3 @22.4 @69.3 9.5 @5.7 29.0 52.1 11.5 10.6 24.1 @67.4 10.3 @5.4

.8 54.7 6.5 11.9 @17.5 @77.5 8.5 *2.8 23.8 57.9 9.8 11.9 18.0 @75.6 10.8 *3.0.8 60.5 *6.3 11.5 19.7 @76.9 7.7 *0.5 22.9 61.1 8.3 12.0 17.1 @78.5 10.6 *2.1.2 50.7 6.6 12.1 @15.7 @78.0 9.2 *4.7 24.6 55.0 11.2 11.9 18.7 @73.2 *11.0 *3.7.5 37.7 16.3 *3.0 @33.4 @56.0 12.5 *4.6 43.4 43.5 9.7 8.0 @34.3 @61.2 12.5 5.1.4 39.3 *13.8 *5.2 @28.1 @60.4 *9.4 *5.9 43.5 43.9 5.1 10.0 36.1 @60.5 @13.7 @3.8.6 36.0 19.1 *0.6 39.0 @51.2 15.8 *3.3 43.2 43.0 16.3 *5.1 @31.8 @62.2 10.8 7.0.3 44.5 *4.4 *8.3 39.4 53.8 *2.5 *6.8 35.0 52.4 *9.5 *7.8 36.1 55.3 9.1 *7.4.0 41.7 *8.5 *7.1 40.2 59.6 *2.2 *2.1 29.3 63.6 *9.3 *4.4 30.6 64.3 9.1 5.4.8 47.5 – *9.6 38.4 45.6 *2.8 *13.2 42.8 37.3 *9.7 *12.4 41.4 46.3 9.2 *9.3

.9 35.3 *8.2 *10.5 @27.0 @66.9 7.0 *3.2 42.0 44.2 5.2 10.6 36.4 @60.2 7.7 *2.7.3 50.0 3.8 10.7 @22.3 @71.4 8.2 *3.7 24.7 57.6 *5.8 13.4 17.4 @76.9 *9.5 *2.6.9 54.0 *5.6 12.7 24.2 @66.5 13.3 *5.0 21.7 57.8 14.5 10.4 15.9 @74.2 13.0 *7.8.1 58.1 13.2 *7.0 @16.0 @77.2 *5.1 *6.9 14.2 71.9 *17.3 *6.5 16.7 73.6 *15.3 6.0.5 41.7 7.7 *5.5 @33.1 @61.0 11.1 *3.0 41.7 45.9 3.3 11.9 38.5 55.5 *13.0 *2.4.7 53.8 6.6 12.8 25.3 @65.5 8.1 @5.2 29.9 54.9 9.1 9.1 24.1 @70.5 9.0 *3.8.1 53.2 *5.1 12.6 @15.6 @79.5 *7.6 *4.4 19.0 56.3 *11.6 *16.9 19.9 70.2 *11.7 *7.8

.4 54.3 14.5 7.9 17.4 @76.9 *5.9 *4.5 17.7 64.4 *12.5 *11.9 14.8 @78.8 *10.3 *4.4.6 46.0 8.1 9.5 @26.9 @66.1 11.5 *3.1 37.6 47.1 8.9 9.7 @27.9 @66.7 10.0 @3.2

.4 54.2 7.8 10.4 @21.4 @71.7 6.2 *5.3 22.2 60.4 9.7 11.7 20.2 @72.4 11.1 @5.5

.3 52.2 7.1 8.4 @21.7 @70.8 7.6 6.0 24.5 59.9 10.0 9.3 22.7 @71.7 9.3 @4.0

.7 42.1 10.5 11.7 @26.6 @65.0 10.6 *2.9 33.1 47.9 *7.6 15.3 26.7 @66.2 11.8 @5.1.0 58.8 *5.6 *14.6 21.6 @75.7 *5.5 *2.2 35.1 48.1 12.2 *8.1 *21.3 @69.5 *15.5 *1.6

.8 47.4 *12.7 *5.1 *24.3 @71.4 *8.1 *3.3 57.4 *26.6 *4.6 *12.9 42.9 55.6 *11.5 *4.4

Page 38[ Series 23, No. 21
es 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse and used a specified method of contraception during first sexual intercourse, by

tes, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

o

hod Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

7 45.4 *12.3 *6.7 25.3 @68.5 *7.2 *4.3 37.0 50.9 *10.5 *11.6 28.9 59.6 *13.1 *2.68 52.4 8.3 9.8 @21.6 @70.7 10.5 *4.2 28.3 55.5 7.9 10.7 @21.1 @74.2 11.0 *4.5

1 47.3 *4.8 11.1 @23.6 @70.6 *5.2 *4.1 27.6 53.7 11.5 11.0 27.5 @65.3 *8.2 *5.3

4 *62.3 *24.7 *16.1 *38.0 52.2 *4.6 *9.8 *13.9 72.1 *13.9 *1.7 *32.9 61.3 *6.6 *5.8

9 48.6 7.9 12.4 @20.7 @71.3 9.2 @5.4 26.0 58.0 9.4 9.5 25.3 @67.7 10.5 5.67 46.4 *3.9 *9.9 @25.7 @68.7 *5.9 *2.4 25.1 52.9 11.4 13.6 21.8 @75.3 13.3 *1.5

4 60.8 *10.2 *3.6 19.9 71.8 *8.0 *5.3 28.2 52.4 *11.3 12.2 22.1 @67.4 *7.9 *37.49 50.9 *11.0 *7.2 30.3 @65.1 *8.7 *2.9 37.4 53.6 *6.1 8.8 26.6 @67.3 9.8 *3.2

9 29.9 *6.8 *5.5 @32.3 @57.9 11.0 *4.8 49.3 40.9 *7.4 *5.6 40.6 49.4 *11.9 *1.69 55.0 8.0 11.0 @21.8 @71.7 7.8 @4.3 25.4 57.2 9.8 11.4 22.5 @71.5 10.5 @4.8

Number

8 . . . . . . . . . 700 . . . . . . . . . 1,263 . . . . . . . . . 1,015 . . . . . . . . .

0-percent level or better

cision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

s of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

methods. Thus if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include: sterilization, IUD, female condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm,

ository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and other in ‘‘other category.’’

s not shown separately.

other adults.

with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

se.

Series 23, No. 21[ Page 39
er-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by number of opposite-sex sexual partners in lifetime,

cs: United States, 1988 and 1995

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

ner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

Percent

9 15.6 28.7 14.9 36.9 @22.2 27.1 13.8 27.7 16.9 28.6 26.7 26.9 18.1 30.8 24.38 *20.5 23.0 *14.8 @60.3 *11.2 17.8 *10.8 37.0 *10.0 36.3 16.6 33.8 18.5 36.6 11.1

8 15.1 25.5 *12.6 44.2 21.6 20.0 *14.2 28.5 20.9 33.1 17.5 29.3 24.1 28.4 18.26 12.5 24.5 15.4 37.1 @25.1 29.9 @7.9 27.0 18.6 31.9 22.5 32.1 15.0 25.3 27.63 17.7 25.5 17.6 34.3 23.5 27.0 15.2 25.9 18.3 22.9 32.9 27.4 23.3 30.8 @18.58 14.4 37.4 13.3 26.4 @23.0 32.5 18.2 25.5 14.1 24.8 35.6 18.3 *12.5 34.4 34.80 15.1 24.4 14.4 44.2 @21.1 24.0 10.7 29.6 17.5 33.2 19.7 31.5 18.9 28.8 20.9

8 15.9 32.1 15.2 @30.1 @23.2 29.9 16.7 25.7 16.4 23.8 34.1 22.4 17.3 @32.8 27.5

2 13.6 30.2 16.0 39.1 @21.6 26.1 13.2 30.6 18.7 27.6 23.2 34.0 19.2 29.2 @17.6

6 15.4 25.0 15.0 49.5 21.2 19.7 9.7 33.2 19.2 35.0 12.7 41.5 20.7 @24.8 13.1

2 12.4 33.8 16.6 30.7 @21.9 31.3 16.1 28.3 18.2 20.7 32.9 28.1 18.0 @32.7 @21.2

1 22.2 28.1 11.6 @22.3 27.0 35.7 15.0 16.7 10.0 31.8 41.5 12.9 13.3 32.1 41.6

1 18.7 22.9 15.3 @23.0 25.6 @39.4 *12.0 16.6 9.8 32.9 40.7 15.1 14.8 33.3 36.8

6 26.0 33.9 *7.6 21.6 28.5 31.7 18.2 16.7 10.3 30.2 42.8 9.8 *11.2 30.3 48.70 *15.1 *17.9 *16.0 44.3 16.4 24.4 14.9 22.1 21.3 30.4 26.3 21.5 17.8 28.5 32.2

2 *7.2 *18.8 *13.9 47.4 13.2 24.7 *14.7 28.8 25.8 24.6 *20.8 27.6 18.9 28.2 25.4

4 *23.3 *17.1 *18.2 40.2 *20.8 *24.0 *15.1 *13.0 *15.1 38.2 33.7 15.4 16.8 28.8 39.11 11.7 39.9 30.4 20.2 @17.8 38.7 23.4 10.8 10.4 34.6 44.2 10.6 13.9 35.9 39.6

2 16.0 33.4 15.4 38.8 24.0 @23.7 13.5 21.7 15.6 37.1 25.5 22.5 19.7 35.2 22.63 12.9 26.0 15.8 51.0 @25.5 @16.4 @7.1 35.6 23.1 25.8 15.5 35.2 21.2 27.8 15.86 20.0 18.9 *2.6 53.4 25.4 19.7 *1.6 64.2 24.8 *4.5 *6.6 58.0 21.6 *17.4 *2.99 16.2 30.4 13.6 39.6 12.7 32.6 15.1 16.4 21.6 28.5 33.6 25.3 16.1 35.5 23.11 13.2 30.0 11.7 40.1 @24.2 24.6 11.1 25.7 18.2 28.3 27.9 27.6 14.7 30.8 27.0

4 18.3 23.9 *14.5 32.7 @28.5 25.5 13.3 27.8 22.3 19.9 30.0 22.9 19.5 @34.6 23.0

2 17.7 27.1 25.0 32.8 21.7 25.2 20.4 43.4 *8.8 32.0 15.8 31.9 24.1 25.9 18.11 13.3 28.7 14.0 @33.0 @23.8 30.8 12.5 20.6 17.3 30.6 31.5 24.8 15.5 30.3 29.3

3 17.5 28.7 15.5 39.9 21.1 24.0 15.1 31.3 17.4 27.2 24.2 29.1 20.2 31.6 19.2

2 16.2 26.3 14.3 40.2 20.8 26.0 13.1 29.2 17.5 28.4 24.8 29.9 20.8 32.5 @16.8

2 16.9 32.0 15.9 34.7 21.7 27.0 16.7 23.1 13.4 33.1 30.4 21.7 12.4 27.9 38.0

2 *9.0 30.4 *17.4 @27.2 30.3 29.8 12.7 *30.2 25.4 26.3 *18.0 27.7 20.4 28.8 23.09 *21.6 *36.0 *6.5 48.9 *15.3 *31.2 *4.6 *24.1 *9.3 *12.2 54.3 *13.6 *16.3 *22.7 47.4

Page 40[ Series 23, No. 21
er-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by number of opposite-sex sexual partners in lifetime,

cs: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

ner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 or more

partners

.0 *9.8 40.0 25.1 36.9 19.5 @24.8 18.9 29.3 16.7 28.0 *26.0 23.8 21.5 26.4 28.3.5 16.4 29.3 12.9 @34.9 @25.3 29.3 10.6 29.1 16.5 27.7 26.7 29.6 15.7 30.1 24.6.4 16.0 24.2 15.3 42.1 18.7 23.4 15.8 25.6 19.2 27.3 28.0 24.3 19.7 34.9 21.0

.1 *10.3 *16.1 *21.6 *28.7 *16.5 *35.9 *18.9 *21.1 *2.4 62.4 *14.1 *14.9 *23.2 40.7 *21.1

.0 16.1 28.1 13.8 38.7 @23.0 27.8 10.5 28.6 18.0 27.0 26.3 27.4 17.5 33.0 22.1.6 *15.7 27.1 11.7 37.0 23.7 30.4 8.9 33.4 19.9 23.5 23.1 30.7 16.1 30.0 23.2.9 *17.2 27.3 17.6 35.9 20.7 23.1 20.4 24.9 12.7 35.8 26.5 28.1 15.8 27.2 28.9.8 *11.3 34.8 20.1 34.1 20.6 26.5 18.8 22.8 15.7 30.8 30.6 21.9 22.5 30.1 25.5

.5 16.6 30.4 17.5 @23.5 20.4 39.0 *17.1 15.0 13.7 25.6 45.7 *16.1 *7.0 *26.6 50.3.2 15.3 28.3 14.2 39.3 @22.5 25.0 13.2 29.9 17.5 29.1 23.5 28.6 19.6 30.6 21.2

Number

8 . . . . . . . . . 700 . . . . . . . . . 1,263 . . . . . . . . . 1,015 . . . . . . . . .

0-percent level or better.

cision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

s not shown separately.

other adults.

with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

Series 23, No. 21[ Page 41
Table 10. Percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by number of

opposite-sex sexual partners in the past 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female1 Male

1995 1988 1995

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

Percent

All teenagers2 ................... 22.1 60.5 17.4 28.1 55.1 16.9 31.4 55.8 @12.8

Age at interview

15 years ....................... 30.0 57.0 *13.0 40.0 48.8 *11.1 40.4 48.3 11.3

16 years ....................... 26.0 56.7 17.3 35.3 51.6 13.1 38.5 46.3 15.2

17 years ....................... 28.5 57.0 14.6 25.8 57.8 16.4 34.8 48.6 16.6

18 years ....................... 16.3 68.7 15.0 26.7 54.1 19.2 26.7 62.3 @11.0

19 years ....................... 16.2 59.9 23.9 21.0 58.9 20.1 25.1 64.5 @10.4

15–17 years .................... 27.9 56.9 15.2 31.8 53.9 14.3 37.3 47.7 15.0

18–19 years .................... 16.2 64.2 19.6 24.1 56.2 19.6 25.9 63.5 @10.6

Hispanic origin, race,

and age at interview

Non-Hispanic white ................ 20.8 63.2 16.1 28.0 57.6 14.4 34.9 58.4 @6.7

15–17 years ................... 26.5 60.1 13.4 32.6 57.3 10.1 42.7 49.1 *8.3

18–19 years ................... 15.6 65.9 18.5 23.7 57.8 18.5 28.8 65.8 *5.4

Non-Hispanic black ................ 21.8 53.9 24.3 25.1 50.7 24.2 26.4 45.5 28.1

15–17 years ................... 30.9 44.8 24.3 29.9 46.7 23.4 31.3 41.3 27.4

18–19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *11.3 64.4 24.4 17.8 56.7 25.4 19.4 51.4 29.2

Hispanic ....................... 23.9 60.9 15.3 31.1 51.0 17.9 28.0 55.8 16.1

15–17 years ................... 24.0 62.1 *14.0 33.2 49.3 *17.5 31.0 52.5 16.5

18–19 years ................... *23.7 59.2 *17.1 28.3 53.4 *18.4 25.1 59.1 15.8

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years .................. 23.9 55.6 20.5 26.1 47.6 26.3 27.7 51.1 21.2

