title: [Determinants of early sexual initiation in the Pelotas birth cohort from 1982 to 2004-5, Southern Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze social determinants of early sexual initiation among young adults from a birth cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals from the 1982 birth cohort (N=4,297) were interviewed in 2004-5, city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Early sexual initiation (<13 years of age) was the outcome. Descriptive and stratified analyses were performed according to sex. Variables analyzed were family income in 1982, ethnicity, young adult's level of education and change in income (between 1982 and 2004-5). Ethnographic data were used to complement result analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of early sexual initiation was higher among black and mixed men, and those with low level of education and low family income in 1982 and 2004-5. More traditional male sexual role requirements, such as virility and sexual initiative, showed more repercussion and adherence from an early age among men. Young family women with higher income and level of education tended to delay their sexual initiation. Imposition of traditional values was found to influence early sexual initiation among men and women with lower level of education and income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results found re-established the economic factor as a determinant of behavior or uses of sexuality for both sexes. To focus on political efforts that help the economically disadvantaged to have opportunities and egalitarian future perspectives is an important strategy for health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. hdgs@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Dominique P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Béhague
authors.forename: Denise P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Gigante
authors.forename: Gicele C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Minten
authors.forename: Bernardo L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.forename: Cesar G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Victora
authors.forename: Fernando C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019529:Sexuality; D055815:Young Adult