Aids, sexualidade e atitudes de adolescentes sobre proteção contra o HIV AIDS, sexuality and attitude of adolescents about protection against HIV

OBJETIVO: Descrever o papel da experiência sexual no contexto informativo e sociocultural, para o risco de transmissão do HIV/Aids em adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Aplicou-se um questionário em 1.386 estudantes do ensino médio de Santa Catarina, em 2000. O instrumento considerou as seguintes variáveis: características pessoais, experiência sexual, contexto de comunicação e conhecimento sobre a Aids, atitudes quanto ao uso do preservativo, condutas arriscadas e protetoras, e sentimentos. A análise dos dados envolveu descrição estatística e análise relacional (qui-quadrado e testes de diferenças de médias). RESULTADOS: O desconhecimento da transmissão do HIV esteve relacionado aos amigos como fonte principal de informação (pOBJECTIVE: To describe the role of sexual experience based on information and sociocultural contexts for the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission in adolescents. METHODS: A questionnaire was answered by 1,386 middle school students from the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, in 2000. The instrument included the following variables: personal characteristics, sexual experience, communication context and knowledge on AIDS, attitudes towards condom use, risk and protective behaviors and feelings. Data analysis comprised statistical description and relational analysis (Chi-square and mean comparison tests). RESULTS: Lack of knowledge about HIV transmission was related to peers as main information source (p<0.05). Steady romantic relationships are the predominant context for sexual relationships with penetration (p<0.001). AIDS protection was associated to three factors: ongoing relationship, number of sexual partners and safe sex (p<0.001). A positive attitude for condom use is favored by talks about sexuality and the intention of condom use (p<0.001). The obstacles to condom use are: having had recent sexual relationships, risk behaviors, inadequate knowledge and dependence of television as an information source (p