Sexual and drug use risk behaviors among children and youth in street circumstances in Porto Alegre, Brazil

AIDS Behav. 2006 Jul;10(4 Suppl):S57-66. doi: 10.1007/s10461-006-9124-4. Epub 2006 Jul 16.

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess sexual and drug use risk in 161 children and youth in street circumstances in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Median age was 14 and 79% were male. Overall, 59% reported ever having had sex; a significantly higher proportion of males (66%) compared to females (30%). Overall, 39% reported illicit drug use in the last year, and only 1.2% reported injection drug use. In multivariate analyses, correlates of unsafe sex included younger age of sexual debut, and having a steady sex partner. Independent correlates of illicit drug use included lack of family contact, increased hours in the street daily, having had an HIV test, and older age. A high proportion of children and youth in street circumstances reported high risk sex and drug exposures, confirming their vulnerability to HIV/STD. Services Centers, such as where this research was carried out, offer an opportunity for interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Homeless Youth*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / transmission
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires