“Almost one in five U.S. teens has sexual intercourse by their 15th birthday.”
Its review of available data revealed that 4% of 12-year-olds have had sex, 10% of 13-year-olds, and 19% of 14-year-olds.
The figures do not include instances of oral sex, which is reported to be widely practiced by young teens.
A different study also released May 20 [Henry Kaiser Family Fdn] found that 47% of teens aged 14 and younger agreed that there is “pressure to have sex by a certain age.”
[issued May 20, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; Washington Times, 5-20-03; EF News & Notes, 13Jun03]