Teen Use of Contraceptives During Sex May Be on the Decline

Trends in the use of contraceptives in teens are not quite going in the direction that health experts would like.  Recently, a survey was taken of teenagers in New Hampshire in order to find out more about their behaviors.  Sex and the use of contraceptives was not the only subject focused upon by the survey, but that is the area of the most interest to us here at CondomMan.

The survey, which was conducted by the Department of Education, took a look at those behaviors that are considered to be risky for teenagers.  In all, 1,638 students between the grades of 9 through 12 from 58 different public schools were surveyed.  The survey included 98 questions that covered concepts ranging from drug and alcohol use, violence, sexual activity, and contraceptive use.  Of the respondents, 50% were male and 49% were female (we know that doesn’t quite add up, but the decimals were rounded when determining these figures).  In addition 93.7% were Caucasian, while 2.7% were Hispanic and 0.7% were African-American.

While there were no major changes in the results of this survey when compared to two years ago, there were certainly some changes.  For example, the survey found that the number of respondents that had sex before they turned 13 went up.  In 2005, the percent of students engaging in sexual activity before they were 13 was 2.8%.  By 2007, this went up to 3.2%. 

In all, 44.7% if the respondents said they had sex while 42.7% said the same in 2005.  While the percentage went up from 2005 to 2007, this is still lower than the 1993 results.  At this time, 54.3% said they were engaging in sexual activity.  The use of contraceptives also took a slight nosedive between 2005 and 2007.  In 2005, 64.7% said they used contraceptives in the form of condoms.  In 2007, however, 64.2% used these contraceptives.  Once again, these figures are still better than the 1993 results.  At this time, 51.1% said they used these contraceptives when engaging in sexual activity.

Oddly enough, almost all of the other “risky” behaviors addressed by the survey were improved.  For example, the percent of students wearing seatbelt improved, the percent carrying a weapon decreased, the percent getting in fights at school decreased, the percent drinking alcohol before they were 13 decreased.  In fact, the only other risky behavior that saw a slight increase was tobacco use, as 8.6% tried a cigarette in 2005 and 8.9% tried it in 2007.

This leaves me wondering why the other risky behaviors improved while sex and the use of contraceptives did not.  Is it because our schools are free to discuss the other risky behaviors and because ads for these risky behaviors are regularly on television?  I think so?  In our society, discussing the use of contraceptives is taboo.  At the same time, I remember being around in the early 90s, which was a time when the AIDS scare was really gaining a lot of attention.  Could it be that contraceptives were used more at that time because AIDS was gaining so much attention in the media?  Today, on the other hand, the use of contraceptives and safe sex is once again pushed to the side, with the emphasis being placed on abstinence instead.

Surveys such as this one only serve to reinforce my stance – education about contraceptives and other safe sex practices is essential if we wish to prevent the spread of disease and unwanted pregnancies.