Prevention of sexually transmitted infections in the sexual scripts of young people: differences according to gender

Spindola, Thelma; Santana, Rosana Santos Costa; Antunes, Rômulo Frutuoso; Machado, Yndira Yta; Moraes, Paula Costa de

doi:10.1590/1413-81232021267.08282021

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ARTICLE • Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 26 (07) • July 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021267.08282021 copy

Prevention of sexually transmitted infections in the sexual scripts of young people: differences according to gender

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

This study aims to address the vulnerability of young university students to sexually transmitted infections and to identify and analyze the sexual behavior of university students and practices to prevent sexually transmitted infections. A descriptive and qualitative research study conducted in a private university in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, with 30 university students of both genders, aged 18-29 years old. The discursive data were collected by the Focal Group technique and analyzed using the content analysis technique, with the aid of the Nvivo 9.0 software, and anchored in John Gagnon’s theory of sexual scripts. The findings denote that university students recognize themselves as a population vulnerable to infections transmitted by unprotected sex. The group has insufficient knowledge about infections and does not use condoms continuously. In the discourses of the university students, it was noticed that the type of affective relationship is determinant for the use (or not) of condoms. Young people believe in the group’s invulnerability and therefore assume risky sexual behaviors.

Key words:
Young adult; Vulnerability in health; Sexually transmitted infections; Sexual behavior

Male university students
Sexual behavior with fixed partners	Sexual behavior with casual partners
They do not always use condoms.	They use condoms more often, because they believe it is necessary.
They trust their partners, believe to know them well, that they are healthy.	They do not know their partner well and, therefore, are suspicious of their health condition.
They stop using condoms if the female partners take birth control pills.	They use a condom even if they know that their partner uses contraceptives.
They ignore and disapprove of the female condom.
In the presence of alcohol and/or drugs, they may not use a condom
They may not use a condom because they do not like it and because they believe it prevents sexual pleasure.
Female university students
Sexual behavior with fixed partners	Sexual behavior with casual partners
They trust their partners because they believe they know them well; therefore, they do not always use condoms.	They do not know their partner well and, because they are unaware of their health condition, they always use condoms.
They use (male) condoms more often at the beginning of the relationship. Then, for trusting the partner, they replace it for another (contraceptive) method.	They use condoms more frequently in all sexual relationships; they do not trust their sexual partners. They always use (male) condoms.
They do not usually use female condoms because they are unaware of them. They believe that the partner will criticize and dislike.
In the presence of alcohol and/or drugs, they may not use a condom.

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[1] Collaborations

T Spindola: conception and design of the article, data analysis and interpretation, writing of the article and critical review. RSC Santana: data analysis and interpretation, writing of the article and critical review. RF Antunes: conception of the article, data analysis and interpretation, writing of the article and critical review. YY Machado: data analysis and interpretation and writing of the article. PC Moraes: data analysis and interpretation and writing of the article.