Objective To investigate the development of sexuality from early to late adolescence, and to compare girls and boys of different ages Methods A cross sectional survey in all schools was performed covering all pupils b...Objective To investigate the development of sexuality from early to late adolescence, and to compare girls and boys of different ages Methods A cross sectional survey in all schools was performed covering all pupils between 13 and 18 years of age that were in school when the survey was conducted. A validated instrument, Q90, created for use in teenagers was distributed in the class- rooms to 3 216 teenagers. Q90 covers 30 questions about body development and sexual behavior. Non-response was insignificant （n=19; 0.6%）. Results Pubertal development was considered “early” or “late” by about 50% of both boys and girls. Eighty percent of the 13 to 15 years old boys and girls had had a romance and 30% had experience of sexual cuddling （petting）, while significantly more girls than boys had sexual intercourse （18% vs 13%; odds ratio 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-1.9）. The difference between girls and boys remained in those being 16-18 years old, where 63% of the girls and 53% of the boys （odds ratio 1.5, 95% CIJ.2-1.9） admitted having intercourse. Mean age at first intercourse was 14.9 and 15 years, respectively. At 16-18 years of age, 23% of the sexually active girls, as compared with 25% of the boys estimated that they had had 6 or more sexual partners. About 30% of the adolescents, irrespective of age and gender, did not use contraceptives at their first and latest intercourse. Eight percent of the older girls had been pregnant, and they had an increased history of sexually transmitted infections, as compared with the boys （6.2% vs 2.7%, odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-5.0）. Conclusion Exploring sexuality and experimentation is a normal behavior in adolescence. The results of this study, however, indicate that there are substantial groups of teenagers who practice sexual risk-taking. In addition to general sexual education, programs should also be directed to define sexual risks and its consequences.展开更多
文摘Objective To investigate the development of sexuality from early to late adolescence, and to compare girls and boys of different ages Methods A cross sectional survey in all schools was performed covering all pupils between 13 and 18 years of age that were in school when the survey was conducted. A validated instrument, Q90, created for use in teenagers was distributed in the class- rooms to 3 216 teenagers. Q90 covers 30 questions about body development and sexual behavior. Non-response was insignificant （n=19; 0.6%）. Results Pubertal development was considered “early” or “late” by about 50% of both boys and girls. Eighty percent of the 13 to 15 years old boys and girls had had a romance and 30% had experience of sexual cuddling （petting）, while significantly more girls than boys had sexual intercourse （18% vs 13%; odds ratio 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-1.9）. The difference between girls and boys remained in those being 16-18 years old, where 63% of the girls and 53% of the boys （odds ratio 1.5, 95% CIJ.2-1.9） admitted having intercourse. Mean age at first intercourse was 14.9 and 15 years, respectively. At 16-18 years of age, 23% of the sexually active girls, as compared with 25% of the boys estimated that they had had 6 or more sexual partners. About 30% of the adolescents, irrespective of age and gender, did not use contraceptives at their first and latest intercourse. Eight percent of the older girls had been pregnant, and they had an increased history of sexually transmitted infections, as compared with the boys （6.2% vs 2.7%, odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-5.0）. Conclusion Exploring sexuality and experimentation is a normal behavior in adolescence. The results of this study, however, indicate that there are substantial groups of teenagers who practice sexual risk-taking. In addition to general sexual education, programs should also be directed to define sexual risks and its consequences.
