Sexual risk behaviors of sexual minority students in Rhode Island, 2007-2013.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s pooled Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data show that nationally, 1.3% of high school students identified themselves as gay or lesbian, 2.5% reported having intercourse with same sex only, and 3.3% reported having sex with both sexes.1,2 Sexual minority students are adolescents who identify themselves as gay or lesbian, bisexual, or unsure of their sexual identity or students who have had sexual contact with same sex only or with both sexes.1 This study found that sexual health disparities exist in sexual minority students. In particular, the study found that sexual minority students were more likely to report having had intercourse, to have had intercourse before 13 years of age, and to have had intercourse with four or more people compared to heterosexual students. Gay or lesbian students were less likely to have used a condom at the last intercourse than heterosexual students.1,2 Earlier age of first intercourse, number of sexual partners, and lack of condom use are associated with increased risk of getting cancer-related pathogens, for instance, human papilloma virus (HPV).3 Risk sexual behaviors are also related to teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sexual minority students. In order to address the needs of sexual minority students and implement intervention programs effectively, Rhode Island needs statewide data on the sexual behaviors of this population. The objectives of this study were to focus on variability among sexual minorities, examine differences between sexual identity and sexual behavior, as well as examine differences between sex of sexual contacts and sexual behaviors using the Rhode Island-pooled YRBS data.