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Lee, Choi, Cha, Park, and Lee: A survey on the sexual behavior of adolescents in South Korea: The third survey in 2007
Original Article
Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2010; 53(6): 512-519.

Published online: 30 June 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/kjog.2010.53.6.512

A survey on the sexual behavior of adolescents in South Korea: The third survey in 2007

Im Soon Lee, M.D., Gyu Yeon Choi, M.D., Sang Heon Cha, M.D., Hye Yeon Park, M.D., Jeong Jae Lee, M.D.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author (kychoi@hosp.sch.ac.kr)

Received 2 April 2010       Accepted 7 May 2010

Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Objective

The survey was conducted to improve the health of Korean adolescents and to prepare adequate teaching programs by investigating their sexual behavior.

Methods

The participants of the survey was 80,000 middle and high school students aged 13 to 18. The survey was conducted from September 1st, 2007 to September 22nd, 2007.

Results

78,834 students were surveyed and 74,698 (94.8%) students responded the survey. 35,232 (47.2%) of respondents were male students and 39,466 (52.8%) of respondents were female students. 38,820 (52.0%) of respondents were middle school students, 25,051 (33.5%) of respondents were high school students and 10,827 (14.5%) of respondents were technical high school students. 5.2% of respondents experienced sexual intercourse. The average age of the first sexual intercourse was 14.2 years old. 1.0% of respondents had a sexual intercourse before they enter the middle school. The pregnancy rate was 0.3%. Among respondents who experienced sexual intercourse, the rate of the use of contraceptive methods was 38.2%. The rate of using inappropriate contraceptive methods was 21.6%. The average age of a first wet dream for boys was 13.2 years old. The average age of menarche for girls was 12.4 year old. The rate of respondents who had a sex education was 72.2%.

Conclusion

The average age of the first wet dream and menarche had been decreased. The average age of the first sex experience among adolescents had been decreased. The rate of adolescents who experienced a sexual intercourse was increased. However, the rate of using reliable contraceptive methods was very low. Therefore, adequate sex educations including effective contraceptive methods needs to be conducted to prevent unwanted pregnancy of adolescents.

Keywords: Sexual behavior, Contraception, Sex education

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
(A) General characteristics of surveyed people. (B) Age to start having sexual relationship in categories of gender, school years and school.
kjog-53-512-g001
Figure 2
Rate of sexual experience in categories of gender, school years, and school.
kjog-53-512-g002
Figure 3
(A) Rate of pregnancy experience by school among girls. (B) Rate of artificial abortion experience.
kjog-53-512-g003
Figure 4
Rate of carrying on contraception by gender, school years, school.
kjog-53-512-g004
Figure 5
Rate of participation rates in annual sex education by gender, school years and school.
kjog-53-512-g005
Table 1
A research index of region of sexual behavior
kjog-53-512-i001

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