Paper
Thursday, 20 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Strategies for Child and Adolescent Health
Sexual Debut in United States Adolescents and Correlation of Health Risk Behaviors
Alice March, RN, PhD, United Medical Associates, Johnson City, NY, USA
Learning Objective #1: 1) quantify the possible effects of participation in health risk behaviors on age at sexual debut.
Learning Objective #2: 2) discuss the differences between genders in age at sexual debut as affected by health risk behaviors.
           Sexual debut is expected to occur in mid to late adolescence. Experimentation with and continued use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco is associated with an earlier age at sexual debut, sometimes even in early adolescence. Recently, studies have examined the relationship of age at sexual debut with other health risk behaviors, such as risky sexual behaviors, violence, and weapon carrying, particularly on school property. Few of these studies have examined age at sexual debut and all of these risk behaviors in a comprehensive model using a large nationally representative sample.            This study advances the science of nursing by reporting the findings of a secondary analysis of data from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Specifically, the relationships between age at sexual debut and use of substances (illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco), sexual behaviors, violence, and weapon carrying (both on and off school property) will be presented. Variations in the prevalence of these behaviors as affected by gender, as well as the effect of those variables on age at sexual debut will be explored.            Nurses in many practice settings, such as primary care, school nursing, correctional facilities, and community health can apply the findings from this study in evidenced based practice. Dissemination of the research allows nurses to identify adolescents at risk for this constellation of dangerous behaviors which may result in mortality or lifelong morbidity. Additionally, the results support needed changes in existing health care policy and justify funding requests.

See more of Strategies for Child and Adolescent Health
See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)