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Maine Middle School HIV Risk Behaviors – 2001
Although
there has been a decrease in many risk behaviors since 1997, Maine adolescents
continue to engage in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV and other sexually
transmitted diseases. These
behaviors are not limited to high school aged youth. In fact, middle school youth are participating in many
behaviors that put them at risk for pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection,
and HIV. The following data are
results of the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and are representative of
middle school students statewide.
Overall,
13% of middle school students reported having had sexual intercourse.
This is a 10-percentage point decrease since 1997.
In 2001, approximately 17 percent of male middle school students and 10
percent of female middle school students indicated that they have had sexual
intercourse. Because of how the YRBS question is asked, one cannot assume
that this indicates consensual sexual intercourse.
Two percent (2%) of middle
school students report having sexual intercourse before age 11.
This represents a six-percentage point decrease since 1997.
Four percent of middle school
students, including 5% of the males and 3% of the females, report having had
sexual intercourse with three or more people during their lifetimes.
Again, this is lower than the 1997 figure of 8% of middle school
students.
Seven in ten middle school
students who have had sexual intercourse (70%) used a condom during their last
sexual intercourse experience. This
is a slight increase since 1997 (67%).
Eighty-two percent (82%) of
middle school students report having been taught about AIDS or HIV infection in
school. Eighth grade students (87%)
are more likely than middle school students (77%) to report having been taught
about HIV/AIDS in school.
Two percent (2%) of middle
school students indicated that they have ever used a needle to inject any
illegal drug into their body. This
represents a 1-percentage point decrease since the 1997 YRBS.