The Sexual Practices of Asian and Pacific Islander High School Students

Mark A. Schuster, Robert M. Bell, Gene Nakajima, David E. Kanouse

ResearchPublished 1998

This article describes the sexual behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes of Asian and Pacific Islander California high school students and compares them to other racial/ethnic groups. Data were collected in April 1992 from an anonymous self-administered survey of 2026 ninth to 12th graders in a Los Angeles County school district; 186 of the respondents described themselves as Asian and Pacific Islander. A higher percentage of Asian and Pacific Islander adolescents compared with African-American, Latino, white, and other adolescents had never had vaginal intercourse. Asian and Pacific Islander high school students in one California school district appear to be at lower sexual risk than other racial/ethnic groups. However, a large minority are engaging in activities that can transmit disease and lead to unwanted pregnancy. Efforts to develop culturally sensitive clinical and community-based approaches to sexual risk prevention should include this group.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1998
  • Pages: 11
  • Document Number: RP-744

Originally published in: Journal of Adolescent Health, v. 23, 1998, pp. 221-231.

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