Abstract

The purpose of this study was examine the relationship between HIV/AIDS based sexual education and adolescent sexual behaviors in Kentucky. The behaviors examined include ever having intercourse, alcohol or drug use prior to most recent intercourse, and condom use during most recent intercourse. A secondary purpose of the study was to examine possible gender differences in the sexual behaviors of adolescents in Kentucky. National and statewide research shows that STI infection and unintended pregnancy rates are high for adolescents, especially those in Kentucky. Kentucky also uses primarily abstinence-based education in public schools. Chi-square tests were used on data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to test the study variables. The study found that males were more likely to have had intercourse, more likely to use alcohol or drugs prior to most recent intercourse, and more likely to use a condom during most recent intercourse than females. The study also found that participants who received HIV/AIDS infection education at home and at school were more likely to have had intercourse. This study has implications for developing gender-contextual sexual health programming that will promote healthy sexual behaviors and decrease risky sexual behaviors among adolescents.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 2014

Mentor

Helyne Frederick

Mentor Department Affiliation

Family and Consumer Sciences

Access Options

Restricted Access Thesis

Document Type

Bachelor Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelor's

Department

Applied Human Sciences

Department Name when Degree Awarded

Family and Consumer Sciences

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