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EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998, 4 p.m. EDT		
Contact: CDC Press Office (404) 639-3286
Mike Greenwell,  National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC  (770) 488-5131

The percentage of sexually experienced high school students decreased substantially from 54.1 percent in 1991 to 48.4 percent in 1997, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"For the first time in two decades, fewer young people are engaging in sexual behavior that puts them at risk for HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala. AThis positive trend represents a reversal of the increasing rates of sexual intercourse among adolescents that began occurring in the1970s and 1980s. It is truly good news for all of us involved in the lives of America's teenagers."

The report, published today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, uses data from CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System for the years 1991-1997. This survey measures the prevalence of health-risk behaviors among adolescents through representative national, state, and local surveys conducted biennially.

Percentages of high school students who reported ever having sexual intercourse in 1997 range from 38 percent in grade 9 to 60.9 percent in grade 12. This compares to the 1991 figures of 39 percent for grade 9 and 66.7 percent for grade 12.

The overall percentage of sexually experienced males decreased from 57.4 percent in 1991 to 48.8 percent in 1997, while females showed a slight decrease from 50.8 percent in 1991 to 47.7 percent in 1997.

As a result of decreases in the proportion of high school students who are sexually experienced, decreases in the proportion of high school students having multiple sex partners, and increases in condom use among students who are sexually active, fewer young people nationwide are engaging in behaviors that place them at risk for HIV infection, other STDs, and pregnancy, the report says. These reductions in sexual risk behaviors are occurring at the same time as teen pregnancy and gonorrhea rates are also decreasing. According to today's report, condom use among students who are sexually active increased during that same time frame from 46.2 to 56.8 percent.

"Today's news is very encouraging, but much more needs to be done to address the multiple epidemics of teen pregnancy, STD and HIV infection," said Dr. James Marks, director of CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. ADespite the improvements seen here, too many youth remain at risk. Half of all HIV infections in the U.S. occur among young people under age 25 and HIV infection is the sixth leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds in the U.S.," Marks said.

In addition, 3 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases occur each year among teens, and up to 1 million teens become pregnant in the U.S. each year. Teen pregnancy rates have also been decreasing significantly, however, with declines from 1992 to 1995 in all of the 42 states with available data.

"This is good news but also a road map of work left undone," said Dr. Helene Gayle, director of CDC's National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention. "Clearly this is not a one-shot deal, and no single approach will effectively reach all teens. But these data do demonstrate that we can achieve the two critical goals of delaying sexual activity for teens wherever possible and providing teens who are sexually active the tools needed to save their lives."

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: www.hhs.gov.