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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2020; 42(11): 731-738
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713411
Original Article
Sexology

Sexual Practices During Adolescence

Práticas sexuais na adolescência
Emanoela Priscila Toledo Arruda 
1   Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito 
2   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
,
Tatiana Rocha Prandini 
1   Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Maria Rita Lerri 
1   Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Rosana Maria dos Reis 
1   Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Thays Marina Roncato Barcelos 
1   Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Lúcia Alves Silva Lara 
1   Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Abstract

Adolescence is characterized by significant biological and psychological changes. During this time, the increased production of androgens leads to increased sexual behavior, and this may contribute to early initiation of sexual activity. The objectives of the present cross-sectional study of adolescents enrolled in state schools in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, were to determine the average age at the first sexual intercourse (sexarche), the average number of sexual partners, and the frequency of contraceptive and condom use. Information on the age at sexarche, number of sexual partners, use of different contraceptive methods, and use of condoms were obtained using a semistructured questionnaire. Quantitative variables are expressed as means and standard deviations (SDs), and qualitative variables as absolute and relative frequencies. The chi-squared test was used for comparisons of qualitative variables, and the Student t-test for comparisons of continuous variables. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS (version 9.4, North Carolina State University, USA). We evaluated 202 students who answered the questionnaire, 69 males (36.36%) and 133 females (63.64%). The age at sexarche for men ranged from 7 to 18 years old, and for women from 7 to 17 years old. Forty-eight girls (36.01%) and 21 boys (30.43%) were in the first year of high school, 66.94% of adolescents reported sexual intercourse, and 56.25% used a condom during the first sexual intercourse. A total of 36.72% of students said they had safe sex most of the time, and 83.59% said that the first sexual intercourse happened because they “had a crush on” the other person.

Resumo

A adolescência é caracterizada por significativas mudanças biológicas e psicológicas. Durante esse período, o aumento da produção de andrógenos leva ao aumento do comportamento sexual e isso pode contribuir para o início precoce da atividade sexual. Os objetivos do presente estudo transversal de adolescentes matriculados em escolas estaduais da cidade de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil, foram determinar a idade média na primeira relação sexual (sexarca), o número médio de parceiros sexuais e a frequência de uso de contraceptivos e preservativos. Informações sobre idade na sexarca, número de parceiros sexuais, uso de diferentes métodos contraceptivos e uso de preservativo foram obtidas por meio de um questionário semiestruturado. As variáveis quantitativas são expressas como média e desvio padrão (DP) e as variáveis qualitativas como frequências absolutas e relativas. O teste do qui-quadrado foi usado para comparações de variáveis qualitativas e o teste t de Student para comparações de variáveis contínuas. Todas as análises estatísticas foram realizadas no SAS (version 9.4, North Carolina State University, USA). Foram avaliados 202 estudantes que responderam ao questionário, 69 do sexo masculino (36,36%) e 133 do feminino (63,64%). A idade de sexarca para homens variou de 7 a 18 anos e para mulheres de 7 a 17 anos. Quarenta e oito meninas (36,01%) e 21 meninos (30,43%) cursavam o primeiro ano do ensino médio, 66,94% dos adolescentes relataram relações sexuais e 56,25% usaram camisinha durante a primeira relação sexual. Um total de 36,72% dos estudantes afirmou ter praticado sexo seguro a maior parte do tempo e 83,59% disseram que a primeira relação sexual aconteceu porque “tinham uma queda por” a outra pessoa.

Keywords

sexuality - adolescence - sexarche - condoms - sex education

Palavras-chave

sexualidade - adolescência - sexarca - preservativos - educação sexual

Contributors

All of the authors contributed with the project and data interpretation, the writing of the article, the critical review of the intellectual content, and with the final approval of the version to be published.




Publication History

Received: 18 March 2020

Accepted: 27 April 2020

Article published online:
30 November 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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