15 years ....................... 20.4 60.9 18.7 28.0 53.8 18.2 35.2 55.1 9.8

16 years ....................... 23.4 66.8 9.8 27.1 62.4 *10.4 27.9 63.5 8.6

17–19 years .................... 18.8 63.0 18.1 34.1 63.0 *2.9 39.3 58.1 2.6

Mother’s education

0–11 years ..................... 20.5 65.1 14.4 37.0 43.5 19.5 @22.2 @65.1 12.7

12 years ....................... 24.2 62.4 13.4 24.8 56.9 18.3 @34.9 51.8 13.3

13–15 years .................... 20.3 60.2 19.5 26.2 55.5 18.3 31.8 56.3 @12.0

16 years or more ................. 22.4 49.7 27.9 31.4 56.2 12.4 33.8 55.7 10.5

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years .................. 22.4 62.4 15.2 24.5 55.5 20.0 27.5 56.2 16.3

20 years or older ................. 22.2 58.8 19.0 30.6 54.2 14.3 35.2 55.7 @9.1

Family structure at age 14

Both biological/adoptive parents ........ 23.9 57.9 18.3 29.0 55.3 15.7 32.2 58.1 @9.7

Single parent3 ................... 18.6 63.0 18.4 24.4 56.7 18.8 30.4 50.0 19.6

Parent and stepparent .............. 21.9 64.0 14.0 31.5 58.0 *10.5 34.1 53.4 *12.5

Nonparent/other .................. *27.4 61.1 *11.6 *26.1 *38.8 *35.2 31.2 59.4 *9.3

Religious affiliation

None ......................... 19.7 61.7 18.6 38.2 48.6 *13.2 31.8 54.3 13.9

Protestant ...................... 23.5 58.4 18.1 28.9 54.7 16.4 30.9 56.9 12.1

Catholic ....................... 21.2 64.1 14.8 24.0 57.3 18.8 30.8 54.6 14.6

Other4 ........................ *19.8 59.6 *20.6 *21.7 64.3 *14.1 40.4 51.1 *8.5

Page 42 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 10. Percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by number of

opposite-sex sexual partners in the past 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female1 Male

1995 1988 1995

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more .............. 21.1 62.2 16.7 27.1 56.3 16.6 @37.3 47.6 15.1

1–3 times a month ................ 30.3 53.6 16.1 27.1 57.0 15.9 27.7 63.5 @8.8

Less than once a month ............. 17.2 61.9 20.9 24.7 59.4 15.9 26.0 59.3 14.6

Never ........................ 21.3 61.8 16.9 34.9 46.9 *18.3 29.2 59.2 11.6

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)5 ................ 24.7 57.0 18.3 30.1 52.6 17.3 32.2 50.4 17.4

Suburban (MSA)5 ................. 23.0 60.9 16.2 28.4 55.8 15.8 30.3 60.8 @8.9

Rural (non-MSA)5 ................. 16.3 65.4 18.3 24.0 57.3 18.7 31.7 56.8 @11.5

Region of residence

Northeast ...................... 21.9 61.4 16.7 19.9 64.0 16.2 @41.6 @47.1 11.3

Midwest ....................... 22.8 60.9 16.2 31.5 53.4 15.1 29.5 54.8 15.6

South ........................ 21.1 59.0 19.9 23.7 54.2 22.1 30.1 58.6 @11.2

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.2 61.5 15.3 42.9 48.8 *8.3 31.4 60.2 8.4

Behind in school6

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *18.3 51.3 30.4 22.9 51.4 25.6 20.5 59.0 20.6

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.5 61.6 15.9 28.9 55.7 15.4 33.2 55.4 @11.4

Number

Total sample (denominator)7 . . . . . . . . . . 700 . . . . . . 1,263 . . . . . . 1,015 . . . . . .

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

. . . Category not applicable.

1Question design differences between 1988 and 1995 render the measures noncomparable, so 1988 percents are not presented.

2Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

3Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

4‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

5MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

6Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

7Total across all categories of number of partners.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 43
Table 11. Percent distribution of sexually active never-married females 15–19 years of age by age difference between female and last male

sexual partner in the past 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years

or more older

Percent

All teenagers1 .......................... *0.4 – 19.5 55.9 24.3

Age

15 years .............................. – – *10.0 76.8 *10.3

16 years .............................. – – 19.2 55.2 *25.5

17 years .............................. – – 17.9 58.8 23.4

18 years .............................. – – 19.3 50.5 30.2

19 years .............................. *1.4 – 25.0 50.0 23.6

15–17 years ........................... – – 16.6 62.3 21.2

18–19 years ........................... *0.7 – 22.1 50.3 27.0

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ....................... *0.5 – 20.5 54.8 24.1

15–17 years .......................... – – 17.9 61.6 20.5

18–19 years .......................... *1.0 – 22.5 49.6 26.9

Non-Hispanic black ....................... – – 17.5 55.8 26.7

15–17 years .......................... – – *16.3 65.7 *18.1

18–19 years .......................... – – *18.8 45.8 35.4

Hispanic .............................. – – *16.0 58.6 *25.4

15–17 years .......................... – – *10.8 58.0 *31.3

18–19 years .......................... – – *23.3 59.6 *17.1

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years ......................... *0.9 – 13.0 54.8 31.2

15 years .............................. – – 15.8 63.3 20.9

16 years .............................. – – 32.6 47.9 19.5

17–19 years ........................... – – 23.1 58.2 18.7

Mother’s education

0–11 years ............................ – – 21.4 52.6 26.0

12 years .............................. – – 17.3 59.1 23.6

13–15 years ........................... *1.6 – 17.5 53.6 27.3

16 years or more ........................ – – 23.5 54.8 21.7

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ......................... – – 17.0 59.6 23.4

20 years or older ........................ *0.6 – 20.7 53.4 25.3

– –

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ............... – – 22.9 56.0 21.1

Single parent2 .......................... – – 18.1 55.6 26.3

Parent and stepparent ..................... *2.4 – *13.7 59.5 24.3

Nonparent/other ......................... – – *9.9 42.3 47.9

Religious affiliation

None ................................ – – 19.3 58.1 22.6

Protestant ............................. *0.7 – 19.6 54.7 25.0

Catholic .............................. – – 20.6 56.9 22.5

Other3 ............................... – – *10.0 51.7 *38.2

Page 44 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 11. Percent distribution of sexually active never-married females 15–19 years of age by age difference between female and last male

sexual partner in the past 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years

or more older

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ..................... *0.8 – 19.7 57.2 22.3

1–3 times a month ....................... – – 18.7 54.8 26.5

Less than once a month .................... – – 15.8 61.0 23.3

Never ............................... – – 23.4 48.8 27.8

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)4 ....................... – – 17.0 60.1 23.0

Suburban (MSA)4 ........................ *0.9 – 21.0 57.1 21.0

Rural (non-MSA)4 ........................ – – 20.5 47.5 32.0

Region of residence

Northeast ............................. – – 17.2 49.3 33.5

Midwest .............................. *1.5 – 21.7 54.3 22.6

South ............................... – – 19.0 57.0 24.1

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – – 20.3 63.1 16.6

Behind in school5

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – – 23.3 46.2 30.5

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *0.4 – 18.9 57.3 23.4

Number

Total sample (denominator)6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540 . . . . . . . . . . . .

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

– Quantity zero.

. . . Category not applicable.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

5Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

6Total across all categories of age differences.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 45
Table 12. Percent distribution of sexually active never-married males 15–19 years of age by age difference between male and last female

sexual partner within the last 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995 and 1988

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Percent

All teenagers1 ................... *0.4 44.8 30.0 21.6 3.2 *2.0 45.7 25.2 22.1 5.1

Age

15 years ....................... – 23.5 52.2 22.9 *1.4 – 24.5 35.1 34.6 *5.8

16 years ....................... *0.3 33.0 31.2 34.0 *1.4 – 33.3 39.1 26.7 *0.9

17 years ....................... *0.2 45.2 33.5 18.3 *2.8 – 39.2 31.3 27.1 *2.4

18 years ....................... – 53.5 23.5 18.7 *4.3 *0.1 54.1 22.7 16.8 *6.4

19 years ....................... *1.3 49.7 24.4 20.6 *4.0 *6.4 55.9 @13.2 16.9 *7.6

15–17 years .................... *0.2 37.5 36.4 23.8 *2.2 – 34.3 34.7 28.5 *2.6

18–19 years .................... *0.6 51.8 23.9 19.6 4.2 *3.6 55.1 17.4 16.8 7.1

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ................ *0.1 43.8 30.3 22.8 3.1 *3.4 47.8 23.1 21.7 *4.0

15–17 years ................... *0.1 37.6 36.1 24.5 *1.7 – 32.2 35.0 30.8 *2.0

18–19 years ................... – 49.0 25.5 21.3 *4.3 *5.6 57.9 *15.3 15.8 *5.4

Non-Hispanic black ................ *0.2 46.8 32.4 17.5 3.1 – 43.2 26.7 @24.6 5.5

15–17 years ................... *0.4 36.6 39.3 22.1 *1.6 – 37.4 28.9 31.0 *2.7

18–19 years ................... – 59.7 23.6 11.6 *5.0 – 50.2 24.0 16.8 9.0

Hispanic ....................... – 53.5 14.7 27.0 *4.9 *0.2 45.3 @27.7 24.2 *2.7

15–17 years ................... – 48.0 *17.1 27.9 *7.0 – 36.2 32.5 26.7 *4.6

18–19 years ................... – 60.3 *11.6 25.9 *2.2 *0.3 53.7 23.3 21.8 *0.9

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years .................. *0.2 43.1 33.5 20.0 *3.1 *0.9 44.3 26.8 24.8 *3.3

15 years ....................... – 43.3 33.0 21.6 *2.2 *3.7 35.8 23.1 27.2 *10.2

16 years ....................... – 46.5 24.1 25.4 *4.0 – 51.6 26.9 17.8 *3.7

17–19 years .................... *2.2 49.1 25.5 19.4 *3.7 *5.6 55.2 20.1 14.2 *4.9

Mother’s education

0–11 years ..................... – 46.3 24.5 26.7 *2.5 *6.5 42.3 18.1 24.0 *9.2

12 years ....................... – 49.6 29.7 18.5 *2.3 *2.0 46.5 26.5 20.2 *4.8

13–15 years .................... – 38.1 24.5 32.5 *5.0 – 40.5 30.4 25.7 *3.5

16 years or more ................. – 30.5 43.6 22.9 *2.9 – @49.1 @25.4 22.6 *2.9

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years .................. *1.0 47.6 26.7 20.6 *4.1 *2.3 46.4 25.5 20.3 *5.6

20 years or older ................. – 43.3 31.4 22.7 *2.7 *1.8 45.2 24.5 24.4 *4.1

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ........ *0.1 45.5 28.5 22.4 3.5 *2.7 49.1 24.7 18.2 *5.3

Single parent2 ................... *1.6 44.0 38.5 14.6 *1.4 *1.3 41.0 @26.2 @29.0 *2.6

Parent and stepparent .............. – 37.7 28.8 26.8 *6.7 – 35.3 35.0 18.4 *11.2

Nonparent/other .................. – 48.8 *9.2 40.8 *1.2 – 59.0 *9.5 20.9 *10.6

Religious affiliation

None ......................... – 47.7 25.3 26.1 *0.8 *6.9 40.2 25.4 13.4 *14.1

Protestant ...................... – 47.5 28.2 21.2 3.1 *1.4 47.5 24.3 23.3 *3.5

Catholic ....................... *1.1 39.6 33.2 21.8 *4.3 – 43.0 30.3 23.9 *2.8

Other3 ........................ – *39.0 *45.1 15.8 – – 61.7 *3.7 34.7 - - -

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more .............. *0.2 40.7 34.5 21.6 *3.0 *1.0 42.4 26.5 27.0 *3.2

1–3 times a month ................ – 48.4 31.2 19.4 *1.1 *3.4 53.6 20.5 20.2 *2.4

Less than once a month ............. – 45.0 28.6 19.8 *6.6 – 47.7 27.6 21.8 *2.8

Never ........................ *1.8 50.1 19.1 26.5 *2.4 *3.5 41.5 25.9 17.4 *11.8

Page 46 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 12. Percent distribution of sexually active never-married males 15–19 years of age by age difference between male and last female

sexual partner within the last 3 months, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995 and 1988—Con.

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)4 ................ *0.1 42.0 32.3 20.7 4.9 *2.3 49.5 @20.8 23.9 *3.5

Suburban (MSA)4 ................. *0.8 42.8 30.9 23.3 *2.3 *2.4 41.6 29.7 21.5 *4.8

Rural (non-MSA)4 ................. – 53.4 24.6 19.3 *2.7 *1.1 45.7 25.3 20.6 *7.2

Region of residence

Northeast ...................... *0.2 43.3 26.3 26.2 *4.0 *7.8 45.9 30.2 @12.3 *3.9

Midwest ....................... *1.3 39.6 37.1 20.4 *1.6 *0.7 45.1 @22.8 25.6 *5.9

South ........................ – 48.8 28.2 19.7 3.4 – 43.5 29.1 21.6 *5.9

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *0.3 44.9 28.7 22.0 *4.1 *4.9 50.8 23.1 18.8 *2.4

Behind in school5

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *2.6 55.3 17.2 21.0 *4.0 *6.6 61.9 *12.4 @6.3 *12.8

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – 43.2 32.0 21.7 3.1 *1.3 43.2 26.8 24.7 4.0

Number

Total sample (denominator)6 . . . . . . . . . . 895 . . . . . . . . . . . . 695 . . . . . . . . . . . .

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

– Quantity zero.

. . . Category not applicable.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

5Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

6Total across all categories of age differences.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 47
Table 13. Percent distribution of never-married females 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age difference between

female and first male sexual partner, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Percent

All teenagers1 .......................... *0.1 3.6 15.0 61.2 20.1

Age

15 years .............................. – *2.0 *14.7 66.5 17.0

16 years .............................. – *1.7 17.4 58.1 22.9

17 years .............................. *0.5 *3.2 14.2 65.0 17.1

18 years .............................. – *5.2 14.2 60.8 19.9

19 years .............................. – *4.4 14.8 58.6 22.1

15–17 years ........................... *0.2 *2.4 15.4 62.9 19.1

18–19 years ........................... – 4.8 14.5 59.7 21.0

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ....................... *0.2 3.8 16.7 58.6 20.7

15–17 years .......................... *0.4 *4.0 20.0 58.7 17.0

18–19 years .......................... – *3.7 14.2 58.5 23.6

Non-Hispanic black ....................... – *3.1 11.4 69.6 16.0

15–17 years .......................... – – *11.2 72.5 16.3

18–19 years .......................... – *6.5 *11.6 66.3 15.6

Hispanic .............................. – *3.1 *11.0 61.8 24.0

15–17 years .......................... – – *4.1 61.8 34.1

18–19 years .......................... – *7.4 *20.6 61.9 *10.2

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years ......................... *0.3 *1.8 7.8 62.8 27.3

15 years .............................. – *3.8 16.3 63.8 16.1

16 years .............................. – *1.8 21.1 67.1 9.9

17–19 years ........................... – *9.7 21.0 46.7 22.6

Mother’s education

0–11 years ............................ – *1.1 18.5 60.7 19.7

12 years .............................. *0.3 *2.8 14.3 63.2 19.4

13–15 years ........................... – *7.4 10.0 61.9 20.7

16 years or more ........................ – *4.3 19.4 55.4 20.9

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ......................... *0.3 *2.1 13.8 63.4 20.4

20 years or older ........................ – 4.8 16.1 59.5 19.7

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ............... – 5.0 16.6 57.7 20.6

Single parent2 .......................... *0.4 *3.0 11.3 67.1 18.2

Parent and stepparent ..................... – *1.6 15.2 61.9 21.3

Nonparent/other ......................... – – 21.7 54.8 *23.6

Religious affiliation

None ................................ *0.6 *3.0 11.1 64.1 21.2

Protestant ............................. – *2.8 14.1 62.7 20.4

Catholic .............................. – *4.8 21.3 57.2 16.7

Other3 ............................... – *12.3 – 52.6 *35.2

Page 48 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 13. Percent distribution of never-married females 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age difference between

female and first male sexual partner, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ..................... *0.3 *4.6 15.6 61.8 17.8

1–3 times a month ....................... – *2.1 14.2 66.5 17.2

Less than once a month .................... – *2.2 12.2 62.9 22.8

Never ............................... – *4.3 16.7 54.2 24.9

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *0.8 *2.7 19.4 57.2 *20.0

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – 3.8 14.2 62.0 20.1

Number

Total sample (denominator)5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 . . . . . . . . . . . .

