Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the sexual practices adopted by university students for the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections Method: a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted in 2016, at a private university in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A convenience sample was selected, stratified by gender, of 768 students who answered a self-administered questionnaire, structured with variables of sociodemographic characterization and related to knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, sexual practices, prevention practices and care with sexual health. In the analysis, descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and analysis of variance were used, with a significance level of 5%. Results: most of the university students ‒ 654 (85.16%) ‒ had an active sex life and 480 (62.54%) did not use condoms in all their sexual encounters. Among the participants, 509 (84.83%) said they had sexual intercourse with a steady partner, of which 224 (44.01%) used a condom. In the investigated group, 313 (47.86%) had relationships with casual partners, with 199 (63.58%) reporting having used a condom. Among the participants, 174 (26.61%) had their sexual practices classified as adequate/satisfactory. Conclusion: the findings show that the university students investigated present a risk behavior for Sexually Transmitted Infections due to inadequate/unsatisfactory sexual practices. Health education actions should consider cultural and individual aspects of the group in order to encourage reflection on practices for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
Highlights
Transmitted Infections (STIs) have major global effects on sexual and reproductive health and are among the top five causes of the population’s demand for health care
The study, which had the purpose of analyzing the sexual practices adopted by the university students for STI prevention, found that they do not use condoms in all sexual relations and that they do not negotiate the use with their partners, but believe it is little possible or impossible to acquire a Sexually Transmitted Infection
The STI prevention practices adopted by these students are classified as inadequate/unsatisfactory
Summary
Transmitted Infections (STIs) have major global effects on sexual and reproductive health and are among the top five causes of the population’s demand for health care. The highest rates of gonococcal and chlamydia infection were observed in this population.[1] A study[2] carried out in the United Kingdom signals that the diagnosis of STIs has increased significantly in the last ten years and the highest rates are found among young people, under the age of 25, men who have sex with men (MSM), and certain populations of black ethnic minority. Young people tend to start sexual practices during adolescence, being understood as a rite of passage for adulthood and experienced differently between the genders, whose influence occurs by cultural, economic and social aspects.[3] The sexual behavior of university students was investigated[4] and it was verified that the majority had sexarche under the age of 18, a fact confirmed in other studies.[5,6,7]
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