AGE-RELATED INCREASE IN SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AND DECREASE IN REGULAR CONDOM USE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN AUSTRALIA

The prevalence of sexual behaviours was estimated from a survey of 385 4 Australian secondary school students. Self-reported prevalence of in tercourse increased from 9.9% (age 13 years or less) to 23.9% (age 15) and 51.2% at age 17 and over. Among 932 sexually experienced youth in the final 3 years of secondary school, 26% of males and 18% of female s reported having 3 or more partners in the previous year; 89.4% had u sed a condom at least once, with males (71.8%) reporting more last occ asion condom use than females (53.4%). 'Last occasion' and 'usual', bu t not lifetime, condom use was significantly lower among older respond ents. Although nearly 90% of females in each of 3 age groups reported lifetime condom use, just 27.6% of female students aged 17 or more rep orted that condoms were always used during intercourse. The decline wi th age, noted in research with adults and older adolescents, may begin in the middle teens.