title: Description of Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behaviors among High School Girls in New York City.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examination of the association of sexual orientation to the sexual practices and health behaviors of high school girls in New York City (NYC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey of public high school students in grades 9-12 in NYC.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent variables included sexual orientation and gender of sexual partners. Dependent variables include sexual/health risk behaviors. We used t tests to compare mean ages and χ2tests to compare distributions according to sexual orientation, gender of sexual partners, and differences in risk behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey was completed by 4643 girls; mean age, 15.5 years; (1103 + 1842)/4254 (69%) black or Latina; 1101/4000 (27.5%) sexually active; 3574/4412 (81%) heterosexual; and (92 + 526)/4412 (14%) sexual minorities; 24.1% were heterosexual, 52.1% lesbian, and 49.4% were bisexual girls and were sexually active; 247 were classified as women who have sex with women (WSW) or WSW and men (WSWM). Of the sexually active girls, (65 + 182)/1081 (23%) were WSW/WSWM. The WSW/WSWM reported earlier sexual debut, more sexual partners, higher pregnancy rate, use of alcohol at last sex, history of intimate partner violence, and less likelihood of having an HIV test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost one in four of sexually active high school girls in NYC can be classified as WSW, who are vulnerable to increased sexual and health risk-taking behaviors leading to adverse health outcomes. The discordance between sexual behavior and sexual orientation emphasizes the importance of the provider sharing protective strategies in the sexual health counseling session for their patients who engage in sex with female partners regardless of sexual orientation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York. Electronic address: coblec01@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Chanelle A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Coble
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Ellen J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Rosy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chhabra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D011247:Pregnancy; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Sex minority; Sexual behavior; Sexual orientation; Sexual risk; Women who have sex with women (WSW)