Comparative study on sexual and reproductive health of adolescents with and without aids

is there a difference in knowledge between the two groups?

Authors

  • Júlia Valéria Ferreira Cordellini
  • Cristina de Oliveira Rodrigues
  • Lidia Natalia Dobrianskyj Weber
  • Tony Tannous Tahan
  • Beatriz Elizabeth Bagatin Veleda Bermudez
  • Clea Elisa Lopes Ribeiro
  • Andrea Maciel de Oliveira Rossoni

Keywords:

acquired immune deficiency syndrome, adolescent, sexual health, reproductive health, sexual and reproductive rights

Abstract

Introduction: Currently we are facing the challenge to deal with the first generation of adolescents HIV+, infected by vertical transmission. This is new, and creates the need to improve attention to self-care and knowledge on sexual and reproductive health. Issues like the exercise of sexuality, contraception, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), are not enough debated among professionals, families and adolescents, despite their importance, concerning the affective and sexual discoveries typical of that age. Objective: To assess and compare the knowledge among adolescents HIV+ and HIV-, the guidance received on sexual and reproductive health and their sexual behavior, in order to better assist an integral health attention. Methods: A prospective, quali-quantitative, observational, analytical and cross-sectional study that took place during one year at the public hospital of an university in Curitiba, interviewing 61 adolescents HIV+ and 61 adolescents HIV- after their outpatient attendance. A questionnaire with objective multi-choice questions, as well as open-ended questions thought to stimulate free narratives was the base of data acquisition. Statistical analysis have considered the adolescents HIV+ and HIV- matched by age, gender and education. To evaluate differences on continuous variables, Student’s t-test for normal distribution and Mann-Whitney test for asymmetric distribution were the tools. For categorical variables: Fisher exact tests and chi-square of Pearson. The analysis of answers for the openended questions was based on categorization of semantic equivalence. Significance level of 5% for all tests. Main variables of study in the amount enough to allow comparisons have driven the sample estimation, with less than 5% of significance level and minimum test power of 95%. Results: The study showed that adolescents don’t have good enough knowledge about reproductive health in both groups (p=0.01). They have initiated sexual activity at about 15 years old, they report using condoms, but not the habit of picking them up. The group of HIV + have expressed more opinions about the sexual and reproductive rights, they have received less guidance on emergency contraception (p<0.001); they “hook-up” and dated less than HIV- group. Conclusion: The lack of knowledge of adolescents on reproductive health is greater than about sexual health and both groups reported the habit of not getting condoms. The HIV+ group had more opinions about sexual and reproductive rights, received less guidance on emergency contraception, “hooked-up” and dated less than the HIV- group. The knowledge about sexual rights and sexuality, and the guidance provided to both groups of teenagers, didn’t seem to be adequate to make protective sexual attitudes preventing STD.

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Author Biographies

Júlia Valéria Ferreira Cordellini

Head of the Surveillance Division of Communicable Diseases, State Department of Health of Paraná –Curitiba (PR), Brazil

Cristina de Oliveira Rodrigues

Professor of the Department of Pediatrics, UFPR; Professor of the post-graduation program on Child and Adolescent Health at the Health Sciences Sector, UFPR; Clinical Hospital, UFPR – Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Lidia Natalia Dobrianskyj Weber

Department of Psychology, UFPR – Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Tony Tannous Tahan

Coordinator of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Services of the Clinical Hospital, UFPR – Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Beatriz Elizabeth Bagatin Veleda Bermudez

Doctor Responsible for the Adolescents Clinic, Clinical Hospital, UFPR – Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Clea Elisa Lopes Ribeiro

Doctor Assistant at the Infectious Diseases Services, Clinical Hospital, UFPR – Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Andrea Maciel de Oliveira Rossoni

Doctor at Pediatric Infectious Diseases Services, Clinical Hospital, UFPR – Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

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Published

2022-04-20

How to Cite

1.
Cordellini JVF, Rodrigues C de O, Weber LND, Tahan TT, Bermudez BEBV, Ribeiro CEL, et al. Comparative study on sexual and reproductive health of adolescents with and without aids: is there a difference in knowledge between the two groups?. DST [Internet]. 2022 Apr. 20 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];27(3-4):104-5. Available from: https://www.bjstd.org/revista/article/view/734

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Original Article