CORRELATES AND CONSEQUENCES OF EARLY INITIATION OF SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

This cross-sectional analysis of the 1991 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surv ey explored factors associated with an early age at first sexual inter course. Almost 18% of White males, 49% of Black males, 5% of White fem ales and 12% of Black females were sexually active before age 13. Carr ying a weapon to school, fighting, and early (< age 13) experimentatio n with cigarettes and alcohol were associated with early initiation of sexual activity for all four race and gender groupings. Those initiat ing sexual activity early had greater numbers of partners but were 50% less likely to use condoms regularly and were two-seven times more li kely to have been pregnant or caused a pregnancy. Females who initiate d sexual activity early were more likely to have had a sexually transm itted disease (STD). Interventions to postpone sexual activity need to be tailored to the ethnic and gender differences observed in these an alyses. Interventions must begin before age 13 and should be comprehen sive school-based efforts.