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Among high school students, sexual behavior change has stalled during the last 10 years, according to a new analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers studied data taken from a 1991-2011 survey. The CDC's National Youth Risk Behavior Survey is a nationally representative biennial survey of public and private school students in grades 9-12. The findings were presented at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. and published as an early release in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Kevin Fenton, director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, called the progress encouraging, but noted that there is much more to do.

 "Risk behavior remains far too high among all students, and it's clear that to realize our goal of an AIDS-free generation, parents, schools and communities will need to intensify efforts to ensure that every young person in America knows about HIV and how to prevent infection," Fenton said.

The report noted that the proportion of U.S. high school students who had ever had sex declined from 1991 - 54 percent - to 2001 - 46 percent -, and has stabilized since that time - 47 percent in 2011. Also, the proportion of students who had sex within the preceding three months declined from 38 percent in 1991 to 34 percent in 2011 and the proportion of students who had multiple - four or more - sex partners decreased from 1991 - 19 percent - to 2001 - 14 percent - and has stabilized since that time - 15 percent in 2011. Additionally, the proportion of sexually active students who used a condom the last time they had sex increased from 1991 - 46 percent - to 2003 - 63 percent - and has stabilized since that time - 60 percent in 2011.

But, the highlight of the report is that the number of black high school students engaging in sexual risk behaviors for HIV has declined dramatically in 20 years, significantly reducing the disparities in risk between black youth and youth of other racial or ethnic groups.

In 1991, black students were nearly two-thirds more likely to have had sexual intercourse and almost three times as likely to report having multiple partners, as compared to white students. By 2011, the disparity between black and white students who ever had sex was cut in half, and the difference in the likelihood of having multiple sex partners declined even more - 58 percent.

However, although the report showed much progress for black students, they still continued to report higher levels of sexual risk behavior than their white or Hispanic peers, with the exception of reporting significantly higher levels of condom use. But, condom use has been declining among black students since 1999.

People under the age of 30 represent approximately 4 of every 10 new HIV infections each year. Reducing sexual risk behaviors among America's youth is critical to reducing this toll and achieving the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which calls for educating all young people on HIV, as well as intensified prevention efforts for populations at greatest risk, including youth.

"Our challenge is to build on the tremendous strides made by African-American youth, while again jumpstarting the progress among youth overall," said Howell Wechsler. "We must also confront the persistent lack of progress among Hispanic and white students."

By the numbers:

Ever had sex: The proportion significantly declined among black students (from 82 to 60 percent); remained stable among Hispanic students (from 53 to 49 percent); and, after an initial decline, has stabilized since 2003 among white students (50 percent in 1991, 42 percent in 2003, 44 percent in 2011).

Current sexual activity: The proportion declined from 59 to 41 percent among black students; and remained stable among Hispanic students (37 to 34 percent) and white students (34 to 32 percent).

Multiple partners: The proportion declined among black students (from 43 to 25 percent); remained stable among Hispanic students (17 to 15 percent); and after an initial decline among white students (15 percent in 1991 to 11 percent in 2003), has stabilized since that time (13 percent in 2011).

Condom use: Among black youth, condom use increased from 1991 (48 percent) to 1999 (70 percent) but declined since that time (65 percent in 2011). After initial increases, condom use stabilized among Hispanic and white youth (among Hispanic youth, from 37 percent in 1991 to 61 percent in 2007 and 58 percent in 2011; among white youth, from 46 percent in 1991 to 62 percent in 2003 and 60 percent in 2011).