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Indicator Gauge Icon Legend

Legend Colors

Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.

Compared to Distribution

an indicator guage with the arrow in the green the value is in the best half of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the yellow the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the red the value is in the worst quarter of communities.

Compared to Target

green circle with white tick inside it meets target; red circle with white cross inside it does not meet target.

Compared to a Single Value

green diamond with downward arrow inside it lower than the comparison value; red diamond with downward arrow inside it higher than the comparison value; blue diamond with downward arrow inside it not statistically different from comparison value.

Trend

green square outline with upward trending arrow inside it green square outline with downward trending arrow inside it non-significant change over time; green square with upward trending arrow inside it green square with downward trending arrow inside it significant change over time; blue square with equals sign no change over time.

Compared to Prior Value

green triangle with upward trending arrow inside it higher than the previous measurement period; green triangle with downward trending arrow inside it lower than the previous measurement period; blue equals sign no statistically different change  from previous measurement period.

green chart bars Significantly better than the overall value

red chart bars Significantly worse than the overall value

light blue chart bars No significant difference with the overall value

gray chart bars No data on significance available

More information about the gauges and icons

Teens who are Sexually Active

Measurement Period: 2021-2022
This indicator shows the percentage of high school students who have ever had sexual intercourse.

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. 

More...
22.0%
Source: Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey
Measurement period: 2021-2022
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: May 2024

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Indicator Values
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Data Source

Filed under: Health / Family Planning, Health / Adolescent Health, Health Behaviors, Teens

Behavioral Health Workgroup

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Health Equity Workgroup

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Health Eating, Active Living Workgroup

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Prince George's County Health Department