Sexual Health of Canadian Youth: Findings from the Canadian Youth, Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Study

Abstract

The Canadian Youth, Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Study conducted in 2002-2003 surveyed a national sample of over 10,000 students in grades 7, 9 and 11. This paper presents the key findings on sexuai behaviour inciuding number of steady boyfriend/girifriend reiationships in the past year, sexuai behaviours experienced, and for grades 9 and 11 oniy, experience of orai sex and sexuai intercourse, reasons for having or not having had intercourse, experience of non-consensua i sexuai intercourse, contraception use at iast intercourse, condom use and attitudes, experience of unintended pregnancy, and sense of self-efficacy in HIV/AIDS prevention. Compared to the iast such national study conducted in 1988, maies but not femaies were iess iikeiy to have had intercourse and ali students were significantly more iikeiy to believe they couid protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.