Opinions And Attitudes Regarding Sexuality: Brazilian National Research, 2005 [opiniões E Atitudes Em Relação à Sexualidade: Pesquisa De âmbito Nacional, Brasil 2005]

Objective: To describe opinions and attitudes concerning sexuality of the Brazilian urban population. Methods: A population survey was carried out in 2005 on a representative sample of 5,040 interviewees. An analysis of the attitudes regarding sexual initiation and sexual education of teenagers, considering gender, age, schooling, income, marital status, color, geographic region and opinion on fi delity, homosexuality, and masturbation. The results were contrasted with a similar survey carried out in 1998, when possible. Results: Most interviewees selected the "sex is evidence of love" option when describing the meaning of sex. As in 1998, the majority was in favor of sexual initiation after marriage (63.9% for women vs. 52.4% for men initiation); results differed among religions. School teenage education on the use of condoms was supported by 97% of the interviewees across all social groups. The proportion of Brazilians who agreed with having access to condoms in health services (95%) and at school (83.6%) was high. Fidelity remained an almost unanimous value and there was an increase, in 2005, in the proportion of those in favor of sexual initiation after marriage, and in the rate of acceptance of masturbation and homosexuality compared to the 1998 survey. The younger generations tend to be more tolerant and equalitarian. Conclusions: As observed in other countries, this study confirms the difficulty in establishing a single dimension that guides sexual life ("liberal" vs "conservative"). The study suggests that the normativity concerning sexual activity should be understood in the light of the local culture and social organization of sexuality, considered by the STD/Aids programs. Opinions in favor of free access to preservatives at school clash with the slower results obtained in fighting the stigma and discriminating against homosexual minorities. The design of laical policies on sexuality allow for the dialog across different perspectives.42SUPPL. 15464Ayres, J.R., Práticas educativas e prevenção de HIV/ Aids: Lições aprendidas e desafios atuais. (2002) Interface, 6 (11), pp. 11-24Retratos da juventude brasileira (2005) Sao Paulo: Fundação Perseu Abramo, , Abramo HW, Branco PPM, organizadoresBussab W de O, Grupo de Estudos em População, Sexualidade e Aids. Plano amostral da Pesquisa Nacional sobre Comportamento Sexual e Percepções sobre HIV/Aids, 2005. Rev Saude Publica. 2008;42(Supl 1):12-20Carrara S, Ramos S, Simões JA, Facchini R. Política, direitos, violência e homossexualidadepesquisa 9a parada do Orgulho GLBT São Paulo 2005. Rio de Janeiro: CEPESC2006. (Coleção Documentos, 5)Copas, A.J., Wellings, K., Erens, B., Mercer, C.H., McManus, S., Fenton, K.A., The accuracy of reported sensitive sexual behaviour in Britain: Exploring the extent of change 1990-2000 (2002) Sex Transm Infect, 78 (1), pp. 26-30(2006) O aprendizado da sexualidade: Reprodução e trajetórias sociais de jovens brasileiros, , Heilborn ML, Aquino EML, Bozon M, Knauth DR, organizadores, Rio de Janeiro: Garamond/Fiocruz;Laumann, E.O., Gagnon, J.H., Michael, R.T., Michaels, S., (1994) The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States, , Chicago: The University of Chicago Press;Newcomb, R., Treas, J., Widmer, E., Attitudes toward nonmarital sex in 24 countries (1998) J Sex Res, 35 (4), pp. 349-359Paiva V. Analisando cenas e sexualidades: a promoção da saúde na prespectiva dos direitos humanos. In: Cáceres C, Careaga G, Frasca T, Pecheny M, organizadores. Sexualidad, estigma y derechos humanos: desafios para el acesso a la salud en America Latina. Lima: FASPA/UPCH2006. v. 1, p.23-52Paiva, V., Pupo, L.R., Barboza, R., O direito à prevenção e os desafios da redução da vulnerabilidade ao HIV no Brasil. (2006) Rev Saude Publica, 40 (SUPL), pp. 109-119Paiva, V., Calazans, G., Venturi, G., Dias, R., Grupo de Estudos em População, Sexualidade e Aids. Idade e uso de preservativo na iniciação sexual de adolescentes brasileiros. (2008) Rev Saude Publica, 42 (SUPL 1), pp. 45-53Rissel, C.E., Richters, J., Grulich, A.E., de Visser, R.O., Smith, A.M.A., Attitudes towards sex in a representative sample of adults (2003) Aust N Z J Public Health, 27 (2), pp. 118-123Spencer, B., The Normative context of sexual behaviour and the choice of prevention strategies (1996) Sexuality and the social sciences: A French survey on sex behaviour, pp. 229-252. , Bozon M, Leridon H, editors, Hants: Darthmouth;Scott, J., Changing attitudes to sexual morality: A cross-national comparison (1998) Sociology, 32 (4), pp. 815-845Szwarcwald, C.L., Barbosa-Junior, A., Pacom, A.R., Souza-Junior, P.R., Knowledge, practices and behaviors related to HIV transmission among the Brazilian population in the 14-54 years age group, 2004 (2005) AIDS, 19 (SUPPL. 4), pp. S42-S50Organização das Nações Unidas. UNAIDS. Intensifying HIV prevention. Policy position paper. Geneva200