ABSTRACT
Objectives
To identify the health behaviors of university students, young men, to know the perception of them about caring for their health, and to describe practices adopted for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
Method
Descriptive and exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, developed with 25 students aged 18-29 at a public university in Rio de Janeiro. To the data analyzed, the content analysis technique was applied.
Results
Those university students perceived caring as a female practice. They were unaware of their health peculiarities, with the perception that they do not get sick. Because of that, they only seek health services in emergency health conditions.
Conclusion and Implications for practice
There are challenges to overcome in the practice of men's care. As the vision of the invulnerability of these men, there is an absence in the search for health services.Furthermore, a sort of unprepared health services does not meet the needs of these young people through strategies that contemplate them uniquely and holistically. The gaps identified allow us to raise inevitable questions and bring about changes in attitudes toward situations in the male context. It is necessary to reverse existing vulnerabilities and consequences on the men's health of these men.
Keywords:
Men’s health; Social Vulnerability; Masculinity