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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Adolescent sexual behavior during periods of increase and decrease in the abortion rate.

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OBJECTIVE: To study changes in adolescent sexual behavior in periods of increase (1994-2000) and decrease (2001-2007) in the abortion rate. METHODS: School surveys with self-administered questionnaires were carried out annually among eighth graders (mean age 14.8 years) and ninth graders (mean age 15.8 years) (N=286665) in 1996/1997 and 2006/2007. Schools participated biennially. The proportions of respondents reporting noncoital (kissing light petting heavy petting) and coital (ever had sexual intercourse intercourse at least 10 times at least three partners) sexual experience and nonuse of contraception were studied. RESULTS: Among adolescents both coital and noncoital sexual experiences and the proportion of those not using contraception increased between 1996-1997 and 2000-2001 (P for trend <.01 all) and decreased from 2000-2001 onward (P<.001 all) except the proportion of at least 10 coital events which did not decrease. Among sexually experienced adolescents a similar increase in coital experiences (intercourse at least 10 times from 38.2% to 41.5% at least three partners from 27.8% to 30.7% P<.001) and in not using contraception (from 17.2% to 19.1% P=.002) was seen before 2000-2001 but after that the only significant change was a further increase in the proportion of those reporting intercourse at least 10 times (from 41.5% to 47.8% P<.001). CONCLUSION: The proportion of adolescents reporting noncoital sexual experiences intercourse or not using contraception increased in the 1990s and decreased in the 2000s reflecting the changes in the abortion rate. However as the abortion rate decreased the intensity of sexual activity further increased among sexually experienced adolescents suggesting that the fall in the abortion rate may be due to contraception and more effective sexual education.