The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) data, a national survey that assesses a wide variety of health behaviors – from smoking to fruit consumption to condom use – among young people.

According to the CDC, “More than 16,000 U.S. high school students participated in the 2009 National YRBS. Parental permission was obtained for students to participate in the survey.  Student participation was voluntary, and responses were anonymous. The 2009 report includes national data and data from surveys conducted in 42 states and 20 large urban school districts.”

The full 2009 survey data and information can be found at www.cdc.gov/yrbs.

Conducted every two years, the YRBS is one of the key measures of sexual health in America for two key reasons:

1. The YRBS provides one of the most in-depth snapshots of current behavior among young people, including information about response differences by gender, race/ethnicity, geography, age etc.
2. Comparing new YRBS data with previous surveys allows us to identify trends and behavior changes over time

Among other things, the survey asks if students:

• Have ever had sexual intercourse
• Are currently sexually active
• Use condoms
• Use birth control pills
• Were taught about HIV/AIDS in high school
• Have been tested for HIV
• Experienced dating violence

Check back soon for analysis of the 2009 YRBS data – and commentary on any emerging or continuing trends.