Sexual behaviors, knowledge about STI, and health care access among young heterosexual and homosexual men
Conductas sexuales, conocimiento sobre ITS y acceso a la salud entre hombres jóvenes heterosexuales y homosexuales
Condutas sexuais, conhecimento sobre IST e acesso à saúde entre homens jovens heterossexuais e homossexuais
Vinícius Rodrigues Fernandes da Fonte; Thelma Spindola; Hugo de Andrade Peixoto; Sergio Corrêa Marques; Luciana Ramos Bernardes; Elisa da Conceição Silva Barros
Abstract
Objective to comparatively analyze sexual behaviors, knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and access to health services among young heterosexual and homosexual men.
Method a descriptive, cross-sectional, and quantitative study conducted with 200 young men aged 18 to 29 years (100 heterosexuals and 100 homosexuals) in social settings in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were collected through an anonymous questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results heterosexual young men presented a lower mean age and reported a higher proportion of stable affective relationships compared to homosexual men. Conversely, homosexual men showed higher educational levels, a greater number of sexual partners, and more frequent use of alcohol and other drugs before sexual intercourse. They also demonstrated closer contact with health services, undergoing more HIV and STI testing, and seeking professional counseling more often. Regarding condom use, the practice was irregular in both groups.
Conclusion and implications for the practice the findings highlight the need for inclusive sexual education, non-stigmatizing healthcare environments, and intersectional policies that promote health equity.
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Palabras clave
Resumo
Objetivo: analisar comparativamente as condutas sexuais, o conhecimento sobre as Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis (ISTs) e o acesso aos serviços de saúde entre jovens homens heterossexuais e homossexuais.
Método: estudo descritivo, transversal e quantitativo, realizado com 200 homens jovens de 18 a 29 anos (100 heterossexuais e 100 homossexuais) em locais de sociabilização na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário anônimo e analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial.
Resultados: os jovens heterossexuais apresentaram idade média mais baixa e relataram maior proporção de relacionamentos afetivos estáveis quando comparados aos homossexuais. Por outro lado, os homossexuais destacaram-se por apresentarem níveis mais elevados de escolaridade, maior número de parceiros sexuais e maior frequência de consumo de álcool e de outras drogas antes da relação sexual. Além disso, demonstraram maior aproximação com os serviços de saúde, realizando-se mais testagens para HIV e outras ISTs, bem como buscando-se com mais frequência o aconselhamento de profissionais. No que se refere ao uso do preservativo, observou-se que a prática se apresenta irregular em ambos os grupos.
Conclusão e implicações para a prática: os achados reforçam a necessidade de uma educação sexual inclusiva, acolhimento sem estigma e de políticas interseccionais que promovam a equidade em saúde.
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Referências
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Aceito em:
05/03/2026
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