Abstract

RAMOS, Rui Deveza et al. Attitudes, Communication and Behaviours Towards Sexuality in a Adolescent Population in Matosinhos. Arq Med [online]. 2008, vol.22, n.1, pp.3-15. ISSN 2183-2447.

In order to support the affective and sexual health promotion in Matosinhos community, we promoted a study of behavior, attitudes and communication towards sexuality. We applied 2500 surveys in EB 2,3 and secondary schools; we collected a very representative sample of 1792 questionnaires with a average age of 15.2 years old. The dimensions in analysis were: intimate relationship experience, attitude towards sexuality, interpersonal communication style and experience in contraception use. The main results show that at the age of fourteen 4.2% of the adolescents have already experienced coital sexual relations. Regarding attitudes, boys are more favorable to “non affective engagement sex”. Concerning contraception use we realized that 76.8% of the respondents with coital sexual experience always use contraception techniques being the girls the biggest users. One quarter of the respondents does not systematically use any contraception and 11.9% use the coital interruption as contraception. Accounting prevention and contraception behavior, we realize that boys are the ones who have more negative attitudes towards condom use. As well as the favorable results in contraception, we found that adolescents consider themselves as a risk group for STI, recognizing the main route of transmission of HIV and that the condom is the only anticonceptional that prevents it. Some of the significant statistical differences between genders emphasize the need to work on shared responsibility.

Keywords : affective and sexual education; sexual health promotion; juvenile behavior towards sexuality; sexual transmission infections; contraception.

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