School-Level Poverty and Rurality Associated With Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors Among US Public High School Students

Results: Compared to students attending low-poverty schools, high-poverty school students were significantly more likely to be currently sexually active (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.4 [95% confidence interval = 1.1-1.8]) and have four or more lifetime sexual partners (1.6 [1.0-2.5]), but were significantly less likely to have drank alcohol or used drugs before the last sexual intercourse (.7 [.5-.9]) and have used hormonal birth control during the last sexual intercourse (.7 [.6-1.0]). Compared to students attending rural schools, urban school students were significantly less likely to be currently sexually active (.8 [.7-.9]) and have four or more lifetime sexual partners (.7 [.5-.9]). Conclusions: School-level socioeconomic status and metropolitan status were associated with differential risk in sexual behaviors. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.

Automated summary

The study found that school-level poverty rate and metropolitan status were associated with differential risk in sexual behaviors, with students from high-poverty schools and urban schools showing higher prevalence in certain sexual behaviors.