Association between sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors among a nationally representative sample of adolescent students in Brazil

Bibliographic Data

ID5167665
AuthorsNatalia Oliveira Woolley (0000-0002-3780-7006, University of California System), James Macinko (0000-0001-8055-5441, University of California System)
Year2019
Volume35
Issue2
Pagese00208517-e00208517
Publication date2019-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCadernos de Saude Publica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0102-311X • E-ISSN: 1678-4464
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/0102-311x00208517
PMID30758456
OpenAlexW2914835355
SciELOS0102-311X2019000205004
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited28

Although low socioeconomic status (SES) adolescents suffer from higher rates of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes, evidence on the association between SES and sexual behaviors has been less consistent. A cross-sectional analysis of the association between sociodemographic characteristics (household wealth, maternal education and race/ethnicity) and sexual behaviors (sexual initiation, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use and inconsistent contraceptive use) of Brazilian adolescents was carried out using the 2015 Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE), a nationally representative school-based survey of 102,301 adolescents. Analyses included multivariable logistic models, which accounted for geographic and family characteristics. About 27.5% of adolescents were sexually initiated. Household wealth was associated with female sexual initiation, while race/ethnicity was associated with condom use and multiple sexual partners among males. For instance, black males had 35% higher odds of having multiple partners (aOR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.13-1.62), but 22% lower odds of condom use (aOR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.65-0.94), compared to white males. Frequent parental supervision was positively related to condom use (females, aOR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.10-1.49; and males, aOR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.18- 1.49). Results show the complex relationship between SES and sexual behaviors. Researchers should pay attention to gender, racial and social norms salient to adolescent sexual behaviors, as they can influence data collection and results. National policies should also support active parental supervision, since it can be a protective factor

Condom · Cross-sectional study · Ethnic group · Family medicine · Family planning · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Logistic regression · National Survey of Family Growth · Odds · Odds ratio · Population · Reproductive health · Socioeconomic status · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology

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