RELAÇÕES DO COMPORTAMENTO DE AUTOLESÃO COM COMPORTAMENTOS SEXUAIS DE RISCO ENTRE JOVENS E ADOLESCENTES ESCOLARES

Abstract

The objective was to analyze the association self-harm behavior with risky sexual behavior among adolescents and Young students. Observational, cross-sectional, analytical study with a quantitative approach, carried out with 191 adolescents and Young students, aged 14 and 24, in two municipalities in a state in the center-west of Brazil Data collection took place between may and November 2023. The outcomes were early sexual initiation, multiple partners, condom use in the last year and in the last relationship, use of a contraceptive method and the overall risk for risky sexual behavior. Self- harm behavior was considered the exposure variable. Sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical variables, expectations for the future and bad life events were analyzed as adjustment factors. Poisson Regression with robust variance was used to verify associations and estimate adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PRaj). Na association was observed between “self-injurious behavior in the last year” with “Multiple sexual partners” (p=0.024; PRaj=1.071), “not using condoms in the last year” (p=0.022; PRaj=1.098) and “in last sexual intercourse” (p=0.024; PRaj=1.123), as well as, with the “high overall risk” for risky sexual behaviors (p=0.002; PRaj=1.186). Mental health factors, specifically self- harm behavior, can be considered as indicators of the presence of risky sexual behaviors among adolescents and Young people.