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

– Quantity zero.

. . . Category not applicable.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

5Total across all categories of age differences.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 49
Table 14. Percent distribution of never-married males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age difference between

male and first female sexual partner, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Percent

All teenagers1 ............. *0.3 21.3 36.2 35.8 6.3 *1.7 23.6 32.6 36.1 6.1

Age

15 years ................. – *10.0 29.5 53.3 7.1 *0.6 *16.7 31.5 47.4 *3.9

16 years ................. *0.6 20.5 33.2 39.3 6.4 *0.9 20.1 41.1 31.7 6.2

17 years ................. – 17.9 41.1 39.1 *1.9 – 19.2 32.0 42.6 6.2

18 years ................. – 24.1 36.3 33.1 6.5 – 30.5 35.5 25.8 8.2

19 years ................. *1.0 27.9 36.2 24.3 10.6 *5.0 25.9 26.8 @37.3 *5.0

15–17 years .............. *0.2 17.0 36.2 42.2 4.4 *0.4 19.0 34.9 39.9 5.7

18–19 years .............. *0.5 25.8 36.3 29.2 8.3 *2.9 27.8 30.4 32.5 *6.4

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white .......... – 21.8 36.2 35.0 7.0 *1.3 26.5 33.7 32.7 *5.8

15–17 years ............. – *15.3 37.5 42.3 4.9 *0.5 21.3 36.7 36.7 *4.9

18–19 years ............. – 27.7 35.1 28.2 9.0 *1.9 30.6 31.4 29.7 *6.4

Non-Hispanic black .......... *0.3 19.1 35.9 38.8 5.9 *0.4 17.5 32.4 @45.0 4.8

15–17 years ............. *0.5 15.9 34.4 44.6 4.6 *0.6 *14.9 31.7 48.4 4.4

18–19 years ............. – 23.8 38.2 30.2 7.7 – 21.2 33.2 @40.2 *5.4

Hispanic ................. *0.4 25.3 31.8 38.8 *3.6 *0.3 17.5 29.6 41.9 10.9

15–17 years ............. *0.7 *31.5 32.3 34.0 *1.6 – *13.8 28.7 44.7 12.7

18–19 years ............. – *16.6 31.2 45.6 6.5 *0.5 21.2 30.4 39.0 8.9

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years ............ – *7.4 32.4 48.7 11.5 *0.3 *8.4 30.2 49.0 12.0

15 years ................. *0.1 22.7 37.7 34.2 5.2 *3.7 20.6 34.7 37.2 3.8

16 years ................. *0.3 25.1 38.4 33.6 *2.7 *0.3 29.1 39.6 28.6 2.4

17–19 years .............. *1.4 44.5 38.9 *13.1 *2.1 *3.8 55.3 26.3 *14.4 0.3

Mother’s education

0–11 years ............... – *15.3 35.4 35.8 13.5 *9.3 17.8 33.2 31.6 8.1

12 years ................. *0.1 18.4 38.6 37.5 5.3 *0.2 @25.7 31.6 34.3 *8.2

13–15 years .............. – *26.2 34.7 35.8 *3.3 – *21.6 34.3 41.0 *3.2

16 years or more ........... *0.2 24.3 35.5 34.0 *6.0 *0.6 27.0 29.7 40.4 *2.2

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ............ *0.6 19.0 34.0 37.1 9.3 *2.0 24.8 32.0 33.6 *7.6

20 years or older ........... *0.1 22.6 36.6 36.1 4.7 *1.5 22.5 33.4 37.9 *4.7

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents . . *0.1 20.7 37.4 36.8 5.1 *2.7 24.4 33.3 34.0 *5.6

Single parent2 ............. *1.3 *18.8 39.8 35.1 4.9 – 24.3 @29.1 40.4 6.2

Parent and stepparent ........ – 32.8 *23.6 35.7 *7.9 – *17.5 37.6 38.6 *6.3

Nonparent/other ............ – 23.6 17.7 *25.2 33.6 *1.9 *17.2 27.5 35.8 17.6

Religious affiliation

None ................... – *14.2 28.6 49.2 8.0 *8.6 *22.8 21.2 41.2 *6.1

Protestant ................ *0.1 24.0 37.3 31.1 7.6 *0.4 25.8 33.4 35.9 4.4

Catholic ................. *0.8 20.6 35.9 40.8 *1.9 – *16.4 39.2 34.3 10.2

Other3 .................. – *11.1 *41.8 *18.0 29.1 – *43.0 24.7 *26.1 6.2

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ........ – 20.7 40.2 34.2 4.9 *0.1 22.5 35.3 36.8 5.3

1–3 times a month .......... *0.2 29.3 31.3 34.5 4.8 *0.7 24.4 33.8 38.8 *2.3

Less than once a month ....... – *22.0 42.1 33.4 *2.5 – 21.1 37.9 34.9 6.2

Never .................. *1.5 *14.5 26.3 43.3 14.4 6.1 26.3 23.6 33.4 *10.5

Page 50 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table 14. Percent distribution of never-married males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age difference between

male and first female sexual partner, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *1.7 *21.9 31.0 30.4 15.0 *12.6 *13.6 28.0 29.3 *16.4

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *0.1 21.3 37.0 36.6 5.0 *0.3 25.2 33.0 36.7 @4.8

Number

Total sample (denominator)5 .... 1,263 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,015 . . . . . . . . . . . .

@ Change from 1988 to 1995 is significant at the 10-percent level or better.

* Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (see appendix I: Sampling Errors).

– Quantity zero.

. . . Category not applicable.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

5Total across all categories of age differences.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 51
Appendix I

Sampling Errors

Because the statistics presented in

this report are based on sample surveys,

they may differ from the statistics that

would have resulted if all of the

millions of teenagers represented by the

surveys had been interviewed. The

standard error of an estimate is a

measure of such differences. Standard

errors were estimated with software that

adjusted for the complex sample designs

of the NSAM and the NSFG. Standard

errors are presented for all estimates in

tables I–XIV, with the table number

indicating the table containing the

corresponding estimates. For the 1988

and 1995 NSAM and the 1995 NSFG,

SUDAAN was used to produce standard

errors (66). For the 1988 NSFG,

WESVAR was used (67).

Tests of significance were

conducted for differences between

estimates for 1988 and 1995 within each

survey. Significance was determined

using a two-tailed t-test for proportions,

permitting an assumption of unequal

variances. The @ symbol in the tables

denotes whether the test yielded

differences significant at the 10-percent

level. Such tests were conducted and are

denoted in the tables for each category

of each independent variable. Tests of

significance were also conducted for

differences between the categories of the

independent variables within the survey

years, although they are not denoted in

the tables. When such comparisons are

mentioned in the text, they are

statistically significant unless otherwise

qualified. Lack of comment on a

comparison does not mean that

significance was ruled out.

Statistics in this report may also be

subject to nonsampling error, that is,

errors or omissions in responding to the

interview, recording answers, and

processing data. The NSFG and the

NSAM data for each survey year have

been adjusted for nonresponse by

adjustment to the sample weights

assigned to each case. Other types of

nonsampling error in the NSFG were

minimized by a series of quality control

measures that have been described

elsewhere (52–54).

A test of precision was conducted

for every statistic presented in this

report. If the relative standard error (or,

RSE, the standard error divided by the

proportion) was less than 30, the

statistic was considered reliable.

Statistics with an RSE equal to or

greater than 30 were not considered

reliable, not tested for significance, and

are denoted with an asterisk (*) in the

tables.

Appendix II

Definitions of Terms

Sexual Behavior and

Contraceptive Use Measures

The measures of sexual behavior

and contraceptive use were designed to

be parallel between the NSFG and the

NSAM. However, some differences exist

in wording and other aspects of

questions used to construct the

measures. Some differences also exist

between survey years within data

systems. Some measures were created

‘‘directly,’’ meaning from direct

questions, and others were created from

‘‘calendar data,’’ meaning from dates the

respondent supplied when asked to

enumerate events or partners within a

specific time period. Table XV shows

the wording of the questions and

describes the measure construction for

each of the primary outcome measures

used in this report for both survey years

for the NSFG and the NSAM. A brief

discussion of each follows.

Ever had sexual intercourse—This

was ascertained from a single question

for each year for both surveys. Wording

of the question was comparable across

time points and across surveys. The

question was designed to ask about

vaginal sexual intercourse only, and

slang terms were used (such as ‘‘gone

all the way’’) in addition to formal

terms in hopes of increasing

understanding by young respondents.

Age at first sexual intercourse—

This was ascertained directly from

several questions in the NSFG and one

question in the NSAM. The NSFG

measure was based on a question asking

for the respondent’s age at first

intercourse, and in cases where age was

not provided, it was based on the

respondent’s report of the date of first

intercourse. When both answers were

unknown, it was based on the

respondent’s estimate of her age at first

intercourse (i.e., between 15 and 18 or

between 18 and 20). The wording of the

primary question asking for age at first

sexual intercourse was consistent across

time periods and surveys.

Had sex in the 3 months prior to

the interview—This measure was

constructed from calendar data in both

survey years for both surveys. However,

the root questions differed between

surveys: the NSFG measure is based on

dates of sexual intercourse itself, and the

NSAM measure is based on dates of last

sex with female partners. See table XV

for details. It is possible that the

cognitive processes required to recall

these dates differed between the surveys.

However, the measures construction was

consistent across the years for each

survey.

Contraceptive use at last sex—This

measure was based on direct questions

for both surveys for both time points.

The questions’ wording was consistent

from year to year within surveys.

Females in the NSFG were asked one

set of questions about method(s) used

by herself or her partner. Males in the

NSAM were asked two sets of

questions, one asking about method(s)

he used and the other asking about

method(s) his partner used. Table XV

shows the slight difference in

ascertaining use of a continuous method

at last sexual intercourse in the 1995

NSFG. Because more than one method

may be used at one instance of sexual

intercourse, some categories of the

measure are not mutually exclusive. It

was classified to capture any use of a

hormonal method and any use of the

condom, regardless of whether it was

used by itself or in combination with

another method. The category ‘‘All

other methods’’ is a residual category

capturing the use of a method other than

Page 52 [ Series 23, No. 21
a hormonal method and the condom and

does not include ‘‘other’’ methods

combined with a hormonal method or

with the condom. This also applies to

‘‘Contraceptive use at first sex.’’

Contraceptive use at first

sex—Questions differ only slightly

between surveys and between years

within surveys. NSFG respondents were

asked about the first time they ever used

a contraceptive method, and then its

timing in relation to first sexual

intercourse was ascertained. NSAM

respondents were asked directly about

contraceptive method use at first sexual

intercourse.

—The 1995 NSFG questions, unlike

the 1988 NSFG, allowed for reporting

of method use beginning before first

sex, in addition to that beginning after

first sex. The 1995 NSFG questions also

contained explicit wording describing

dual method use. Finally, the 1995

NSFG asked about contraceptive use

during first voluntary sex only, whereas

the 1988 NSFG did not distinguish

voluntary and nonvoluntary first sexual

intercourse. (Only 4 percent of

never-married females aged 15–19 had

nonvoluntary first sex as reported in

1995.)

—Whereas the 1988 NSAM had

only one question, the 1995 NSAM

provided two question alternatives,

which depended on the number of

lifetime sexual partners the respondent

had had. One question variant asked

about contraception used at first

intercourse. The other question variant

asked about contraceptive method(s)

used at first intercourse with a specific

partner.

See ‘‘Contraceptive use at last sex,’’

second paragraph, for additional

information about the classification of

this measure into categories.

Number of sexual partners in

lifetime—This is ascertained from one

direct question in both surveys in both

survey years. The wording is different

between the surveys and years, but the

differences are minor. In 1995, both

surveys added wording to enhance recall

and understanding. (See table XV.)

Number of sexual partners in 3

months prior to interview—This

measure was constructed consistently

across the surveys and years, with the

exception of the NSFG in 1988. In

1988, NSFG contained a question

asking for the number of sexual partners

the respondent had in the last 3 months

in which she was having intercourse.

The 1995 NSFG and both years of the

NSAM used data from their partner

histories, totaling the number of ‘‘dates

of last sex with a partner’’ that fell

within the 3 months of the interview

date. Because of the uniqueness of the

measure from the 1988 NSFG, it may

not be comparable and is not analyzed

here.

Age of last sexual partner (in the

past 3 months)—This is determined

from calendar data in the 1995 NSFG

and from direct questions in both years

of NSAM. This information was not

collected in the 1988 NSFG.

—The 1995 NSFG measure used

the same strategy as that used for

‘‘number of sexual partners in 3 months

prior to interview,’’ with the additional

steps of determining the one partner

who was the most recent in the last 3

months, then determining his age.

—In the NSAM, the question was

worded slightly differently between

1988 and 1995. (See table XV.)

Age of first sexual partner—This

was ascertained from direct questions in

the 1995 NSFG and the 1988 NSAM. It

was not collected in the 1988 NSFG. In

the 1995 NSAM, it was ascertained

from a direct question for respondents

who had had three or more partners in

their lifetime. For those with two or

fewer partners, it was calculated using

the first partner’s age at last sex with

the respondent. Wording of the

questions differ slightly between the

NSFG and the NSAM and between

years of the NSAM.

Selected Demographic

Terms

Age at interview—This is the

respondent’s age on the day of the

interview. This was the eligibility

criterion for NSAM. Eligibility for the

NSFG was determined by the age at the

calendar midpoint of the interview

period. Therefore, some NSFG

respondents were 14 on the day of the

interview and are excluded from the

NSFG universe used in this report.

Behind in school—This measure

was designed to capture whether

respondents were 2 years or more

behind in school for their age. A

respondent was considered ‘‘not behind’’

if he/she had a high school diploma

(because the oldest respondents were 19

years old, this would always be an

acceptable rate of school progress if

they already had a diploma), if the

respondent had a general equivalency

diploma (GED), or if the difference

between his/her current age and the

highest grade he/she completed was less

than 8. For example, a 19-year-old

whose highest grade completed was 11

(and had neither a high school diploma

nor a GED) was considered ‘‘behind.’’

An 18-year-old whose highest grade

completed was 11 was not considered

‘‘behind.’’ The variables with which this

measure was calculated and the number

of missing cases on the variables

differed somewhat between the NSAM

and the NSFG and between 1988 and

1995. However, the four measures were

constructed as comparably as possible,

and percent distributions across ‘‘not

behind’’ and ‘‘behind in school’’ were

very similar between surveys and years.

This measure has been used in prior

analyses of male teenagers (43).

Family structure at age 14

years—In the NSFG, this measure was

created differently in 1995 than in 1988.

