Vulnerability to HIV in adolescents: a retrospective study at a counseling and testing center

• Autor(a) principal: Campos, Cézar Gustavo Araujo Pacheco de
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Estima, Sonara Lucia, Santos, Vinicius Souza, Lazzarotto, Alexandre Ramos
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Reme (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/reme/article/view/50155
• topic: VIH; Adolescente; Vulnerabilidad; HIV; Adolescente; Vulnerabilidade; HIV; Adolescent; Vulnerability

The present study aimed to identify the vulnerability profile of HIV-positive adolescents at a Counseling and Testing Center (CTA) and its relationship with the individuals' level of education. It is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out from 2002 to 2010 at a CTA in Southern Brazil. Sample consisted of 100 HIV-positive subjects of both sexes, aged between 13 and 19 years. The average age was 17.7 years; female subjects made up 65 % of the sample and had the highest educational attainment (8 to 11 years of schooling). There were no significant differences between the categorical variables that comprise vulnerability and sex. Vulnerability profile highlighted feminization, an association between low level of education and the following variables: "reason not to use condoms with a stable partner"; "drug use in the last year"; "sexually transmitted diseases in the last year"; and sexual intercourse as a " type of exposure". The researchers emphasize the need to implement educational programs for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in adolescents.