Sexual Behavior in Adolescence

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sexual behavior of patients aged 10 to 20 years old, treated at the adolescent outpatient clinic of a public university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study through data collection from 1,400 CLAP-OPS/WHO Adolescent History forms, applied at the first outpatient consultation, between 2006 and 2018. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the R Core Team 2018 software. RESULTS: Of the 1,400 patients, 62% were female, with a mean age of 14.9 years, with a median age of menarche/spermache of 12 years, and 37.2% (521) reported having sexarche at an average age of 15 years. Condom use in all sexual intercourse was reported by 53.5% of adolescents and hormonal contraception by 47.2%. The adolescent boys had their first sexual intercourse earlier (median 14 years) than the girls (15 years). 96% reported having heterosexual relationships, 4% homosexual or bisexual relationships, and 24 (6.7%) adolescents had children. The need for information about sexuality was reported by 239 (20.2%). Earlier sexual initiation occurred among boys, children of adolescent mothers, personal and/or family legal problems, intrafamily violence, personal and/or family psychological disorders, and work. CONCLUSION: The findings observed were consistent with a similar study in 59 countries, including Brazil. Most had their first sexual intercourse within a stable relationship. It is important to emphasize the importance of health professionals encouraging dialogue about adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health in different settings, especially with parents or guardians.