Abstract
This article presents results for young men's health based on an intervention-study on gender, sexuality, and health of adolescents and young men in conflict with the law, deprived of their freedom, and subject to socio-educational confinement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The themes addressed included questions on overall health, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health, analyzed from a relational gender perspective and social construction of masculinities. The majority of these young men are black, from low-income communities, with low schooling levels, and ranging in age from 14 to 21 years of age; some of them are fathers. The study showed that these young men have been exposed to police and social violence from a very early age and have been deprived of their freedom due to involvement with the drug traffic, homicides, or episodes of sexual violence. The male and female health professionals that work with them report that the most common health problems are skin conditions, mental disorders, and sexually transmissible infections. Male chauvinism and rigid notions of gender and sexuality are important factors in the views of these young men on health (especially sexual and reproductive). Their discourse takes violence and paternity for granted as important signs in the public demonstration of masculinity. There is an urgent need to include discussions on gender and sexuality in health professionals' training and activities with these young men. It is also necessary to call attention to the strong influence of gender concepts, social group, and sexual orientation in practices, interpersonal relations, and health promotion.
Highlights
The health of young males has been the object of studies and public policies in many countries throughout the world [1,2]
Adolescent women represent only 4% 7, a slightly smaller proportion than incarcerated adult women, which is around 7% according to the DEPEN (Brazilian National Penitentiary Department) 8
In Brazil, various studies show that concepts of masculinity, based on social gender norms that naturalize and banalize the use of violence, end up legitimizing such practices in different social contexts [5,17,18]
Summary
The health of young males has been the object of studies and public policies in many countries throughout the world [1,2]. The literature points out that one should take into consideration specific features of young males gender socialization, especially the way it influences help-seeking and health-seeking behaviors [3,4]. It is important to emphasize that young males cannot be seen as a homogeneous group. The inter-relation between gender, race and ethnicity, social class, age, sexual orientation and geography is fundamental for a more comprehensive approach in the field of health, especially in the case of socially vulnerable young males 5. Adolescent women represent only 4% 7, a slightly smaller proportion than incarcerated adult women, which is around 7% according to the DEPEN (Brazilian National Penitentiary Department) 8
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