RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study intends to evaluate whether the belief that condoms are 100% effective in protecting against HIV infection is associated with sexual risk behaviours among youth. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in representative samples of high-school students in the Philippines, El Salvador and Peru. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Students were asked about the risk of HIV transmission if one has sex using condoms. They were also asked to indicate whether they had ever had sexual relations and whether they used a condom in their first sexual relation. The sample was composed of 8994 students, aged 13-18. RESULTS: One out of seven adolescents believed condoms are 100% effective (safe-sex believers). Those adolescents were 82% more likely to have had sex than those without such belief, after adjusting for confounders (OR=1.82; 95% CI 1.51 to 2.21). On the contrary, no association was found between risk perception and condom use. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses produced similar results. CONCLUSIONS: This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study conducted specifically to evaluate this phenomenon and that has used the same questionnaire and the same data collection protocol in three different developing countries from Asia, Central and South America. These results reasonably suggest that there could be an association between safe sex beliefs and sexual initiation. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand this possible association as it could influence how to better promote sexual health.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente/psicologia , Preservativos/estatística & dados numéricos , Países em Desenvolvimento , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Assunção de Riscos , Sexo Seguro/psicologia , Adolescente , Estudos Transversais , El Salvador , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/transmissão , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Peru , Filipinas , Sexo Seguro/estatística & dados numéricos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Sexo sem Proteção/psicologia , Sexo sem Proteção/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to verify the influence of messages Salvadorian youth receive about sexuality, affection, and leisure from family, friends, and the media on the initiation of sexual activity. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of 2 615 students (from 13 to 19 years of age) in El Salvador. A random systematic sampling was used to select 30 schools. Sociodemographic aspects, lifestyles, and sources of information on sexuality and love used by the young people were collected. RESULTS: The average age of the young people studied was 15 (SD = 1.8). In all, 638 (24.4%) of the young people stated that they had had sexual relations. The following factors are associated with a greater probability of having had sexual relations: a perception that siblings (OR = 1.8, CI 95%: 1.2-2.7) or friends (OR = 1.7, CI 95%: 1.3-2.2) encourage them to have sex. Protective factors were found to be the supervision of parents (OR = 0.5, CI 95%: 0.4-0.7); messages received from friends that encourage abstinence (OR = 0.7, CI 95%: 0.6-1.0) or from siblings (OR = 0.7, CI 95%: 0.5-0.8); and favorable messages related to marriage received from parents (OR = 0.4, CI 95%: 0.3-0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Messages from family and friends are factors that seem to influence the initiation of sexual activity by young people. Sexual health promotion programs in El Salvador should take these factors into account.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente , Família , Amigos , Comportamento de Busca de Informação , Comportamento Sexual , Adolescente , Atitude , Estudos Transversais , El Salvador , Feminino , Hábitos , Promoção da Saúde , Humanos , Comportamento Imitativo , Internet , Atividades de Lazer , Masculino , Casamento , Meios de Comunicação de Massa , Distância Psicológica , Abstinência Sexual/psicologia , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Ensino , Adulto JovemRESUMO
PURPOSE: Adolescents who engage in sex can be affected by a range of negative physical and psychological consequences. We intend to analyze the reasons behind first sex, regret, and the association between reasons and regret. METHODS: A questionnaire was implemented to 8,495 high schools students aged 14-18 years residing in the Philippines, El Salvador, and Peru. Sexually active participants responded whether several circumstances were reasons involved in their first sexual relationship. They also responded whether they regretted having already had sexual relationships. RESULTS: More than one-third of respondents reported at least one external pressure leading to first sex, and about one-half reported at least one reason implying getting carried away by sexual arousal. More females affirmed they regret having already had sex. Logistic regression shows that reasons for first sex associated with regret were partner insistence, "uncontrolled situations," and seeing sexual images. These reasons were associated with regret even when love was also reported as related to first sex. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent sexual experience is often motivated by pressure (such as external pressure [because most friends already had sex or because of partner insistence]) and circumstances (such as getting carried away by sexual arousal [through an "uncontrolled situation" or viewing sexual images]) that lower the control over their decisions concerning sex, rather than by mature decisions, and this may result in later regret. Adolescents should be helped by parents, educators, and policy makers to be aware of these characteristics of sexual behavior of adolescents and empowered to make assertive and informed decisions concerning their sexuality.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente/psicologia , Coito/psicologia , Emoções , Adolescente , Nível de Alerta , El Salvador , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Amor , Masculino , Análise Multivariada , Peru , FilipinasRESUMO
OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio es comprobar cómo influyen en el inicio de la actividad sexual de los jóvenes salvadoreños los mensajes que reciben sobre cuestiones de sexualidad, afectividad y ocio a través de la familia, los amigos y los medios de comunicación. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal a partir de una muestra representativa de 2 615 estudiantes (de 13 a 19 años) de El Salvador. Se utilizó un muestreo sistemático aleatorio para seleccionar 30 colegios. Se recogieron aspectos sociodemográficos, estilos de vida y fuentes de información sobre sexualidad y amor utilizadas por los jóvenes. RESULTADOS: La edad media de los jóvenes fue de 15 años (DE = 1,8). En total 638 (24,4 por ciento) jóvenes afirmaron haber tenido relaciones sexuales. Los siguientes factores se asociaron con una mayor probabilidad de haber tenido relaciones sexuales: percibir que los hermanos (OR = 1,8, IC 95 por ciento: 1,2-2,7) o los amigos (OR = 1,7, IC 95 por ciento: 1,3-2,2) apoyan que se tengan relaciones sexuales. Como factores protectores se encontraron la supervisión de los padres (OR = 0,5, IC 95 por ciento: 0,4-0,7); recibir mensajes que apoyan la abstinencia por parte de amigos (OR = 0,7, IC 95 por ciento: 0,6-1,0) o hermanos (OR = 0,7, IC 95 por ciento: 0,5-0,8) y recibir mensajes favorables al matrimonio por parte de los padres (OR = 0,4, IC 95 por ciento: 0,3-0,6). CONCLUSIONES: Los mensajes de la familia y amigos son factores que parecen influir en el inicio de las relaciones sexuales de los jóvenes. Los programas de promoción de la salud sexual en El Salvador deberían tener en cuenta estos factores.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to verify the influence of messages Salvadorian youth receive about sexuality, affection, and leisure from family, friends, and the media on the initiation of sexual activity. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of 2 615 students (from 13 to 19 years of age) in El Salvador. A random systematic sampling was used to select 30 schools. Sociodemographic aspects, lifestyles, and sources of information on sexuality and love used by the young people were collected. RESULTS: The average age of the young people studied was 15 (SD = 1.8). In all, 638 (24.4 percent) of the young people stated that they had had sexual relations. The following factors are associated with a greater probability of having had sexual relations: a perception that siblings (OR = 1.8, CI 95 percent: 1.2-2.7) or friends (OR = 1.7, CI 95 percent: 1.3-2.2) encourage them to have sex. Protective factors were found to be the supervision of parents (OR = 0.5, CI 95 percent: 0.4-0.7); messages received from friends that encourage abstinence (OR = 0.7, CI 95 percent: 0.6-1.0) or from siblings (OR = 0.7, CI 95 percent: 0.5-0.8); and favorable messages related to marriage received from parents (OR = 0.4, CI 95 percent: 0.3-0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Messages from family and friends are factors that seem to influence the initiation of sexual activity by young people. Sexual health promotion programs in El Salvador should take these factors into account.