In 1988, respondents were asked directly

whether they were living with both their

‘‘own mother’’ and ‘‘own father’’ at age

14 years. If they responded ‘‘no,’’ they

were asked with whom they were living

at age 14 years and were presented with

seven combinations of parents and

parent-figures. In 1995, the NSFG

enumerated the parents and

parent-figures with whom the respondent

lived and whom she considered to have

raised her from birth to the time she left

to be on her own. The dates of changes

in parent(s)/parent-figure(s) were

compared with the respondent’s age.

The last parent(s) or parent-figure(s) that

the respondent reported before she

turned 14 years old yielded the ‘‘family

structure at age 14.’’ In the NSAM, the

measure was created from direct

questions in both 1988 and 1995. In the

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 53
1988 NSAM, the respondents were

asked if they were living with both of

their biological parents at age 14 years.

If they answered ‘‘no,’’ they were asked

with whom they were living at age 14

years, and were presented with eight

choices of combinations of parents and

parent-figures. If they responded,

‘‘Neither mother nor father,’’ they were

then presented with seven choices of

other living arrangements such as living

with a grandparent or grandparents,

other relatives, foster parents, in a group

home, in a residential facility/institution,

or with an adoptive parent(s). In the

1995 NSAM, the respondents were

asked if they were living with their

biological or legally adopted parents at

age 14 years. If they answered ‘‘no,’’

they were asked with whom they were

living most of the year when they were

14 years old, and were presented with

10 choices of combinations of parents

and parent-figures. If they responded

‘‘Neither mother nor father,’’ they were

asked with whom they lived most of the

year when they were 14 years old, and

were presented with five choices of

other living arrangements: living with a

grandparent or grandparents, other

relatives, foster parents, in a group

home, or in a residential facility.

Frequency of attendance, religious

services—In both the NSFG and the

NSAM, for both survey years, this was

ascertained by a direct question, and

respondents were presented with four or

five collapsed ‘‘frequency’’ categories,

enabling the comparable categorization

that appears in this report. In the NSFG

and the NSAM, in both 1988 and 1995,

respondents were asked, ‘‘When you

were 14, about how often did you

usually attend religious services?’’

Mother’s age at first birth—In both

1988 and 1995, the NSFG respondents

were asked directly about their mother’s

age at her first birth, and were given a

range of ages (including ‘‘20 or older’’

or ‘‘under 20’’) if they did not know her

exact age. There are minor differences

between the 2 years. In 1995,

respondents answered questions about

the woman whom they considered raised

them. In most cases, this was the

biological mother. However, for a

minority of respondents, it was a

different female parent-figure. They

were also given the option of identifying

no female parent-figure, in which case

they skipped past the questions about

the female parent-figure. This occurred

only very rarely. In the 1988 NSFG

questionnaire, respondents were asked

this question about their ‘‘mother’’ with

no qualification. NSAM also ascertained

this information from direct questions

about the respondent’s mother

(unqualified) in both survey years.

Similar to the NSFG, they were given a

range of ages if they did not know her

exact age at the first birth.

Mother’s education—In both the

NSAM and the NSFG, this was

determined from a question asking for

the highest grade of regular school or

college that the respondent’s mother had

completed. In the NSFG, minor

differences exist between 1988 and 1995

that stem from the same differences as

described above for ‘‘Mother’s age at

first birth.’’

Race and Hispanic origin—In the

NSFG and the NSAM for both survey

years, this measure was based primarily

on two questions: one ascertaining

whether the respondent was of Hispanic

or Spanish origin, and another

ascertaining which of four race groups

best described his/her racial background.

Respondents who reported more than

one of the four race groups were asked

to select one group that ‘‘best

described’’ them. Because of limited

sample size, males and females who

identified themselves as Asian, Pacific

Islander, Alaskan native, or American

Indian were not presented separately in

the tables, although they are included in

the ‘‘total’’ rows. Racial and ethnic

subgroups presented in this report were

constructed as follows: a) white,

excluding Hispanics; b) black, excluding

Hispanics, and c) Hispanics. In the text,

non-Hispanic white teenagers are

referred to as ‘‘white’’ and non-Hispanic

black teenagers are referred to as

‘‘black’’ for easier comprehension of the

discussions.

Region of residence—For both the

NSFG and the NSAM for each survey

year, this measure classifies the

respondents’ residence at the time of the

interview into four major regions of the

country: Northeast, Midwest, South, and

West. The classification of States into

these regions corresponds to the

classification used by the U.S. Bureau of

the Census. More details are available in

the Public Use Data File Documentation

for the NSFG Cycle 5: 1995 (65).

Religious affıliation—In 1988, both

the NSFG and the NSAM asked, ‘‘Are

you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish,

or something else?’’ In 1995, the NSFG

and the NSAM asked the respondents

what their religious affiliation was and

provided a list of major religious

denominations. Males and females who

identified with a religion other than

Protestant or Roman Catholic were

classified as ‘‘other’’ religion. These are

shown separately. However, they lack

sufficient numbers of cases to support

statistics in many tables.

Residence at interview—This

categorizes respondents’ place of

residence at the time of the interview

according to the U.S. Office of

Management and Budget’s definition of

metropolitan statistical areas and Census

population counts. Residences are

categorized as being within central cities

of metropolitan areas, suburban parts of

metropolitan areas, or nonmetropolitan

areas. The 1995 NSAM and NSFG

classifications were based on 1990

Census population counts, and the 1988

surveys were based on 1980 Census

population counts.

Appendix III

Availability of Data and

Related Sources

Public use data files containing data

from the 1998 and 1995 NSFG are

available from the National Technical

Information Service. The data are also

available on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM’s

and paper copies of reports using NSFG

data can be ordered from the U.S.

Government Printing Office. Information

on ordering the data and reports can

also be obtained by contacting the Data

Dissemination Branch at (301)

458–4636. Finally, ordering information

and selected reports can be found on the

NCHS homepage at http://www.cdc.gov/

nchs/.

Page 54 [ Series 23, No. 21
Public use data

files containing data

from the 1995 NSAM are available

through the Sociometrics Corporation:

DAAPPP Data Set No. 07, available

from the Data Archive on Adolescent

Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention

Programs, Sociometrics Corporation,

170 State St., Los Altos, CA

94022–2812, telephone (415) 949–3282.

See Sonenstein et al., 1998 (68).

There are other major sources of

national data relevant to the topics in

this report. Annual reports are published

by NCHS on live births, birth rates, and

pregnancy rates based on certificates of

live birth. The Youth Risk Behavior

Survey (YRBS) monitors trends in

adolescent sexual behaviors and is

conducted by the Centers for Disease

Control’s Division of Adolescent and

School Health (13). The National

Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

(Ad Health), conducted in 1995,

includes information allowing the study

of sexual and contraceptive behavior

among adolescents (47). The National

Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY),

conducted annually or biennially since

1979, includes information on sexual

activity and contraceptive use among the

original cohort and its offspring. NLSY

is conducted by the Center for Human

Resource Research at The Ohio State

University and funded by the U.S.

Department of Labor with support from

the NICHD.

In 1988, thefield work for the

NSAM was conducted by the Institute

of Survey Research at Temple

University and in 1995 by the Research

Triangle Institute. In 1988, thefield

work for NSFG was conducted by

Westat and in 1995, by the Research

Triangle Institute.

Series 23, No. 21[ Page 55
Table I. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who have had sexual intercourse by selected characteristics:

United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1 ........................ 1.71 1.43 1.99 1.97

Age

15 years ............................ 3.71 2.88 3.90 2.83

16 years ............................ 3.49 3.46 4.00 3.04

17 years ............................ 4.13 3.16 3.45 3.22

18 years ............................ 3.58 2.76 3.78 4.06

19 years ............................ 3.01 3.30 3.16 2.88

15–17 years ......................... 2.44 1.78 2.40 1.91

18–19 years ......................... 2.52 2.09 2.60 2.69

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ..................... 2.19 1.82 2.59 2.74

15–17 years ........................ 3.21 2.32 3.05 2.73

18–19 years ........................ 2.93 2.54 3.31 3.47

Non-Hispanic black ..................... 3.14 3.06 2.43 1.87

15–17 years ........................ 4.56 4.22 2.82 2.84

18–19 years ........................ 5.24 4.22 4.42 2.76

Hispanic ............................ 6.21 4.03 4.36 3.82

15–17 years ........................ 6.77 4.88 5.00 4.31

18–19 years ........................ 8.77 6.11 6.93 4.31

Mother’s education

0–11 years .......................... 3.30 3.83 3.44 4.41

12 years ............................ 2.77 2.27 2.95 2.70

13–15 years ......................... 3.63 3.35 5.49 4.59

16 years or more ...................... 3.68 3.08 4.02 3.97

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ....................... 2.75 2.79 2.88 2.34

20 years or older ...................... 2.30 1.61 2.43 2.59

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ............. 2.22 1.83 2.36 2.58

Single parent2 ........................ 3.13 2.84 3.79 2.56

Parent and stepparent ................... 4.25 4.24 5.94 5.03

Nonparent/other ....................... 7.66 7.04 3.44 6.00

Religious affiliation

None .............................. 6.41 3.51 5.75 3.08

Protestant ........................... 2.34 1.83 2.65 2.20

Catholic ............................ 3.23 3.02 2.96 4.21

Other3 ............................. 13.73 5.49 8.62 8.70

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ................... 2.21 1.90 3.19 3.25

1–3 times a month ..................... 4.62 3.67 3.97 3.90

Less than once a month .................. 4.58 3.51 4.36 4.33

Never ............................. 4.90 3.16 5.47 3.47

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.41 4.13 5.12 4.60

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.92 1.50 2.09 2.00

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 1.

Page 56 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table II. Standard errors for cumulative percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse before

reaching selected ages by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1 ........................ 1.71 1.43 1.99 1.97

Age

13 years ............................ 0.29 0.43 0.69 0.47

14 years ............................ 0.82 0.75 1.08 0.89

15 years ............................ 1.02 1.27 1.33 1.19

16 years ............................ 1.59 1.39 2.42 1.95

17 years ............................ 2.05 1.83 2.40 2.68

18 years ............................ 2.62 2.24 2.76 2.92

19 years ............................ 3.12 3.42 4.02 2.87

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white:

13 years .......................... 0.28 0.48 0.80 0.51

14 years .......................... 0.76 0.82 1.25 1.08

15 years .......................... 1.15 1.40 1.56 1.54

16 years .......................... 1.97 1.68 3.01 2.59

17 years .......................... 2.49 2.36 3.18 3.87

18 years .......................... 2.91 2.74 3.60 3.57

19 years .......................... 3.85 3.76 5.29 3.89

Non-Hispanic black:

13 years .......................... 0.99 1.59 2.03 1.52

14 years .......................... 2.00 2.22 2.45 2.09

15 years .......................... 2.27 2.84 2.37 2.51

16 years .......................... 3.50 3.63 2.84 2.77

17 years .......................... 4.30 4.21 3.27 2.72

18 years .......................... 5.77 5.06 4.55 3.36

19 years .......................... 5.82 11.60 2.60 3.51

1Includes races other than black and white.

NOTES: The denominator for each percent includes only those having reached the specific age to which the percent pertains. This table shows the standard errors for table 2.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 57
Table III. Standard errors for percents of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse before age 15

years, by age at interview and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1 .......................... 1.02 1.27 1.33 1.19

Age at interview

15 years .............................. 2.88 2.73 3.96 2.44

16 years .............................. 2.12 2.87 3.25 2.87

17 years .............................. 1.79 2.54 1.90 2.63

18 years .............................. 2.47 2.36 2.48 2.45

19 years .............................. 1.82 2.15 2.95 3.67

15–17 years ........................... 1.44 1.64 1.81 1.27

18–19 years ........................... 1.62 1.59 2.01 2.20

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ....................... 1.15 1.40 1.56 1.54

15–17 years .......................... 1.63 1.87 2.13 1.51

18–19 years .......................... 1.88 1.93 2.46 2.83

Non-Hispanic black ....................... 2.27 2.84 2.37 2.51

15–17 years .......................... 3.57 3.97 3.39 2.96

18–19 years .......................... 3.37 4.26 4.27 4.41

Hispanic .............................. 3.18 3.82 2.97 3.44

15–17 years .......................... 4.04 4.90 3.90 3.77

18–19 years .......................... 5.58 4.27 4.76 4.25

Mother’s education

0–11 years ............................ 1.75 3.44 3.41 2.94

12 years .............................. 1.62 1.63 2.21 2.09

13–15 years ........................... 2.21 3.22 3.56 2.68

16 years or more ........................ 2.56 1.80 2.46 1.98

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ......................... 1.02 1.37 2.87 1.82

20 years or older ........................ 1.99 2.58 1.48 1.63

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ............... 1.03 1.26 1.78 1.41

Single parent2 .......................... 2.46 2.55 2.86 3.16

Parent and stepparent ..................... 4.18 3.16 4.66 4.30

Nonparent/other ......................... 5.46 6.18 10.48 8.39

Religious affiliation

None ................................ 4.96 3.86 4.43 3.54

Protestant ............................. 1.22 1.45 1.66 1.63

Catholic .............................. 1.71 2.25 2.23 3.14

Other3 ............................... 6.74 4.79 8.78 7.95

Frequency of attendance at religious services

Once a week or more ..................... 0.99 1.21 1.92 1.67

1–3 times a month ....................... 2.90 3.08 3.08 3.42

Less than once a month .................... 3.39 3.17 3.10 2.98

Never ............................... 3.85 3.35 4.69 2.74

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.72 4.60 3.04 7.25

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.99 1.24 1.44 1.10

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 3.

Page 58 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table IV. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the

survey by selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1 .......................... 1.54 1.43 2.07 1.90

Age

15 years .............................. 3.71 2.74 3.26 2.38

16 years .............................. 3.20 3.15 3.60 3.23

17 years .............................. 3.65 2.96 3.55 3.01

18 years .............................. 3.84 3.34 4.26 4.58

19 years .............................. 3.26 3.79 4.29 4.00

15–17 years ........................... 2.20 1.69 2.21 1.69

18–19 years ........................... 2.63 2.44 3.35 2.93

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ....................... 1.90 1.76 2.63 2.57

15–17 years .......................... 2.90 2.07 2.77 2.30

18–19 years .......................... 2.96 2.87 4.33 4.03

Non-Hispanic black ....................... 3.29 3.21 2.49 2.83

15–17 years .......................... 3.83 4.12 3.23 3.35

18–19 years .......................... 6.22 4.96 4.72 4.48

Hispanic .............................. 4.89 4.01 4.36 3.43

15–17 years .......................... 4.69 4.83 5.65 3.52

18–19 years .......................... 9.50 6.44 6.19 5.90

Age at first sexual intercourse2

Under 15 years ......................... 3.90 2.66 3.08 3.20

15 years .............................. 3.50 3.35 4.04 4.23

16 years .............................. 3.84 4.27 4.26 5.05

17–19 years ........................... 3.46 4.41 5.76 5.84

Mother’s education

0–11 years ............................ 3.39 3.71 3.81 4.89

12 years .............................. 2.68 2.07 3.06 2.77

13–15 years ........................... 3.69 3.45 5.60 3.36

16 years or more ........................ 3.75 2.81 4.28 3.58

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ......................... 2.83 2.77 3.29 2.90

20 years or older ........................ 2.07 1.57 2.45 2.47

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ............... 1.90 1.72 2.26 2.61

Single parent3 .......................... 3.19 2.94 4.56 2.92

Parent and stepparent ..................... 4.87 3.77 6.16 6.07

Nonparent/other ......................... 8.36 7.75 12.70 7.82

Religious affiliation

None ................................ 6.30 4.17 6.02 4.89

Protestant ............................. 2.24 1.92 2.73 2.39

Catholic .............................. 3.15 2.64 3.23 3.71

Other4 ............................... 10.21 4.91 9.77 9.26

Frequency of attendance,

religious services

Once a week or more ..................... 2.01 1.94 2.94 2.18

1–3 times a month ....................... 4.67 3.76 4.20 3.98

Less than once a month .................... 5.03 3.45 4.76 4.25

Never ............................... 4.88 3.62 6.01 3.95

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 59
Table IV. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who had sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the

survey by selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)5 ....................... 3.95 2.49 2.55 2.76

Suburban (MSA)5 ........................ 2.06 2.09 3.28 3.01

Rural (non-MSA)5 ........................ 3.81 3.00 5.03 3.60

Region of residence

Northeast ............................. 3.47 2.17 5.51 5.61

Midwest .............................. 3.01 3.01 3.80 2.54

South ............................... 3.50 2.65 2.94 4.29

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.59 3.08 3.68 4.05

Behind in school6

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.80 4.71 5.28 6.29

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.74 1.44 2.18 1.79

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Denominator is ‘‘ever had sex.’’

3Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

4‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

5MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

6Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 4.

Table V. Standard errors for percents of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last

sexual intercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey by race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Contraceptive use at last sexual intercourse

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1

Hormonal contraceptives2 ................. 2.49 2.12 2.37 3.19

Pill .............................. 2.49 1.94 2.37 3.14

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 1.22 - - - 0.63

Condom2 ........................... 2.36 2.23 2.82 2.75

All other methods3 ..................... 1.33 1.46 2.14 1.66

Dual method (hormonal and condom) .......... 0.82 1.29 1.57 2.29

No method .......................... 2.27 2.40 2.29 2.48

Non-Hispanic white:

Hormonal contraceptives2 ............... 3.10 2.75 3.06 4.76

Pill ............................ 3.10 2.62 3.06 4.68

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 1.22 - - - 0.62

Condom2 .......................... 2.85 2.92 3.72 4.28

All other methods3 .................... 1.91 1.65 2.72 2.52

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ........ 1.03 1.78 2.02 3.58

No method ......................... 2.67 2.67 3.08 3.19

Non-Hispanic black:

Hormonal contraceptives2 ............... 5.12 5.31 3.02 3.76

Pill .............................. 5.12 3.37 3.02 3.49

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 3.96 - - - 1.71

Condom2 .......................... 4.10 5.39 2.93 3.87

All other methods3 .................... 1.15 3.22 1.31 1.98

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ........ 2.18 2.91 2.76 2.84

No method ......................... 4.79 4.86 2.11 3.35

- - - Data not available.

1Includes races other than black and white.

2This reflects hormonal and condom use regardless of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

3All other methods besides condom and hormonal methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include sterilization, IUD, female

condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm, cervical cap, spermicidal foam, jelly cream or suppository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and ‘‘other’’ methods.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 5.

Page 60 [ Series 23, No. 21
nts of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last sexual intercourse in the 3 months

racteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

o

od Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

27 2.36 2.49 1.33 2.40 2.23 2.12 1.46 2.29 2.82 2.37 2.14 2.48 2.75 3.19 1.66

64 10.10 7.81 6.69 6.90 7.17 6.15 4.87 8.57 9.58 3.77 8.29 6.67 8.00 6.72 6.7324 7.31 5.85 4.50 6.67 5.96 4.36 3.42 5.01 5.75 4.55 3.46 4.22 5.40 6.00 1.7387 4.96 5.21 1.55 4.69 5.06 5.03 3.63 3.44 6.07 5.10 2.28 4.05 5.15 4.49 3.18

3 4.65 4.47 2.69 3.71 4.17 3.87 3.34 2.73 5.10 4.84 3.96 5.07 5.10 6.13 3.07

58 3.80 5.46 2.94 4.29 4.26 4.38 1.56 3.97 6.44 5.86 5.66 4.38 5.37 6.96 3.36

21 3.74 3.07 2.02 3.31 3.20 3.03 2.23 2.94 4.12 3.23 2.14 2.68 3.22 3.77 2.29

92 2.96 3.60 1.81 3.05 3.28 3.04 1.96 2.87 4.12 3.42 3.11 3.34 3.80 4.62 2.20

67 2.85 3.10 1.91 2.67 2.92 2.75 1.65 3.08 3.72 3.06 2.72 3.19 4.28 4.76 2.52

01 4.80 4.51 3.07 4.32 4.33 4.27 2.35 4.16 5.89 4.41 3.13 4.21 5.73 6.45 4.24

41 3.66 4.32 2.44 3.05 4.17 3.68 2.30 3.76 5.52 4.44 4.00 3.46 5.16 6.18 3.13

79 4.10 5.12 1.15 4.86 5.39 5.32 3.22 2.11 2.93 3.02 1.31 3.35 3.87 3.76 1.98

30 5.09 6.62 1.52 6.26 7.60 6.65 4.93 3.06 3.97 3.69 1.58 3.97 3.84 3.28 2.51

99 5.11 7.43 1.72 6.94 6.99 7.21 4.20 2.58 3.93 4.81 2.33 4.61 5.71 6.73 2.8475 9.58 7.92 3.04 5.58 4.22 5.33 4.37 6.20 6.76 6.18 4.18 3.55 4.48 3.29 1.21

57 16.83 12.32 – 7.19 5.81 5.34 6.15 9.54 9.86 8.58 1.66 4.03 5.84 5.39 1.4461 11.14 12.94 5.95 9.38 5.00 8.69 7.10 6.11 7.30 8.69 8.38 6.28 6.22 3.98 1.49

2 4.35 5.17 3.29 3.73 3.47 3.80 2.11 3.04 3.80 3.51 2.96 2.87 3.08 4.25 2.53

47 4.98 5.24 2.40 4.78 4.42 4.37 2.46 4.02 5.93 5.36 5.18 5.89 7.00 5.43 3.4309 4.19 4.89 3.40 4.64 4.80 4.59 4.19 4.25 5.96 5.74 2.58 4.27 5.05 4.37 2.91

11 4.51 4.63 3.19 5.05 5.76 4.88 3.51 5.98 7.28 7.54 7.08 5.35 7.23 7.30 3.55

54 4.45 4.32 2.54 4.99 4.17 4.17 2.64 6.32 6.51 6.34 8.29 6.13 6.24 6.68 3.4346 3.95 3.69 2.58 3.20 3.43 3.57 2.61 3.78 4.36 3.82 2.49 3.51 3.75 4.21 1.97

22 6.44 6.83 3.14 4.51 5.11 4.67 2.94 3.90 7.93 6.62 1.51 3.75 4.81 5.96 5.11

25 6.02 6.83 3.95 4.88 5.72 5.57 3.46 5.22 6.89 5.56 4.90 5.98 6.62 8.01 4.54

75 3.64 3.96 2.06 3.66 3.55 3.53 1.86 3.90 3.90 3.90 3.74 3.87 3.83 3.77 2.11

65 3.23 3.47 1.87 2.98 3.11 2.63 2.05 2.35 3.97 3.66 2.73 2.24 3.58 4.64 2.95

05 2.95 3.53 1.77 2.95 3.14 3.11 1.83 3.14 3.77 3.40 2.20 3.25 3.67 4.12 2.26

09 4.84 4.10 2.33 4.05 4.05 3.23 2.66 2.79 4.25 4.71 3.60 3.06 4.17 4.69 2.81

61 7.82 6.65 4.38 5.93 5.89 5.27 4.26 8.55 8.82 9.17 7.47 8.67 9.04 6.88 1.44

86 9.32 11.04 8.84 9.31 10.23 9.35 4.47 3.95 18.23 14.55 22.18 10.71 11.96 9.93 1.72

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 61
nts of sexually active females and males 15–19 years of age who used specified contraception during last sexual intercourse in the 3 months

racteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

—Con.

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

o

od Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

02 9.01 8.41 5.26 5.16 4.75 4.80 3.28 9.55 7.12 9.34 5.76 7.25 6.77 6.61 5.59

96 3.13 3.28 1.77 2.89 3.39 2.81 1.99 2.47 3.37 3.41 3.48 3.25 3.51 3.74 1.7986 4.94 4.69 3.41 5.39 4.13 3.90 3.04 2.94 4.56 4.27 3.13 4.49 5.37 5.56 3.30

01 31.22 31.11 – 12.21 10.65 9.12 8.54 18.10 16.35 13.13 12.08 5.68 11.93 14.35 6.31

53 2.98 3.10 2.26 3.51 3.40 3.39 2.10 3.62 4.49 3.79 2.76 4.23 4.30 4.26 2.8696 6.15 5.07 4.11 5.38 5.89 4.97 3.35 3.77 6.20 5.84 4.29 3.22 5.50 6.03 2.50

43 6.74 8.01 4.32 5.10 5.38 4.88 4.31 3.64 6.52 5.70 4.83 5.21 6.11 5.95 2.5184 6.46 6.28 2.93 5.54 5.11 4.56 2.86 5.76 5.57 7.07 6.60 5.63 5.64 5.30 4.18

71 4.17 4.66 3.43 3.97 3.48 3.93 2.32 3.60 4.52 3.75 2.28 2.87 4.31 3.20 1.85

86 3.55 3.97 2.19 3.68 3.66 3.61 2.40 3.53 4.55 3.69 3.73 3.18 3.95 7.17 3.18

67 5.80 5.75 2.92 4.13 4.70 4.59 2.76 4.31 5.48 5.14 3.88 5.96 6.41 5.52 3.7297 5.88 7.87 4.29 5.04 5.33 4.01 2.92 4.81 5.23 5.25 3.90 4.72 3.94 7.20 1.6658 4.38 3.70 2.16 4.33 3.68 4.81 2.91 2.94 6.16 4.78 2.57 3.95 4.00 4.20 1.5966 4.22 5.14 2.77 3.97 4.07 3.78 1.97 2.90 4.14 3.34 4.14 5.06 6.54 8.97 4.9043 5.92 5.49 1.54 6.25 5.00 4.50 4.06 9.75 8.14 8.01 3.63 5.13 5.92 4.07 3.61

3 6.09 5.86 1.53 5.63 3.47 5.78 3.71 5.72 8.34 6.90 8.19 8.98 9.30 9.05 3.378 2.72 2.88 1.81 2.41 2.52 2.17 1.59 2.25 2.85 2.49 2.02 2.46 2.94 2.87 1.80

s of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include sterilization, IUD, female condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm,

ository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and ‘‘other’’ methods.

s not shown separately.

other adults.

with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

ble 6.

Page 62 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table VII. Standard errors for percents of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse who used specified

contraception during first sexual intercourse by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 1988 and 1995

Contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

All teenagers1

Hormonal contraceptives2 ................... 1.13 1.06 1.44 1.42

Pill ................................ 1.13 1.04 1.44 1.40

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 0.36 - - - 0.19

Condom2 ............................. 2.50 1.95 2.04 2.15

All other methods3 ....................... 1.22 1.03 1.48 0.85

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ............ 0.56 0.88 0.70 1.12

No method ............................ 2.07 1.76 2.01 2.04

Race and contraceptive use at last sexual intercourse

Non-Hispanic white:

Hormonal contraceptives2 ................... 1.20 1.45 1.89 2.08

Pill ................................ 1.20 1.40 1.89 2.06

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 0.49 - - - 0.25

Condom2 ............................. 2.97 2.21 2.87 2.79

All other methods3 ....................... 1.53 0.96 2.00 1.03

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ............ 0.73 1.24 0.87 1.57

No method ............................ 2.42 1.86 2.76 2.41

Non-Hispanic black:

Hormonal contraceptives2 ................... 3.08 2.59 1.75 1.92

Pill ................................ 3.08 2.51 1.75 1.91

Implant or injectible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --- 0.77 - - - 0.41

Condom2 ............................. 4.79 4.33 3.05 3.44

All other methods3 ....................... 1.46 2.05 1.41 1.12

Dual method (hormonal and condom) ............ 1.32 2.02 1.29 1.82

No method ............................ 4.34 4.10 2.68 3.30

- - - Data not available.

1Includes races other than black and white.

2This reflects hormonal and condom use regardless of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

3All other methods besides condom and hormonal methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include sterilization, IUD, female

condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm, cervical cap, spermicidal foam, jelly, cream or suppository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and ‘‘other’’ mehtods.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 7.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 63
nts of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse, who used a specified method of contraception during first

acteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

e Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2 None Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

7 2.50 1.13 1.22 1.76 1.95 1.06 1.03 2.01 2.04 1.44 1.48 2.04 2.15 1.42 0.85

1 7.70 4.28 6.27 6.42 6.67 3.20 1.68 5.66 6.70 2.05 5.14 4.87 4.85 3.41 1.02

2 6.15 2.84 3.54 5.36 5.46 1.99 0.95 5.40 5.90 2.10 1.82 4.15 4.18 2.70 0.70

2 5.36 2.42 2.42 3.70 4.07 2.45 2.23 4.07 4.68 2.74 3.52 3.36 4.21 2.66 1.64

5 4.72 1.69 1.86 2.89 3.45 2.63 1.89 3.52 3.45 2.10 3.22 3.75 4.34 3.09 1.76

0 3.73 2.28 3.10 3.19 3.35 1.64 1.94 5.92 5.44 4.65 2.09 4.11 5.35 3.81 2.033 3.89 1.72 2.23 2.80 3.04 1.43 1.14 2.81 3.15 1.51 2.03 2.37 2.47 1.88 0.816 2.80 1.45 1.79 2.20 2.50 1.49 1.44 3.41 3.18 2.31 2.07 2.98 3.44 2.35 1.442 2.97 1.20 1.53 1.86 2.21 1.45 0.96 2.76 2.87 1.89 2.00 2.41 2.79 2.08 1.03

5 4.75 1.92 3.15 2.97 3.36 2.06 0.50 4.04 4.64 2.16 3.01 3.12 3.43 2.81 1.116 3.10 1.63 2.18 2.52 2.85 1.91 1.66 4.48 4.44 2.98 2.80 3.63 4.45 3.60 1.614 4.79 3.08 1.46 4.10 4.33 2.59 2.05 2.68 3.05 1.75 1.41 3.30 3.44 1.92 1.12

1 7.05 4.22 2.78 5.82 5.77 3.12 3.43 3.59 3.86 1.00 2.13 3.82 3.93 2.61 1.016 5.79 4.41 0.59 5.96 6.15 3.93 2.03 3.48 3.85 3.96 1.71 4.53 4.60 2.76 1.99

4 7.94 3.34 4.13 6.67 5.91 1.72 2.76 5.23 5.51 3.17 2.97 4.78 4.72 1.61 2.40

2 12.06 6.81 5.49 8.87 8.69 2.18 2.04 6.14 6.51 4.71 1.38 5.98 5.90 2.49 1.74

0 9.96 – 6.32 7.38 8.03 2.74 5.68 6.93 6.22 3.83 6.26 5.38 5.51 2.18 4.24

0 4.88 2.51 3.14 2.96 2.90 1.57 1.16 2.93 3.15 1.33 2.09 3.57 3.36 1.81 0.98

8 4.73 1.56 2.65 3.72 3.80 2.29 1.62 4.87 4.97 2.26 3.50 3.32 4.09 3.07 1.14

6 4.62 1.86 3.19 3.72 4.14 3.00 2.13 4.67 5.54 3.09 2.92 3.73 4.64 3.23 2.572 4.29 2.79 2.17 3.57 4.02 1.93 2.64 3.76 5.59 5.66 2.79 4.53 5.69 5.17 2.13

