Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections among young heterosexual men: a study on social representations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2025.87968Keywords:
Men's Health, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Primary Prevention, Social Representation, Sexual BehaviorAbstract
Objective: to analyze the social representations of Sexually Transmitted Infections and prevention practices among young heterosexual men. Method: a qualitative study supported by the Theory of Social Representations and with a procedural approach, carried out between March and May 2023 with 30 heterosexual men in Rio de Janeiro. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and treated using the content analysis technique. All ethical procedures for research involving human beings were respected. Results: the analysis revealed four categories: Young men's understanding about Sexually Transmitted Infections, prevention and information sources; Strategies adopted by young men to prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections; Young people's images and feelings in relation to Sexually Transmitted Infections and prevention practices; and Condom use by young people and factors that favor vulnerability to STIs. Final considerations: the group's social representation of infections is anchored in the cognitive dimension. However, prevention practices are shaped by the affective-attitudinal dimension of relationships.
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