Comparability of estimates and trends in adolescent sexual and contraceptive behaviors from two national surveys: National Survey of Family Growth and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Abstract

Objective To compare adolescents’ reports of sexual and contraceptive behaviors between the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Methods For each survey, we estimated the year- and sex-specific prevalence of sexual and contraceptive behaviors among a comparably defined sample of US respondents ages 15–19 currently attending high school. We used logistic regression to test for changes in prevalence from 2007–2019 and conducted sensitivity analyses to investigate between-survey differences. Results We found differences in both prevalence and trends between the YRBS and NSFG when limited to a comparably defined sample. Compared to the NSFG, adolescents in the YRBS were more likely to report being sexually experienced, less likely to report use of prescription methods for both sexes, and less likely to report condoms among males. Only the YRBS estimated significant declines in sexual experience for both sexes, and significant increases in prescription methods and declines in condom use among males. Differences between surveys in the prevalence of specific contraceptive methods reflected greater combined use of methods in the NSFG. We identified differences in question-wording and other aspects that may influence these differential patterns. Conclusions The NSFG and YRBS produced inconsistent prevalence estimates and trends for sexual and contraceptive behaviors among in-school adolescents. Further efforts to improve these national surveillance systems are critical to inform policy and research efforts that support adolescent sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.

Adolescent Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Mexican-Origin Women on Both Sides of the U.S.-Mexico Border

“…Fourth, we do not have data on immigrant generation or timing of immigration; analyses not considering the timing in which women migrate may confound the timing and mechanisms of important reproductive health outcomes [19]. Fifth, the NSFG has shown lower prevalence of sexual and contraceptive behaviors among adolescents when compared to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey [39]. This may result in an underestimation in our analysis, although this would only introduce bias if the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance SurveyeNSFG gap varied by race-ethnicity and/or nativity.…”

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception for Adolescents: A Review of Practices to Support Better Communication, Counseling, and Adherence

“… 5 The discrepancy between these national datasets may have been due to differences in rates of sexual activity between cohorts, question wording, or in disclosure of sexual activity between paper survey and individual interview mediums. 34 Nevertheless, both data sources support substantial recent increases in adolescent LARC use.…”