Teens who engage in risky behaviors may be less likely to use condoms

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, the average age at which individuals first engage in intercourse is 16, but condoms are used in less than half of sexual encounters between new or casual partners.

"We have to get young people to view condoms as an essential part of having sex. The fact that so many don't use condoms, even though they know that they offer protection against both sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, shows how important it is to work on attitudes and behaviour," lead researcher Heikki Tikkanen said.

The study's findings indicated that adolescents who used drugs or alcohol were more likely to start having sex at a young age and to neglect to use protection. The results also showed that teens who were prone to engaging in risky behaviors were more likely to have accepted payment for sex acts.

A total of 14 percent of sexually active American teens have had four or more partners, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The organization notes that more than 20 percent of these adolescents engaged in intercourse while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.