Indicator Gauge Icon Legend
Legend Colors
Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.
Compared to Distribution
the value is in the best half of communities.
the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.
the value is in the worst quarter of communities.
Compared to Target
meets target;
does not meet target.
Compared to a Single Value
lower than the comparison value;
higher than the comparison value;
not statistically different from comparison value.
Trend
non-significant change over time;
significant change over time;
no change over time.
Compared to Prior Value
higher than the previous measurement period;
lower than the previous measurement period;
no statistically different change from previous measurement period.
Significantly better than the overall value
Significantly worse than the overall value
No significant difference with the overall value
No data on significance available
Teens who are Sexually Active
This indicator is archived and is no longer being updated. Click to learn more
Why is this important?
Adolescents who have sex at a younger age are more likely to get a sexually transmitted infection and to get pregnant. They are also more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors in the future (Healthy People 2030). More than half of all sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases in the United States are among young people ages 15 to 24 years (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Public health interventions coupled with comprehensive sex education programs may prevent adolescents from having sex while also equipping them with the knowledge to make safer choices (Healthy People 2030).
Considerations for Equitable Approaches: The percentage of high school students who are sexually active has decreased over the past decade among all racial and ethnic groups. There were no significant differences by racial or ethnic groups in percentage of students who were sexually active, except for Asian students who were less likely than other groups to engage in sexual behaviors. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Inclusive Language Recommendations: The terms “sexually transmitted disease” (STD) and “sexually transmitted infection” (STI) are often used interchangeably. STI is most accurate when referring to pathogens that can be acquired and transmitted through sexual activity – even those that may not cause disease in the individual. In some cases, the term “STD” may be more familiar to more people (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
The Healthy People 2030 national target is 80.8 percent of adolescents who have never had sexual intercourse.
City/Place: Oakland
Measurement period: 2021
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: June 2023
Graph Selections
Data Source
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Maintained By: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (Methodology)
Filed under: Health / Family Planning, Health / Adolescent Health, Health Behaviors, Teens