title: Sexual behaviour of young people and the risk of HIV infection.
abstract: A survey of 16-21 year old people in Somerset was undertaken to find out about their sexual behaviour prior to mounting a local education campaign on AIDS. A representative sample of 400 people, using quota sampling in 40 randomly selected electoral wards, completed a schedule structured part self administered questionnaire. Of these, 371 (92%) considered themselves heterosexual. Nearly half (47%) of the 16 year olds had engaged in sexual intercourse, rising to 89% by the age of 21. Mean frequency of sexual intercourse among the sexually active is 62 per year. The frequency of partner change decreases with increasing age for non-virgins from 2.1 for 16 year olds to 1.5 partner changes per year for 21 year olds (mean frequency 1.7 per year, ie, a new partner every 7 months). This level of sexual activity could eventually give rise to HIV prevalence rates similar to those found in Africa, i.e., 15-100 HIV antibody positive per 1000.
authors.affiliation: Somerset Health Authority, Taunton.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bowie
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012923:Social Class