Knowledge about STD/AIDS and sexual behavior among high school students in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

The incidence of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is increasing among adolescents. In order to better understand high-risk sexual behavior among students, a cross-sectional study based on a self-answered anonymous questionnaire was conducted in 10 public and private high schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were obtained on sociodemographics, knowledge of STD/AIDS, and sexual behavior. Among 945 students aged 13-21, 59% were sexually initiated, and the median age at first sexual intercourse was 15 years (range: 7-19). Although 94% reported being aware of the need for condom use for protection, only 34% informed always using condoms during sex. Low family income was associated with unsatisfactory knowledge (OR = 9.40; 95% CI = 6.05-14.60) and inconsistent condom use (OR = 11.60; 95% CI = 5.54-24.30). However, unsatisfactory knowledge was not associated with inconsistent condom use. School-based educational programs should focus on sexual behavior more than on transmission of knowledge, as well as targeting low-income students.

Conhecimento sobre a transmissão de HIV/AIDS entre adolescentes com 11 anos de idade do Sul do Brasil

“…This is consistent with the study conducted by Ferreira et al (2008), who analyzed knowledge about HIV/AIDS among adolescents and adults aged between 16 and 65 years in Brazil, in 1998 and 2005 24 . The same finding, a lower level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among those who reported they were black, was also described by Martins et al 2 in the city of São Paulo and by Trajman et al 17 in the city of Rio de Janeiro.…”

“…Several studies point out that knowledge does not guarantee continuing prevention in all sexual relations 16,17 . In Brazil, seeking to include the largest number of adolescents possible, health and education policies were developed, in which schools, family members and health professionals are encouraged to raise the issue of STD prevention and adolescent pregnancy with this population.…”

Comportamento Sexual e Autoestima em Adolescentes

“…Esses resultados corroboram a literatura, a qual afirma que homens possuem maior número de parceiras sexuais (Trajman et al, 2003;Gomes et al, 2002;Antunes et al, 2002) e reforçam a ideia que está tradicionalmente presente em nossa sociedade de que o sexo -falar sobre, poder ter mais parceiras e não receber um julgamento necessariamente negativo, iniciar a vida sexual mais cedo do que meninas -é algo mais permitido aos homens do que às mulheres.…”

“…Vê-se como importante atitude criar políti-cas de intervenções educativas sobre saúde e sexualidade já no início da adolescência (DiClemente et al, 2006), tanto nas escolas quanto nas famílias (Gomes et al, 2002;Trajman et al, 2003), e também na mídia. Cabe lembrar que os comportamentos de risco na adolescência não existem de forma isolada; ao contrário, eles estão relacionados a um contexto de vulnerabilidade.…”

Violência e atividade sexual desprotegida em adolescentes menores de 15 anos

“…The greater vulnerability of younger girls has been described in prior studies reporting a significant association between young age at onset of sexual activity and variables such as coming from a poor background and being exposed to physical or sexual abuse, among other factors 2 . Other elements also contribute to increased risk among adolescent girls, including biological and psychosocial immaturity, financial dependence, non-awareness of the legitimacy of sexual freedom, gender violence [6][7][8][9] and drug and alcohol consumption 10,11 . Adolescent females are the main victims of sexual violence and of commercial sexual exploitation 12,13 and usually have older partners, which gives them little bargaining power to demand condom use during sexual intercourse.…”