Brazilian teenagers are starting their sexual life at an increasingly earlier age and are protecting themselves less against STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) and early pregnancy. Data from PeNSE (National School Health Survey), carried out by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), show that 28.5% of schoolchildren between 13 and 15 years old have already had sexual intercourse and, even with broad access to information, condom use fell 22.3% in the 10 years evaluated.
The research, carried out by IBGE in partnership with the Ministry of Health and support from the Ministry of Education, shows a downward trend in adolescent health protection, which worries experts in the field, especially because this is a phase of profound physical and psychological changes. and behavioral and this early sexual initiation can lead to unwanted pregnancy, in addition to causing diseases.
According to the research, the percentage of schoolchildren who used a condom during their last sexual intercourse fell from 69.1% in 2009 to 53.5% in 2019. Without protection, these teenagers are more susceptible to developing infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia (which if not properly treated, they can cause infertility), HPV, which is an increased risk factor for the development of cancer, in addition to diseases such as syphilis, HIV, herpes, among others. Read more (09/18/2023 – 08:30)
Source: Folha
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