Violence and unsafe sexual practices in adolescents under 15 years of age.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with unprotected sexual activity in females under the age of 15 years.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study of sexually active adolescents under the age of 15 seen at a public outpatient gynecology clinic. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews (personal information and data on sexuality), clinical examination, and laboratory tests for diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. Data were analyzed by frequency testing, association of variables (with p <0.05) and multiple correspondence analysis.


RESULTS
One hundred sexually active adolescents between the ages of 11 and 14 were interviewed and examined. Of these, 71% declared themselves black; one-third were behind in school; 80% began sexual activity before the age of 13; 58% reported having been victims of violence within the family environment, and 13% had suffered sexual abuse; 77% did not use condoms regularly; and 22% had STIs. Unprotected sexual activity was more frequent with first sexual intercourse before the age of 13, commercial sexual exploitation, multiple sexual partners, intrafamily violence and school delay, as well as black race, unexpected pregnancy, and STIs.


CONCLUSIONS
The multiple types of violence suffered by teenagers, including structural, intrafamily, and sexual violence, increase their vulnerability to early, unprotected sexual activity and to STIs and unexpected pregnancy. The synergistic effects of poverty, low educational achievement, and low self-esteem reduces the odds that adolescents will build the tools required for self-protection and exposes them to further victimization outside the family environment.
Teixeira
Sérgio Araujo Martins
SA
Núcleo de Estudos de Saúde do Adolescente, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Taquette
Stella Regina
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*