This article analyzes the effects of social projects developed in a favela in Rio de Janeiro in the 2000s on the life trajectory and sexual and reproductive health care of the participants. Five female and male participants were interviewed. The results show that the rights-based and social and gender equality approach, combined with youth participation and institutional partnerships, as well as the expansion of public policies for youth in the country, helped participants have more equal gender relations, postpone motherhood/fatherhood and adopt HIV/STI prevention practices. Furthermore, the approach helped promote access to higher education and improve participant socioeconomic status and influenced career choices. These results can help guide the implementation of actions in the face of an increase in cases of HIV/AIDS among young people and the dismantling of sexual and reproductive health policies.
Keywords
HIV; Youth; Gender; Community health action