Abstract
In spite of a variety of broad-based interventions, rates of adolescent sexual intercourse remain high. Using data from a large longitudinal study, this paper provides empirical evidence of Canadian adolescent sexual activity rates by age and gender. The incidence of first sexual intercourse among those 13–15 years was higher among males than females; by ages 16–17 years, rates were the same for both genders (25%). Prevalence of sexual intercourse increased with age; by age 16–17 years, similar rates were reported for both genders (approximately 50%). Analysis of data over a three-year period indicated that at each age, over 80% of adolescents reported intermittent or no sexual intercourse. Different factors predicted the absence of early sexual intercourse for the two genders. These data provide useful information about Canadian adolescent sexual activity, particularly related to identifying high risk groups for targeted prevention interventions.
Résumé
En dépit d’une variété d’interventions globales, les taux de rapports sexuels chez les adolescents restent élevés. à partir des données d’une importante étude longitudinale, cet article apporte des preuves empiriques des taux d’activité sexuelle chez les adolescents canadiens par âge et par sexe. l’incidence du premier rapport sexuel intervenant entre 13 et 15 ans était plus élevée chez les garçons que chez les filles; à 16–17 ans, les taux étaient les mêmes pour les deux sexes (25%). La prévalence des rapports sexuels augmentait avec l’âge; à 16–17 ans, les taux étaient les mêmes pour les deux sexes (environ 50%). Une analyse des données couvrant une période de trois ans a montré qu’à chaque âge, plus de 80% des adolescents déclaraient n’avoir aucun rapport sexuel ou seulement occasionnellement. Différents facteurs permettent de prédire l’absence de rapports sexuels précoces pour les deux sexes. Ces données apportent des renseignements utiles sur l’activité sexuelle des adolescents canadiens, en particulier pour ce qui est d’identifier les groupes à risque élevé en vue de cibler les interventions de prévention.
Footnotes
This study was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health (#00680).
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