Secondary students and sexual health 2008

• Anthony Smith
• Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society

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04 August 2009Results of the 4th National Survey of Australian Secondary Students, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health.

The Fourth National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health involved nearly 3,000 Year 10 and Year 12 students from more than 100 secondary schools from the Government, Catholic and Independent school systems and from every jurisdiction in Australia.

The Fourth National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health involved nearly 3,000 Year 10 and Year 12 students from more than 100 secondary schools from the Government, Catholic and Independent school systems and from every jurisdiction in Australia. The key findings are arranged under the key themes of knowledge, behaviour and health.

Knowledge

HIV knowledge remains relatively high and comparable to the levels found in 2002.

• There has been a marked improvement in student sexually transmissible infection (STI) knowledge between 2002 and 2008 studies. Despite this, in some areas student STI knowledge remains relatively poor.

• Despite generally poor student knowledge of chlamydia, knowledge of this infection has nonetheless improved significantly since 2002.

• Hepatitis A, B and C knowledge remains relatively poor, but there has nonetheless been some improvement in student knowledge regarding hepatitis B and C.

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge was measured for the first time in 2008 and student knowledge of this sexually transmissible infection was very poor. In most cases more than half the sample reported being unsure of correct answers to HPV knowledge questions.

• Cervical cancer knowledge was measured for the first time in the 2008 study and knowledge was generally poor.

• There were no gender differences in students HIV knowledge, however young women demonstrated better knowledge generally in terms of STIs, HPV, cervical cancer and hepatitis compared with young men.

Behaviour

• The majority of students (78%) have experienced some form of sexual activity.

• Over one quarter of year 10 students and just over half of year 12 students had experienced sexual intercourse.

• The proportion of students who had experienced sexual intercourse has increased between 2002 and 2008 surveys. In 2002 35% of students reported having sexual intercourse with this proportion increasing to 40% in 2008.

• Student condom use has remained stable between 2002 and 2008 surveys. In 2008 most students (69%) reported using a condom the last time they had sex and half the sample of sexually active students always used a condom when they had sex in the previous year.

• A considerable proportion of sexually active students have sex with three or more people in a year, and this proportion had increased significantly in 2008. Between 2002 and 2008 surveys the proportion of students reporting three or more sexual partners increased from 20% to 30%.

• Just under half the students surveyed had experienced oral sex.

• Although most of those students reported having oral sex with one partner in the previous year, a considerable proportion (28%) had oral sex with 3 or more people. This proportion had increased appreciably since the 2002 study (19%).

• For young women, experience of unwanted sex has increased significantly between 2002 and 2008 surveys. In 2002 28% of young women reported ever having unwanted sex and in 2008 this figure had increased to 38%.

• Almost 1 in 10 students surveyed reported their most recent sexual encounter was with someone of the same sex. For young men, the likelihood of having a same sex encounter at the most recent sexual experience had increased from 2% in 2002 to 8% in 2008.

• Most students report positive feelings after having sex, however for young women there is some evidence of a decline in more positive feelings between 2002 and 2008 surveys.

• Between 2002 and 2008, there has been an increase in student confidence with respect to talking with their parents about sex and sexual health related matters.

• Fewer students in the 2008 survey reported using no contraception the last time they had sex. Use of the birth control pill (37% vs. 50%) and morning after pill (4% vs. 8%) increased between 2002 and 2008.

Health

• The majority of students rate their general health as good.

• Almost one quarter of the sample reported smokingmarijuana and a significant minority of students (12%) had used the drug on several occasions in the past year.

• Although there has been a reduction in experience of alcohol consumption overall between 2002 and 2008, students continue to drink considerable amounts of alcohol. Although most students (38%) drank alcohol once a month or less, 21% reported drinking either weekly or more frequently. Young women in year 12 reported higher rates of binge drinking in 2008 compared to 2002. In 2002 approximately two thirds of young women in year 12 reported drinking three or more drinks on any one occasion – this figure had increased considerably to 84% in 2008.

• Few students have Between 2002 and 2008, more students reported hepatitis A and B vaccinations. However, students continue to be uncertain about hepatitis vaccination, with many unsure if they have been vaccinated for hepatitis A (55%) and hepatitis B (33%).

• A considerable proportion of students incorrectly report vaccinations for hepatitis C, and this figure has increased significantly since 2002. In 2002 almost one quarter of the sample incorrectly thought they had been vaccinated for hepatitis C and this figure had increased significantly to 41% in 2008.

• Few students (2%) have injected drugs.

• Less than 1 in 10 students believed they were at risk of infection with HIV/AIDS, an STI, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Students who were sexually active, had more sexual partners and who were attracted to people of the same sex were more likely to believe they were at risk of infection with HIV/AIDS and STIs.

• Not using a condom during sex was only associated with increased perceived risk of infection with HIV/AIDS and STIs where a student’s sexual partner was someone they had met for the first time.

• Most students (88%) had sought information regarding sexual health. Students most commonly sought information from their mothers (56%), female friends (55%), the school sexual health program (49%) and pamphlets (44%). Despite not being used as frequently by students, doctors (39%) were the most trusted source of information on sexual health. been diagnosed with an STI (3%) or hepatitis (1%).