Sexual risk behaviors among adolescent men who have sex with men in two Brazilian cities: findings from an RDS-based study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among adolescent men who have sex with men and to identify factors associated with these behaviors. METHODS: Data were collected between December 2020 and July 2022 in Fortaleza and São Paulo, Brazil, using respondent-driven sampling. Study outcomes included inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partners, and sexualized drug use. RESULTS: The final sample was composed of 287 adolescents. Among participants, 38.0% reported inconsistent condom use, 36.1% reported multiple sexual partners, and 23.8% reported sexualized drug use. Factors associated with inconsistent condom use were not having a steady partner (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR): 0.5), having come out to everyone or almost everyone (APR: 6.3), consuming alcohol weekly (APR: 2.9), looking for family/friends/pharmacy (APR: 0.7), or looking for the public healthcare service when sick (APR: 0.7), and having sexual intercourse with partners of unknown HIV status (APR: 1.6). Factors associated with multiple sexual partners were receiving money in exchange for sex (APR: 1.6), and having sexual intercourse with partners of unknown HIV status (APR: 2.0). Factors associated with sexualized drug use included Catholic religion (APR: 0.2), having a steady partner < 20 years old (APR: 2.0), participating in non-governmental organization activities (APR: 2.5), experiences of violence (APR: 2.7), receiving money in exchange for sex (APR: 1.7), and having sexual intercourse with partners of unknown HIV status (APR: 2.1). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the high prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among adolescent men who have sex with men, underscoring the need for targeted prevention strategies and youth-friendly services in diverse urban contexts.
Authors: Marto Leal, Carl Kendall, Rosa Livia Freitas de Almeida, Antonio José Lima de Araujo Junior, Carlos Erasmo Sanhueza Sanzana, Cristiane Cunha Frota, Jennifer Glick, Paula Meireles, Henrique Barros, Tatiana Monteiro Fiuza, Telma Alves Martins, Alexandre Grangeiro, Laio Magno, Ines Dourado, George Rutherford, Artur Olhovetchi Kalichman, Ivana Cristina de Holanda Cunha Barreto, Maria Clara Gianna, Maria Mercedes Escuder, Mirleide de Brito Figueiredo, William McFarland, Marcos Cavalcante Paiva, Aline Rodrigues Feitoza, Lígia Kerr
Institutions: Universidade Federal do Ceará, Tulane University, Louisiana State University, Universidade do Porto, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, University of California System, Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Saúde
Language: English
Topic: HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: G1719248556, G7976146324
OpenAlex ID: W7172012127