Predisposing factors related to adolescent sexuality among students in rural and urban school-based health centers in eastern North Carolina.

This study examined possible predisposing factors that may contribute to rural adolescents' early sexual behavior. Sexual behaviors, demographics, family structure, history of abuse, sexually active friends, and substance use were analyzed in 410 rural and urban adolescents, aged 10 to 19 years, who were enrolled in a school-based health center in North Carolina between 2005 and 2007. Results indicated that Black students residing in single-parent urban households were more likely to engage in sex earlier than other analyzed ethnic groups (odds ratio [OR] = 5.