0 4.64 2.15 1.78 4.70 4.66 2.67 1.59 5.44 5.18 0.97 3.17 5.02 5.45 3.90 1.05

0 4.57 1.62 2.79 2.98 2.99 1.69 1.52 2.72 2.89 1.78 2.15 2.98 3.15 2.07 1.228 5.75 2.04 3.29 3.05 3.26 2.51 1.72 4.54 6.20 3.64 5.34 4.39 5.75 3.61 3.360 5.47 4.10 1.87 3.83 4.53 2.15 2.53 4.12 5.43 3.72 3.96 3.73 4.55 3.53 1.92

8 3.58 1.69 1.93 2.91 3.15 1.90 1.12 3.45 3.43 2.06 2.31 2.96 3.14 2.09 0.863 3.16 1.38 1.64 2.14 2.55 1.18 1.57 2.20 2.99 1.82 2.11 2.38 2.97 2.08 1.41

0 3.42 1.60 1.58 2.22 2.67 1.64 1.71 2.57 2.51 1.71 1.49 2.60 2.99 1.69 1.17

8 5.43 2.64 2.92 3.67 3.85 1.86 1.15 4.12 3.98 3.54 4.14 2.99 3.46 3.06 1.62

4 6.48 2.72 5.21 4.35 1.39 2.02 1.35 6.26 7.01 3.27 3.82 6.33 7.50 6.57 1.29

0 11.14 6.21 4.96 7.29 8.26 4.66 3.21 14.15 10.15 2.26 8.07 10.07 9.95 3.98 2.33

Page 64[ Series 23, No. 21
nts of females and males 15–19 years of age who ever had sexual intercourse, who used a specified method of contraception during first

acteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

e Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2 None Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

No

method Condom1

Hormonal

method1

All other

methods2

6 8.11 4.68 3.33 4.84 4.77 2.32 2.01 7.63 7.05 3.69 4.10 4.90 5.86 4.32 1.463 3.51 1.62 1.55 2.28 2.48 1.60 1.31 2.42 2.73 1.55 1.95 2.58 2.91 2.06 1.339 5.16 1.84 2.84 2.82 3.58 1.64 1.82 3.81 4.28 3.02 3.03 4.61 4.54 2.46 1.79

3 24.73 21.59 18.65 11.61 11.66 4.51 6.51 5.42 10.95 9.27 1.61 10.09 10.74 4.93 4.34

1 3.73 1.44 1.82 2.17 2.45 1.64 1.51 2.89 3.28 1.96 2.22 3.46 3.39 2.05 1.599 5.01 1.80 3.67 3.61 3.98 2.35 1.74 4.23 4.65 2.57 3.84 4.06 3.98 2.74 0.66

0 5.75 3.28 2.08 4.00 4.68 2.36 2.30 4.32 5.17 5.14 3.48 4.17 5.20 3.06 3.456 6.66 4.14 3.45 5.51 5.36 2.69 1.43 6.10 5.45 2.61 2.57 3.89 4.14 2.87 1.34

7 5.21 3.06 2.55 4.91 4.92 3.05 2.29 6.77 6.55 3.08 2.53 7.29 6.63 5.81 1.379 2.77 1.26 1.35 1.87 2.07 1.18 1.13 2.14 2.38 1.50 1.62 2.15 2.36 1.47 0.94

s of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.

methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include sterilization, IUD, female condom, emergency contraceptive pills, diaphragm,

ository, sponge, periodic abstinence, withdrawal, and ‘‘other’’ methods.

s not shown separately.

other adults.

with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

ble 8.

Series 23, No. 21[ Page 65
nt distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by number of opposite-sex sexual

aracteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

ner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

13 1.59 2.09 1.79 1.64 1.55 1.60 1.31 2.06 1.90 2.19 1.83 1.82 1.70 2.38 1.8942 6.59 6.54 6.12 6.50 3.82 4.97 4.34 6.91 3.16 6.70 4.66 4.73 4.42 5.31 2.86

29 4.30 5.88 4.43 4.57 4.41 4.35 4.69 5.32 4.60 4.68 3.21 4.51 4.59 4.19 3.3606 2.89 3.99 3.71 4.14 3.69 4.10 2.30 3.93 3.62 4.18 3.51 4.00 3.13 3.67 3.38

18 3.70 3.25 3.91 3.56 3.31 3.47 2.77 4.60 3.46 4.01 3.53 4.14 4.09 4.06 2.4701 3.34 4.35 3.01 3.29 3.35 4.02 2.87 4.70 3.79 4.21 5.85 4.04 4.08 5.95 4.2477 2.43 2.72 2.65 2.57 2.30 2.64 2.18 3.24 2.49 2.91 2.07 2.43 1.99 2.49 2.1874 2.36 2.84 2.52 2.37 2.14 2.68 1.94 3.06 2.52 2.94 3.17 2.55 2.82 3.70 2.72

86 1.82 2.83 2.44 2.35 1.94 2.15 1.68 2.83 2.64 3.06 2.42 2.85 2.53 3.40 2.3112 3.07 3.71 3.92 3.74 2.99 3.45 2.39 4.64 3.69 4.15 2.53 4.26 3.16 3.71 3.1349 2.54 3.65 3.14 3.48 2.69 3.25 2.50 4.03 3.28 3.80 4.00 3.89 4.05 5.18 3.29

67 3.79 3.85 2.65 3.43 4.32 4.21 2.81 2.08 1.41 2.28 2.84 2.04 2.12 2.78 3.2463 5.06 4.50 3.73 4.52 5.33 6.35 4.04 2.68 1.66 3.38 3.70 2.85 2.64 3.21 4.0239 5.44 6.11 2.61 5.17 6.80 6.62 4.29 3.48 2.06 3.67 4.06 2.87 3.34 3.82 4.05

64 5.31 6.04 5.65 5.43 4.11 4.11 4.00 3.63 4.39 5.05 4.82 3.16 2.83 2.81 4.18

12 5.33 9.43 8.93 8.06 4.42 5.73 8.31 5.54 6.65 6.17 7.49 4.59 4.67 4.05 5.81

90 9.63 7.28 7.80 7.62 7.24 7.40 5.90 3.93 5.93 7.34 6.79 2.77 4.28 4.29 4.6699 2.71 4.35 3.98 2.61 2.37 2.87 2.61 2.43 2.00 3.30 3.07 1.42 2.45 3.68 3.62

14 3.33 3.90 3.62 4.59 3.67 3.69 2.84 3.62 3.13 4.55 4.72 3.25 3.61 4.48 3.6851 3.68 4.09 4.26 4.19 3.55 3.15 2.04 4.84 4.50 4.00 3.69 4.96 4.21 4.00 2.7351 3.45 3.67 1.46 5.26 4.50 4.11 1.31 5.20 4.86 2.01 2.65 6.95 5.51 6.40 2.4352 3.32 4.32 3.12 4.47 3.20 3.70 2.90 2.81 4.39 4.18 5.14 4.88 3.55 6.04 4.1593 2.72 3.22 2.52 3.00 2.59 2.74 1.90 3.47 3.11 3.46 2.56 2.62 2.50 3.64 2.94

27 4.20 5.22 4.32 4.32 4.21 4.19 3.61 7.07 5.53 4.46 5.49 4.97 4.86 5.76 4.55

27 4.37 4.41 5.04 5.00 4.54 4.84 4.31 5.42 3.41 5.36 3.84 4.57 4.48 4.40 3.4850 2.13 3.32 2.38 3.03 2.89 2.60 1.96 2.81 2.87 3.32 3.18 2.50 2.25 3.26 3.14

87 2.27 3.07 2.61 2.51 2.12 2.22 2.07 2.94 2.30 2.85 2.49 2.69 2.83 3.11 1.9507 2.34 3.01 2.27 2.68 2.24 2.59 1.83 2.48 2.00 2.62 2.17 2.51 2.56 3.31 2.44

85 3.23 3.37 3.48 3.54 2.93 3.30 2.95 4.08 3.27 4.15 3.09 2.88 3.07 3.93 3.96

44 3.37 5.87 5.36 4.55 4.81 4.60 3.41 9.13 6.67 7.01 5.34 4.99 6.21 6.53 6.6585 8.99 13.17 5.11 7.96 4.94 9.26 3.34 13.40 4.08 6.30 15.12 5.36 9.70 7.29 9.98

Page 66 [ Series 23, No. 21
nt distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by number of opposite-sex sexual

aracteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

—Con.

Female Male

1988 1995 1988 1995

ner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

1

partner

2

partners

3–5

partners

6 partners

or more

35 4.41 7.26 7.31 4.74 3.32 3.76 3.77 6.67 4.66 5.64 7.69 4.47 4.37 5.18 5.06

98 2.31 2.70 2.09 2.45 2.71 2.67 1.55 3.05 2.64 2.79 2.14 5.47 2.49 3.60 2.3426 3.14 4.10 3.70 3.74 3.01 3.03 2.51 3.98 3.20 3.72 3.63 6.47 3.82 3.37 4.23

88 15.11 18.65 20.73 10.05 8.08 10.87 8.38 10.38 1.81 12.95 9.36 8.02 10.95 11.16 10.87

91 2.22 3.32 2.30 2.58 2.70 2.79 1.82 3.00 2.63 2.91 2.65 3.20 2.72 3.33 2.82

53 4.84 5.14 3.42 4.60 4.03 4.26 2.59 5.00 4.24 4.03 3.99 4.09 3.88 4.89 3.0797 5.21 5.70 5.00 4.54 4.05 4.14 3.98 4.68 2.74 5.41 4.46 4.67 4.05 4.96 5.4821 3.96 6.89 5.54 4.37 3.89 4.11 3.58 5.23 3.79 5.84 6.27 3.97 4.09 4.44 4.5040 4.58 5.41 4.48 4.30 4.36 4.95 5.29 3.81 3.93 4.41 7.01 6.00 2.86 8.84 9.8635 1.69 2.25 1.91 1.80 1.75 1.78 1.34 2.31 1.88 2.34 1.88 2.14 2.03 2.46 1.74

s not shown separately.

other adults.

with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

ble 9.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 67
Table X. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual

intercourse by number of opposite-sex sexual partners in the past 3 months and selected characteristics: United States,

1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female1 Male

1995 1988 1995

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

All teenagers2 ........................ 1.85 2.24 1.80 2.03 2.38 1.91 2.27 2.60 1.21

Age

15 years ............................ 6.48 6.81 4.44 6.58 6.83 3.68 6.00 5.96 3.19

16 years ............................ 4.47 5.47 4.14 5.68 5.70 2.83 5.20 6.08 3.56

17 years ............................ 4.43 4.66 3.47 3.80 4.09 3.34 4.37 4.97 3.26

18 years ............................ 3.33 4.06 2.91 3.96 4.55 3.58 4.05 3.61 2.39

19 years ............................ 3.36 4.88 4.26 3.69 5.41 5.47 4.44 4.81 2.17

15–17 years ......................... 3.09 3.15 2.30 2.86 3.25 1.90 3.23 3.44 2.05

18–19 years ......................... 2.35 3.21 2.65 2.97 3.53 3.33 2.83 3.26 1.47

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ..................... 2.43 2.89 2.31 2.68 3.10 2.47 3.45 3.99 1.47

15–17 years ........................ 4.06 4.01 2.75 4.16 4.42 2.46 5.23 5.44 2.77

18–19 years ........................ 2.84 4.10 3.39 3.84 4.70 4.46 3.88 4.31 2.11

Non-Hispanic black ..................... 4.34 5.03 4.36 2.24 2.83 2.16 2.74 3.61 2.86

15–17 years ........................ 6.41 6.74 6.06 3.11 3.69 3.10 3.21 3.80 3.37

18–19 years ........................ 4.43 6.54 6.07 2.85 4.31 3.86 4.43 5.44 3.65

Hispanic ............................ 5.57 6.17 3.59 4.40 5.62 5.03 3.35 2.85 2.25

15–17 years ........................ 6.55 6.37 5.65 6.45 7.59 7.60 3.76 5.79 4.56

18–19 years ........................ 8.67 9.86 6.84 6.54 7.36 6.34 5.46 5.70 3.64

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years ....................... 2.99 3.46 2.96 3.08 3.44 2.71 3.20 3.24 2.38

15 years ............................ 3.72 4.57 3.69 4.05 5.29 4.55 4.23 4.44 2.70

16 years ............................ 4.42 4.71 2.77 4.26 4.66 3.34 5.05 4.79 2.71

17–19 years ......................... 4.52 6.03 5.26 5.76 6.22 1.78 5.85 5.81 0.78

Mother’s education

0–11 years .......................... 4.01 5.08 3.32 4.78 4.77 5.35 3.85 4.74 2.68

12 years ............................ 3.18 3.63 2.33 2.63 3.29 2.57 3.14 3.32 2.00

13–15 years ......................... 3.66 4.47 3.95 6.10 6.59 4.48 6.42 5.63 2.82

16 years or more ...................... 4.82 5.49 5.34 5.57 5.63 3.95 4.84 6.19 2.97

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ....................... 3.19 3.87 2.57 2.98 3.23 2.87 2.75 3.22 2.20

20 years or older ...................... 2.28 3.12 2.62 2.88 3.04 2.28 3.62 3.86 1.45

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ............. 2.77 3.12 2.62 2.18 2.88 2.08 3.30 3.69 1.41

Single parent3 ........................ 3.06 4.32 3.56 3.99 4.32 2.86 3.63 4.23 2.64

Parent and stepparent ................... 4.91 5.40 3.96 9.03 8.79 3.48 8.88 9.15 5.04

Nonparent/other ....................... 10.15 9.23 6.01 13.56 13.40 17.47 8.68 8.77 3.99

Religious affiliation

None .............................. 4.27 4.85 4.17 6.05 6.55 4.17 6.32 6.66 3.65

Protestant ........................... 2.86 3.47 2.53 2.92 3.37 2.14 2.81 3.04 1.60

Catholic ............................ 3.38 3.96 2.77 3.23 4.35 3.33 4.39 4.26 3.02

Other4 ............................. 10.34 12.60 10.60 12.10 13.88 9.35 12.03 12.69 3.64

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ................... 2.85 3.40 2.59 2.79 3.49 2.50 3.69 3.98 2.01

1–3 times a month ..................... 5.31 6.23 3.74 4.37 5.08 3.42 4.15 4.28 2.02

Less than once a month .................. 4.12 5.55 4.60 4.50 5.04 3.67 4.65 5.94 4.29

Never ............................. 4.04 5.20 4.16 6.10 6.38 6.06 4.72 5.13 2.44

Page 68 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table X. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married females and males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual

intercourse by number of opposite-sex sexual partners in the past 3 months and selected characteristics: United States,

1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female1 Male

1995 1988 1995

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

0

partners

1

partner

2 partners

or more

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)5 ..................... 3.25 3.43 3.09 2.93 3.33 2.52 3.30 3.35 1.98

Suburban (MSA)5 ...................... 2.90 3.56 2.49 3.47 3.91 3.45 4.11 4.91 1.88

Rural (non-MSA)5 ...................... 3.89 4.82 4.23 3.52 4.33 3.65 4.10 4.86 2.38

Region of residence

Northeast ........................... 3.50 4.25 3.51 3.91 4.17 2.37 7.93 7.99 2.52

Midwest ............................ 3.44 4.17 3.47 2.59 4.15 3.39 6.12 6.99 2.83

South ............................. 3.65 4.48 3.44 3.33 4.39 4.05 2.10 3.05 1.84

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.88 4.34 3.60 5.66 5.37 2.80 5.61 5.84 2.37

Behind in school6

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.65 6.21 5.98 4.52 6.43 7.36 6.00 7.32 4.75

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.97 2.35 1.90 2.28 2.47 1.78 2.46 2.61 1.26

1Question design differences between 1988 and 1995 render the measures noncomparable, so 1988 percents are not presented.

2Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

3Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

4‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

5MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

6Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 10.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 69
Table XI. Standard errors for percent distribution of sexually active never-married females 15–19 years of age by age difference between

female and last male sexual partner in the past 3 months and selected characteristics: United States, 1995

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years

or more older

All teenagers1 .......................... 0.35 – 1.94 2.56 2.50

Age

15 years .............................. – – 5.20 6.51 4.50

16 years .............................. – – 5.44 8.11 8.65

17 years .............................. – – 4.28 5.51 4.86

18 years .............................. – – 3.80 4.43 4.52

19 years .............................. 1.34 – 4.50 5.54 4.47

15–17 years ........................... – – 2.90 4.19 3.86

18–19 years ........................... 0.66 – 2.65 3.24 3.20

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ....................... 0.54 – 2.52 3.23 2.73

15–17 years .......................... – – 4.18 5.23 4.07

18–19 years .......................... 0.94 – 3.15 3.80 3.74

Non-Hispanic black ....................... – – 4.07 4.85 4.64

15–17 years .......................... – – 5.71 6.89 5.62

18–19 years .......................... – – 5.98 7.74 7.05

Hispanic .............................. – – 5.28 7.71 8.91

15–17 years .......................... – – 5.03 12.22 12.99

18–19 years .......................... – – 9.50 8.85 7.90

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years ......................... 0.91 – 2.48 4.17 3.99

15 years .............................. – – 4.26 5.32 4.29

16 years .............................. – – 5.12 5.68 4.35

17–19 years ........................... – – 4.58 6.28 4.77

Mother’s education

0–11 years ............................ – – 4.62 5.63 4.70

12 years .............................. – – 3.14 4.17 3.20

13–15 years ........................... 1.59 – 4.53 6.25 6.03

16 years or more ........................ – – 5.13 6.08 4.72

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years ......................... – – 2.51 3.17 3.03

20 years or older ........................ 0.58 – 3.03 3.68 3.51

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ............... – – 2.94 3.60 2.93

Single parent2 .......................... – – 3.32 4.62 4.76

Parent and stepparent ..................... 2.38 – 4.56 6.92 5.54

Nonparent/other ......................... – – 6.72 9.01 9.29

Religious affiliation

None ................................ – – 4.87 6.48 5.29

Protestant ............................. 0.68 – 2.84 3.51 3.05

Catholic .............................. – – 3.92 5.66 3.97

Other3 ............................... – – 7.34 13.11 13.21

Page 70 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table XI. Standard errors for percent distribution of sexually active never-married females 15–19 years of age by age difference between

female and last male sexual partner in the past 3 months and selected characteristics: United States, 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years

or more older

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ..................... 0.79 – 3.07 3.62 3.14

1–3 times a month ....................... – – 4.75 6.36 5.47

Less than once a month .................... – – 4.53 6.20 5.20

Never ............................... – – 4.46 5.78 5.17

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)4 ....................... – – 3.46 4.44 4.75

Suburban (MSA)4 ........................ 0.84 – 3.01 3.61 3.12

Rural (non-MSA)4 ........................ – – 4.17 5.99 4.75

Region of residence

Northeast ............................. – – 4.78 5.96 7.42

Midwest .............................. 1.43 – 3.45 5.14 4.15

South ............................... – – 3.38 4.39 3.51

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – – 3.98 4.99 4.40

Behind in school5

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – – 6.83 7.21 8.53

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.41 – 2.11 2.71 2.45

– Quantity zero.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

5Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 11.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 71
Table XII. Standard errors for percent distribution of sexually active never-married males 15–19 years of age by age difference between

male and last female sexual partner within the last 3 months and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

All teenagers1 ..................... 0.23 2.41 2.22 2.09 0.67 0.82 2.27 1.89 1.97 1.18

Age

15 years ......................... – 5.86 6.75 6.45 0.65 – 4.51 6.07 6.45 3.04

16 years ......................... 0.19 4.57 5.72 4.91 0.75 – 4.20 5.95 4.43 1.21

17 years ......................... 0.12 4.06 3.81 3.91 1.67 0.09 4.19 3.90 3.52 0.78

18 years ......................... – 4.80 4.40 3.97 1.44 0.22 5.39 4.77 3.25 2.07

19 years ......................... 1.01 4.82 4.87 4.69 1.60 2.83 5.66 3.65 4.74 3.15

15–17 years ...................... 0.08 2.77 3.10 2.97 0.86 0.04 2.63 1.89 1.97 0.85

18–19 years ...................... 0.45 3.70 3.31 3.00 1.05 1.59 3.97 2.87 2.65 2.04

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white .................. 0.04 3.27 2.93 2.83 0.91 1.36 3.58 2.93 3.03 1.49

15–17 years ..................... 0.09 3.94 4.20 4.21 1.17 – 4.19 4.72 4.42 1.39

18–19 years ..................... – 4.82 4.30 3.95 1.40 2.42 5.70 5.24 3.51 2.13

Non-Hispanic black .................. 0.15 2.75 2.93 1.64 0.77 0.24 3.10 2.76 2.71 0.95

15–17 years ..................... 0.26 3.30 3.70 2.53 0.78 0.16 3.11 3.52 3.75 0.91

18–19 years ..................... – 3.51 3.30 2.14 1.59 0.53 5.52 4.13 4.00 2.10

Hispanic ......................... – 5.58 4.08 4.27 1.95 0.12 3.94 2.50 2.75 1.16

15–17 years ..................... – 7.77 6.08 6.02 3.42 – 5.62 4.69 3.62 2.00

18–19 years ..................... – 7.26 6.28 5.49 1.16 0.25 5.39 4.11 4.11 1.19

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years .................... 0.12 3.23 3.23 3.04 0.98 0.63 2.96 3.08 2.96 1.41

15 years ......................... – 4.30 4.30 4.17 1.39 2.40 4.13 3.39 4.48 3.57

16 years ......................... – 4.58 4.58 4.59 1.75 – 5.27 4.51 3.97 1.56

17–19 years ...................... 1.45 6.66 6.66 4.65 1.69 3.34 5.57 3.91 3.67 1.90

Mother’s education

0–11 years ....................... – 5.46 4.35 5.70 1.30 3.62 4.41 3.58 4.43 4.60

12 years ......................... – 3.56 3.19 2.86 0.82 1.29 3.86 3.02 3.12 1.72

13–15 years ...................... – 6.64 5.00 7.55 2.73 0.11 5.00 4.36 4.55 1.28

16 years or more ................... – 5.28 6.60 4.76 1.41 – 4.86 5.38 3.40 1.09

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years .................... 0.61 3.78 3.33 3.01 1.38 1.19 3.15 3.51 2.49 1.73

20 years or older ................... – 2.81 2.87 2.63 0.76 1.15 2.97 2.61 3.15 1.30

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents .......... 0.04 2.83 2.95 2.56 0.95 1.26 3.08 2.35 2.60 1.51

Single parent2 ..................... 1.04 4.10 4.78 3.80 0.53 0.87 4.19 4.51 3.71 0.63

Parent and stepparent ................ – 6.89 6.65 6.85 2.61 0.26 6.92 7.62 4.36 6.00

Nonparent/other .................... – 13.89 13.35 17.83 2.31 – 9.94 5.60 7.45 8.41

Religious affiliation

None ........................... – 7.41 6.27 6.65 2.35 3.38 6.05 5.17 3.37 5.06

Protestant ........................ – 3.33 2.57 3.20 0.82 0.96 3.11 2.51 2.21 1.09

Catholic ......................... 0.69 4.21 4.49 3.81 1.39 – 5.06 3.86 4.86 1.14

Other3 .......................... – 12.73 14.54 9.85 – – 10.40 7.10 11.25 –

Page 72 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table XII. Standard errors for percent distribution of sexually active never-married males 15–19 years of age by age difference between

male and last female sexual partner within the last 3 months and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more ................ 0.10 3.49 4.11 2.99 0.92 0.62 2.69 2.75 2.99 0.97

1–3 times a month .................. – 5.42 5.31 3.77 0.51 2.44 5.53 4.21 3.83 0.71

Less than once a month ............... – 5.91 4.86 5.42 2.29 0.12 5.33 4.52 4.66 2.16

Never .......................... 1.13 4.95 5.06 5.59 2.01 2.28 5.03 4.03 3.53 3.90

Residence at interview

Central city (MSA)4 .................. 0.09 3.24 3.22 2.67 1.39 1.57 3.23 2.82 3.19 1.28

Suburban (MSA)4 ................... 0.49 3.77 3.90 3.33 0.79 1.64 3.88 3.47 2.97 1.79

Rural (non-MSA)4 ................... – 4.87 3.40 4.25 1.61 0.73 4.74 4.20 2.78 2.73

Region of residence

Northeast ........................ 0.15 5.32 4.87 4.56 1.70 4.51 5.73 5.78 4.55 0.94

Midwest ......................... 0.88 4.33 4.75 4.26 1.25 0.52 3.35 2.61 3.16 1.90

South .......................... – 4.49 3.09 3.44 0.98 – 3.94 4.21 4.24 2.46

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.18 4.31 5.89 4.69 1.73 3.06 6.38 3.32 3.66 2.78

Behind in school5

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.71 5.83 4.29 6.23 2.07 4.94 8.91 4.25 4.82 6.45

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.03 2.46 2.40 2.16 0.71 0.67 2.21 2.00 2.14 0.99

– Quantity zero.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4MSA is metropolitan statistical area.

5Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 12.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 73
Table XIII. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married females 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by

age difference between female and first male sexual partner and selected characteristics: United States, 1995

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

All teenagers1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.11 0.77 1.45 1.74 1.75

Age

15 years ....................... – 1.89 4.52 5.79 4.83

16 years ....................... – 1.65 3.71 4.80 5.01

17 years ....................... 0.53 1.60 3.25 4.20 3.60

18 years ....................... – 1.96 2.57 4.17 3.68

19 years ....................... – 1.54 2.57 3.72 3.45

15–17 years ................... 0.24 0.95 2.27 2.71 2.59

18–19 years ................... – 1.21 1.93 2.63 2.59

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ................ 0.17 1.01 1.95 2.29 2.05

15–17 years ................... 0.39 1.57 3.49 3.63 3.09

18–19 years ................... – 1.30 2.24 3.37 3.20

Non-Hispanic black ................ – 1.78 2.59 4.00 2.93

15–17 years ................... – – 3.59 5.25 4.55

18–19 years ................... – 3.72 4.21 6.25 4.18

Hispanic ....................... – 1.78 3.48 5.97 6.56

15–17 years ................... – – 2.18 8.90 9.66

18–19 years ................... – 4.07 7.09 9.11 4.33

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years .................. 0.30 0.89 1.77 3.07 3.10

15 years ....................... – 1.72 3.69 4.59 3.08

16 years ....................... – 1.09 3.69 3.80 2.40

17–19 years .................... – 2.99 3.84 4.76 4.45

Mother’s education

0–11 years ..................... – 0.79 3.65 4.56 3.40

12 years ....................... 0.30 1.21 2.23 2.95 2.53

13–15 years .................... – 2.24 2.53 4.39 4.13

16 years or more ................. – 2.18 3.70 5.29 4.54

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years .................. 0.29 0.97 1.92 2.44 2.34

20 or older ..................... – 1.18 2.20 2.96 2.47

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ........ – 1.29 2.16 2.78 2.50

Single parent2 ................... 0.35 1.30 2.38 3.71 3.32

Parent and stepparent .............. – 1.57 3.72 4.76 4.38

Nonparent/other .................. – – 6.24 8.78 7.94

Religious affiliation

None ......................... 0.58 1.48 2.85 4.41 4.09

Protestant ...................... – 0.97 1.85 2.67 2.44

Catholic ....................... – 1.88 3.40 3.97 2.86

Other3 ........................ – 8.24 – 10.14 10.56

Page 74 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table XIII. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married females 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by

age difference between female and first male sexual partner and selected characteristics: United States, 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Male partner’s age relative to female’s age

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more .............. 0.26 1.38 2.21 2.93 2.62

1–3 times a month ................ – 1.67 3.30 4.39 3.22

Less than once a month ............. – 1.30 3.27 4.71 3.85

Never ........................ – 1.73 2.96 4.00 3.87

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.77 1.60 4.44 6.04 6.09

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – 0.89 1.52 2.01 1.83

– Quantity zero.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 13.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 75
Table XIV. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age

difference between male and first female sexual partner and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

All teenagers1 ................... 0.32 3.10 2.67 2.52 0.85 1.16 2.52 2.22 2.07 1.51

Age

15 years ....................... – 8.26 9.41 6.50 1.07 – 6.77 6.86 7.04 4.92

16 years ....................... 0.29 5.78 6.33 5.91 0.61 – 5.14 7.42 6.02 0.39

17 years ....................... 0.17 5.10 4.83 4.41 1.83 – 4.92 4.63 4.66 1.14

18 years ....................... – 6.29 5.14 4.73 1.97 0.10 5.96 5.61 3.39 2.26

19 years ....................... 1.31 5.51 5.36 5.55 1.99 3.72 5.88 3.38 3.95 4.01

15–17 years .................... 0.12 3.59 3.93 3.50 1.00 – 2.94 3.48 3.45 1.14

18–19 years .................... 0.60 4.65 3.73 3.61 1.38 2.11 4.20 3.18 2.22 2.45

Hispanic origin, race, and age

Non-Hispanic white ................ 0.06 4.10 3.50 3.44 1.15 2.05 3.91 3.57 3.50 1.88

15–17 years ................... 0.13 4.94 5.19 4.94 1.28 – 5.12 5.71 6.57 2.00

18–19 years ................... – 6.03 4.99 4.77 1.83 3.32 6.07 4.87 3.14 2.32

Non-Hispanic black ................ 0.21 3.17 2.93 1.83 0.86 – 4.02 3.45 3.50 1.21

15–17 years ................... 0.38 4.19 4.50 2.83 0.79 – 4.45 4.48 4.81 1.27

18–19 years ................... – 3.92 3.19 2.34 1.74 – 5.93 4.67 4.30 2.47

Hispanic ....................... – 6.60 2.86 5.49 2.94 0.17 4.09 2.84 3.07 1.33

15–17 years ................... – 10.26 4.69 8.51 5.07 – 6.80 6.35 4.23 2.67

18–19 years ................... – 8.32 3.59 6.41 1.62 0.32 5.95 4.23 4.79 0.67

Age at first sexual intercourse

Under 15 years .................. 0.16 3.97 3.92 3.01 1.29 0.82 3.76 3.42 3.06 1.50

15 years ....................... – 5.70 5.34 5.11 1.39 3.61 5.62 3.54 5.71 5.21

16 years ....................... – 5.92 5.77 5.81 2.35 – 6.37 4.83 5.08 2.08

17–19 years .................... 2.25 8.05 6.58 6.10 2.58 5.33 7.25 5.95 4.79 2.97

Mother’s education

0–11 years ..................... – 7.27 5.12 7.99 1.83 4.53 5.20 3.56 5.26 5.81

12 years ....................... – 3.97 3.67 3.34 1.09 1.93 3.97 3.45 2.93 2.10

13–15 years .................... – 8.03 5.44 8.71 2.82 – 6.83 5.79 5.99 1.76

16 years or more ................. – 7.05 8.56 6.08 2.08 – 5.75 5.12 5.30 1.56

Mother’s age at first birth

Under 20 years .................. 0.81 4.60 3.52 3.54 1.59 1.64 3.45 3.61 2.92 2.36

20 years or older ................. – 3.82 3.57 3.49 1.07 1.72 3.83 2.80 3.33 1.45

Family structure at age 14 years

Both biological/adoptive parents ........ 0.06 3.73 3.58 3.26 1.25 1.81 3.55 3.03 2.42 2.11

Single parent2 ................... 1.39 5.02 5.87 3.44 0.66 1.24 4.55 4.17 4.76 0.86

Parent and stepparent .............. – 8.04 8.67 7.63 3.68 – 9.43 8.18 6.51 7.55

Nonparent/other .................. – 18.29 4.38 21.00 1.27 – 10.65 4.69 8.85 4.87

Religious affiliation

None ......................... – 8.36 6.99 8.60 0.61 4.75 7.47 5.58 4.29 6.61

Protestant ...................... – 4.26 3.06 3.35 1.13 1.37 3.60 2.70 2.77 1.29

Catholic ....................... 0.91 4.82 5.03 4.50 1.82 – 6.03 5.53 3.75 1.57

Other3 ........................ – 15.92 17.60 12.21 – – 15.24 2.88 15.46 –

Page 76 [ Series 23, No. 21
Table XIV. Standard errors for percent distribution of never-married males 15–19 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse by age

difference between male and first female sexual partner and selected characteristics: United States, 1988 and 1995—Con.

