Sexual health and risk behaviour among East Asian adolescents in British Columbia

Abstract

Despite the large number of adolescents of East Asian origin in Canada, there is limited research on sexual health among this population. A first step to develop strategies for sexual health promotion for adolescents is to document the prevalence of sexual behaviours. This study estimated the prevalence of sexual health and risk behaviours among East Asian adolescents in grades 7 to 12, using the province-wide, school-based 2008 British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey (un-weighted N=4,311). Less than 10% of East Asian adolescents had ever had sexual intercourse. Among those who were sexually experienced most had engaged in high risk sexual behaviours, including multiple sexual partners and non-condom use at last intercourse. Compared to immigrant students whose primary language at home was not English, immigrant and Canadian-born students speaking English at home were more likely to experience sexual intercourse. Among students who had never had sexual intercourse, the two most common reasons were not feeling ready and waiting to meet the right person. The findings suggest the need for sexual health interventions tailored to the gender and socio-cultural contexts in which adolescents live.