Sexual and Drug Use Risk Behaviors among Children and Youth in Street Circumstances in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess sexual and drug use risk in 161 children and youth in street circumstances in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Median age was 14 and 79% were male. Overall, 59% reported ever having had sex; a significantly higher proportion of males (66%) compared to females (30%). Overall, 39% reported illicit drug use in the last year, and only 1.2% reported injection drug use. In multivariate analyses, correlates of unsafe sex included younger age of sexual debut, and having a steady sex partner. Independent correlates of illicit drug use included lack of family contact, increased hours in the street daily, having had an HIV test, and older age. A high proportion of children and youth in street circumstances reported high risk sex and drug exposures, confirming their vulnerability to HIV/STD. Services Centers, such as where this research was carried out, offer an opportunity for interventions.

Interventions to modify sexual risk behaviours for preventing HIV in homeless youth

“…As a group, they lack the economic, social, and emotional resources to provide for their basic needs, such as adequate sleep, clothing, shelter, and nutrition, which has dire consequences for their physical and emotional health (Van Wormer 2003). Studies have indicated that homeless youth have significant health risks related to sexual behaviour and substance use and linked to increased risk for HIV/AIDS and other STIs (Anarfi 1997;Baybuga 2004;de Carvalho 2006;Richter 1995;Walters 1999). In a review of 52 studies of the health of street youth in industrialized countries, these youth had higher rates of hepatitis B, C, and HIV than their non-street peers (Boivin 2005).…”

“…Homeless youth are highly vulnerable to engaging in unprotected survival sex to meet their basic needs and/or feed a drug habit (Bernier 1995;Walters 1999) and are subject to rape (Swart-Kruger 1997). Because of their psychosocial and contextual environments, they also are highly likely to have multiple sexual partners (de Carvalho 2006;Poulin 2001;Richter 1995;Roy 2000;Swart-Kruger 1997;van den Hoek 1997). Most are poorly equipped to combat sexual threats, as reported in an ongoing study of Montreal street youth, where only 13.2% of participants reported always using condoms during vaginal intercourse, and only 32.4% reported always using condoms during anal intercourse (Roy 2000).…”

Drug use among street children and adolescents: what helps?

“…Several countries have reported an increase in this population, especially of youngsters between the ages of 15 and 17 years 2,3,4,5,6,7 . Frequent or heavy drug use as well as buying and selling of drugs are common behavior in this population 3,8 .…”

“…Frequent or heavy drug use as well as buying and selling of drugs are common behavior in this population 3,8 .…”

Predictors of High-Risk Behaviors Among Street Children in Zahedan, Southeastern Iran

“…Problems including early sexuality, morbidity to sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases, addiction, illicit trade, suicide and physical and mental health problems, are the results of living in streets (7)(8)(9). Besides, high-risk behaviors among street children have serious consequences for health system and society in the future.…”