Characteristic

Female partner’s age relative to male’s age

1988 1995

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

4 years or

more younger

1–3 years

younger

Same

age

1–3 years

older

4 years or

more older

Frequency of attendance

at religious services

Once a week or more .............. 0.14 4.28 4.95 3.63 1.28 0.96 3.65 3.41 3.21 1.44

1–3 times a month ................ – 6.49 6.67 4.77 0.58 3.28 6.05 4.32 4.83 0.97

Less than once a month ............. – 7.04 5.69 6.55 2.96 – 5.85 5.13 5.82 1.97

Never ........................ 1.78 6.02 5.31 7.10 2.44 3.11 6.04 4.87 4.36 5.06

Behind in school4

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.27 6.71 4.40 7.41 2.73 6.12 9.41 5.50 2.98 7.57

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05 3.22 3.02 2.67 0.90 0.99 2.29 2.46 2.27 1.23

– Quantity zero.

1Includes teenagers of other race and origin groups not shown separately.

2Includes parent and girl/boyfriend and parent and other adults.

3‘‘Other’’ religion includes teenagers who identified with a religion other than Protestant or Catholic.

4Age minus grade is greater than 8, or not enrolled in school and no high school diploma or GED certificate.

NOTE: This table shows the standard errors for table 14.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 77
riable construction details for sexual activity and contraceptive use measures: National Survey of Family Growth and National Survey of

National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM)

1988 1995 1988 1995

‘‘At any time in your life, haveyou ever had sexual intercoursewith a man, that is, made love,had sex, or gone all the way?’’

‘‘At any time in your life, have youever had sexual intercourse with aman, that is, made love, had sex, orgone all the way?’’

‘‘Have you ever had sexualintercourse with a girl(sometimes this is called‘making love,’ ‘having sex,’ or

‘going all the way’)?’’

‘‘Have you ever had sexualintercourse with a girl(sometimes this is called‘making love,’ ‘having sex,’ or

‘going all the way’)?’’

‘‘When did you have sexualintercourse for the first time --what month and year wasthat?’’ and ‘‘How old wereyou at that time?’’

‘‘Please look at the calendar and think backto the very first time in your life that you everhad sexual intercourse with a man. In whatmonth and year was that?’’ and ‘‘Thinking

about the very first time in your life thatyou had sexual intercourse with a man,how old were you?’’

‘‘How old were you when youhad sexual intercourse for thefirst time?’’

‘‘How old were you when youhad sexual intercourse for thefirst time?’’

Constructed from calendar data:date of first sex or beginningand ending dates of periods ofnonintercourse within the 5years prior to survey1

Constructed from calendar data:beginning and ending dates of periodsof nonintercourse within the 5 yearsprior to survey1

Constructed from calendar data:dates of last sex with recentpartners 2

Constructed from calendar data:dates of last sex with recentpartners 2

‘‘The last time you hadintercourse, did you or yourpartner use any method of birthcontrol or family planning?’’‘‘What method on Card 10 wasthat?’’

‘‘The last time you had intercourse,did you or your partner use any methodof birth control or family planning?’’‘‘Which methods on Card E-12did you use?3’’

‘‘The last time you hadintercourse, did you yourselfuse any method ofcontraception?’’‘‘What method did you use?’’‘‘The last time you hadintercourse, did your partneruse any of the contraceptivemethods listed on this card?’’‘‘What method did she use? ’’

‘‘The last time you had sex with(INITIALS of last partner), didyou yourself use any method ofcontraception -- that is,something to prevent pregnancyor sexually transmitted diseases?’’‘‘What method did you use?’’‘‘The last time you had sex with(INITIALS of last partner), didshe use any of the contraceptivemethods listed on this card?’’‘‘What method did she use? ’’

‘‘Thinking back, the very first

time you ever used a method ofbirth control, or had intercoursewith a partner who was using amethod, which method on Card10 was that?’’‘‘When did you (or yourpartner) use (method) for thefirst time?’’ (Responses include‘‘first time R had intercourse.’’)

‘‘The very first time you ever useda birth control method, whichmethod on Card E-3 did you use?If you used more than one methodthat first time, please tell me abouteach one. For example, a woman’spartner might use a condom and shemight use the pill on the sameoccasion.’’ ‘‘Please look at Card E-4.Thinking again of the very firsttime you ever used a method ofbirth control, was it. (Responses include‘‘first time R had [voluntary] intercourse.’’)

If first method use was beforefirst sex: ‘‘Did you use any birth controlmethod the first time you had[voluntary] intercourse?’’ ‘‘Which

method did you use the first time youhad [voluntary] intercourse? Themethods are listed on Card E-6. Ifyou used more than one method at thesame time, please tell me about that.’’

’’The first time you hadintercourse, did you or yourpartner use any of the methodslisted on this card?’’

Respondents with 3 or morepartners in lifetime:‘‘That first time you had

intercourse, did you or(INITIALS of first partner) useany of the methods ofcontraception listed on thiscard?’’ ‘‘What method did you or yourpartner use?’’Respondents with 1 or 2partners in lifetime: ‘‘Thinking

back to the first time you hadintercourse with (INITIALS offirst partner), did you or she useany of the methods ofcontraception listed on thiscard?’’‘‘Which method or methodsdid you and (INITIALS of firstpartner) use the first time youhad intercourse with her?’’

Page 78 [ Series 23, No. 21
riable construction details for sexual activity and contraceptive use measures: National Survey of Family Growth and National Survey of

Con.

National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM)

1988 1995 1988 1995

‘‘Thinking back, with howmany men have you hadintercourse in your life?’’

‘‘Counting all your male sexualpartners, even those you hadintercourse with only once,how many men have you hadsexual intercourse with in yourlife?’’

‘‘How many different partnershave you ever had intercoursewith?’’

‘‘How many different femaleshave you ever had intercoursewith? This includes any femaleyou had intercourse with, evenif it was only once, or if youdid not know her well.’’

‘‘In the last 3 months (in whichyou were having intercourse),with how many men did youhave intercourse?’’4

Constructed from calendar data:dates of last sex with partnersin the last 5 years. 5

Constructed from calendar data:dates of last sex with recentpartners.6

Constructed from calendardata: dates of last sex withrecent partners.6

n.a.7 Constructed from calendar data8 ‘‘How old was your last partner,

that is (INITIALS of lastpartner)?’’

‘‘How old was (INITIALS oflast partner) when you last hadintercourse with her?’’

n.a.7 ‘‘How old was your first partner

when you had sexualintercourse with him that firsttime?’’

‘‘Now I have a few questionsabout the very first time youhad sexual intercourse. Thatfirst time you had intercourse,how old was your partner?’’

Respondents with 3 or morepartners in lifetime:‘‘I have a few questions aboutthe very first time you hadsexual intercourse. That firsttime you had intercourse, howold was your partner?’’Respondents with 1 or 2partners in lifetime: constructedusing age of partner at last sexand duration between first andlast sex9

nonintercourse was worded: ‘‘Many women have times when they are not having intercourse at all, for example, because of pregnancy, separation, not dating anyone, illness, or other reasons. Since

re been any times when you were not having intercourse at all for one month or more?’’ ‘‘What months and years were those?’’

ates of first and last sexual intercourse with a maximum of six women with whom he had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months. This measure indicates whether at least one of these dates was within 3

us’’ method, that is, Norplant implants, Depo-Provera injectables, female sterilization, IUD, partner’s vasectomy, or partner’s sterility, in the 3 months prior to the survey, she was not asked this question.

ed as the continuous method that she was using, based on responses she provided earlier in the questionnaire to questions asking for contraceptives used each month in the past 5 years.

tercourse in the 3 months prior to the survey, the number of sexual partners in the past 3 months was set to 0.

dates of first and last sexual intercourse with each man with whom she had had sex in the 5 years prior to the survey. This measure represents the total number of men for whom date of last sexual

erview.

ates of first and last sexual intercourse with a maximum of 6 women with whom he had sex in the past 12 months. This measure represents the total number of women for whom date of last sexual

erview.

ates of first and last sexual intercourse with each man with whom she had had sex in the 5 years prior to the survey. For these partners, his age at first intercourse with the respondent was ascertained. The

st intercourse was added to this age. This measure reflects the age of the last man with whom she had intercourse at the time of the last intercourse restricted to the 3 months prior to the interview.

or two partners, age of first sexual partner was calculated using that partner’s age at last sexual intercourse and the dates of first and last sexual intercourse. The number of years (if any) between first and

r’s age at last sexual intercourse with the respondent, resulting in partner’s age at first sexual intercourse.

Series 23, No. 21 [ Page 79
Acknowledgments

This report was prepared in the

Division of Vital Statistics and the

Population Studies Center, Urban

Institute. The authors gratefully

acknowledge the data processing and

analyses provided by Stacey Phillips,

Karen Alexander, and Sean Williams of

the Urban Institute. The authors also

gratefully acknowledge the thoughtful

review of the manuscript by Stephanie

Ventura and William Mosher of the

Reproductive Statistics Branch (RSB),

and John Santelli of the Division of

Reproductive Health, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention. This

report was edited by Klaudia Cox and

typeset by Annette F. Holman of the

Publications Branch, Division of Data

Services.

Page 80 [ Series 23, No. 21
Vital and Health Statistics

series descriptions

SERIES 1. Programs and Collection Procedures—These reports

describe the data collection programs of the National Center

for Health Statistics. They include descriptions of the methods

used to collect and process the data, definitions, and other

material necessary for understanding the data.

SERIES 2. Data Evaluation and Methods Research—These reports are

studies of new statistical methods and include analytical

techniques, objective evaluations of reliability of collected data,

and contributions to statistical theory. These studies also

include experimental tests of new survey methods and

comparisons of U.S. methodology with those of other

countries.

SERIES 3. Analytical and Epidemiological Studies—These reports

present analytical or interpretive studies based on vital and

health statistics. These reports carry the analyses further than

the expository types of reports in the other series.

SERIES 4. Documents and Committee Reports—These are final

reports of major committees concerned with vital and health

statistics and documents such as recommended model vital

registration laws and revised birth and death certificates.

SERIES 5. International Vital and Health Statistics Reports—These

reports are analytical or descriptive reports that compare U.S.

vital and health statistics with those of other countries or

present other international data of relevance to the health

statistics system of the United States.

SERIES 6. Cognition and Survey Measurement—These reports are

from the National Laboratory for Collaborative Research in

Cognition and Survey Measurement. They use methods of

cognitive science to design, evaluate, and test survey

instruments.

SERIES 10. Data From the National Health Interview Survey—These

reports contain statistics on illness; unintentional injuries;

disability; use of hospital, medical, and other health services;

and a wide range of special current health topics covering

many aspects of health behaviors, health status, and health

care utilization. They are based on data collected in a

continuing national household interview survey.

SERIES 11. Data From the National Health Examination Survey, the

National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, and

the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—

Data from direct examination, testing, and measurement on

representative samples of the civilian noninstitutionalized

population provide the basis for (1) medically defined total

prevalence of specific diseases or conditions in the United

States and the distributions of the population with respect to

physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics, and

(2) analyses of trends and relationships among various

measurements and between survey periods.

SERIES 12. Data From the Institutionalized Population Surveys—

Discontinued in 1975. Reports from these surveys are

included in Series 13.

SERIES 13. Data From the National Health Care Survey—These reports

contain statistics on health resources and the public’s use of

health care resources including ambulatory, hospital, and longterm care services based on data collected directly from

health care providers and provider records.

SERIES 14. Data on Health Resources: Manpower and Facilities—

Discontinued in 1990. Reports on the numbers, geographic

distribution, and characteristics of health resources are now

included in Series 13.

SERIES 15. Data From Special Surveys—These reports contain statistics

on health and health-related topics collected in special

surveys that are not part of the continuing data systems of the

National Center for Health Statistics.

SERIES 16. Compilations of Advance Data From Vital and Health

Statistics—Advance Data Reports provide early release of

information from the National Center for Health Statistics’

health and demographic surveys. They are compiled in the

order in which they are published. Some of these releases

may be followed by detailed reports in Series 10–13.

SERIES 20. Data on Mortality—These reports contain statistics on

mortality that are not included in regular, annual, or monthly

reports. Special analyses by cause of death, age, other

demographic variables, and geographic and trend analyses

are included.

SERIES 21. Data on Natality, Marriage, and Divorce—These reports

contain statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce that are

not included in regular, annual, or monthly reports. Special

analyses by health and demographic variables and

geographic and trend analyses are included.

SERIES 22. Data From the National Mortality and Natality Surveys—

Discontinued in 1975. Reports from these sample surveys,

based on vital records, are now published in Series 20 or 21.

SERIES 23. Data From the National Survey of Family Growth—These

reports contain statistics on factors that affect birth rates,

including contraception, infertility, cohabitation, marriage,

divorce, and remarriage; adoption; use of medical care for

family planning and infertility; and related maternal and infant

health topics. These statistics are based on national surveys

of women of childbearing age.

SERIES 24. Compilations of Data on Natality, Mortality, Marriage,

Divorce, and Induced Terminations of Pregnancy—

These include advance reports of births, deaths, marriages,

and divorces based on final data from the National Vital

Statistics System that were published as supplements to the

Monthly Vital Statistics Report (MVSR). These reports provide

highlights and summaries of detailed data subsequently

published in Vital Statistics of the United States. Other

supplements to the MVSR published here provide selected

findings based on final data from the National Vital Statistics

System and may be followed by detailed reports in Series 20

or 21.

For answers to questions about this report or for a list of reports published in

these series, contact:

Data Dissemination Branch

National Center for Health Statistics

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

6525 Belcrest Road, Room 1064

Hyattsville, MD 20782-2003

(301) 458–4636

E-mail: nchsquery@cdc.gov

Internet: www.cdc.gov/nchs/