LIFETIME SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AMONG RUNAWAY MALES AND FEMALES

Lifetime sexual behaviors were examined among 206 male and female runaway adolescents aged 11-18 in New York City who were predominantly Black or Hispanic. Most youths experienced oral, anal or vaginal sex with opposite-sex partners (84%), began to engage in these heterosexual activities at a relatively young age (M = 12.9 years), and used condoms inconsistently or not at all (56%). Among sexually active youths, males initiated heterosexual activity at a significantly earlier age than females, reported more opposite-sex partners, and had a higher prevalence rate of trading sex for money or drugs. These findings indicate specific areas for targeting AIDS prevention programs for runaway youths.