Marta Reis

Prevalence and correlates of young people's sexual aggression perpetration and victimisation in 10 European countries: a multi-level analysis

Data are presented on young peoples sexual victimisation and perpetration from 10 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain) using a shared measurement tool (N = 3480 participants, aged between 18 and 27 years). Between 19.7 and 52.2% of female and between 10.1 and 55.8% of male respondents reported having experienced at least one incident of sexual victimisation since the age of consent. In two countries, victimisation rates were significantly higher for men than for women. Between 5.5 and 48.7% of male and 2.6 and 14.8% of female participants reported having engaged in a least one act of sexual aggression perpetration, with higher rates for men than for women in all countries. Victimisation rates correlated negatively with sexual assertiveness and positively with alcohol use in sexual encounters. Perpetration rates correlated positively with attitudes condoning physical dating violence and with alcohol use in men, and negatively with sexual assertiveness in women. At the country level, lower gender equality in economic power and in the work domain was related to higher male perpetration rates. Lower gender equality in political power and higher sexual assertiveness in women relative to men were linked to higher male victimisation rates.

Gendered trends in early and very early sex and condom use in 20 European countries from 2002 to 2010.

BACKGROUND Sexual activity is often initiated during the adolescent period, and previous research suggests that the age of first sexual intercourse and condom use are crucial determinants of later sexual health. This study examined trends in adolescent sexual behaviours from 2002 to 2010 in 20 countries across four geographical regions of Europe. METHODS Data were collected by self-report questionnaires from 15-year-olds in classrooms during 2002, 2006 and 2010. Linear time trends were determined through logistic regression models, stratified for gender. RESULTS No linear trend over time was documented for most countries for sexual intercourse at the age of 13 or younger. Increased initiation among girls in Eastern Europe and decreased very early initiation among girls in Northern Europe emerged, along with a general increase in condom use in boys and most notably in girls. CONCLUSION Overall prevalence of early and very early sexual intercourse initiation was quite stable in Europe between 2002 and 2010, while condom use increased. More detailed research and policy attention to the antecedents of non-condom use among young people is warranted; and further study of the relationships between age of sexual initiation and condom or pill use would be particularly valuable.

Determinants Influencing Male Condom use Among University Students in Portugal

ABSTRACT. A self-administered questionnaire was carried out among university students in Portugal, with the aim to examine determinants influencing male condom use, according to the information–motivation–behavioral skills model (J. Fisher & Fisher, 1992). Students’ levels of information, motivation, and behavioral skills regarding preventive sexual behavior (male condom use) were ascertained and were used to determine their association with condom use among 880 male and 1,807 female students aged 18 to 35 years old. Although 86.9% of respondents indicated that they used a condom during their first sexual intercourse, only 32.8% used a condom always during sexual intercourse in the last 12 months. Most young people, especially women, had a good level of information regarding HIV/AIDS transmission/prevention. They also showed reasonable positive attitudes and had positive subjective norms and intentions toward HIV/AIDS preventive behaviors. Men presented a higher perceived difficulty and a lower perceived effectiveness of HIV/AIDS preventive behavior, therefore reporting higher risk acceptance. A path analysis revealed that preventive sexual behavior did not depend directly on information level but on motivation and behavioral skills (especially among men). Information about HIV prevention/transmission was not significantly associated with condom use. The finding that motivation and behavioral skills were the strongest determinants of condom use suggested that these may be important factors in effective sexually transmitted infection-prevention programs.

Nationwide survey of contraceptive and sexually transmitted infection knowledge, attitudes and skills of university students in Portugal

Abstract Sexually transmitted infections and (STIs) unintended pregnancies are contemporary public health concerns. Understanding factors ( e.g . knowledge, attitudes and skills) influencing sexual behaviours of university students are critical to develop targeted and tailored risk-reduction interventions for this vulnerable population. Thus, the goals of this study were to describe sexual behaviours and analyze differences between genders for sexual behaviours; to identify whether differences exist between genders and age groups regarding knowledge, attitudes and skills concerning contraceptive methods and STIs, and to evaluate the association of knowledge with attitudes and skills with sexual behaviour among university students in Portugal. The sample included 3278 students. Results show that the majority were sexually active and use condoms and oral contraceptives. In general, university students have high knowledge, positive attitudes and skills about contraception and STIs. Gender analyses indicated that women had greater knowledge, and more favourable attitudes, and higher skills toward contraceptive and STI preventive behaviour College students, in particular, face new challenges in sexual health and would benefit from more comprehensive education aimed at promoting healthy decision-making about family planning and STI prevention.

Educação sexual, conhecimentos, crenças, atitudes e comportamentos nos adolescentes

Resumo Introducao O aumento das ISTs, da gravidez nao planeada e de outros tantos riscos ligados a actividade sexual fazem com que os jovens sejam considerados um grupo de intervencao prioritario em termos de saude sexual e reprodutiva. Para se promover atitudes e comportamentos sexuais saudaveis e essencial a concretizacao de uma educacao sexual que tenha como objectivo desenvolver atitudes e competencias nos jovens, permitindo que estes se sintam informados e seguros nas suas escolhas. Material e metodos Este estudo (HBSC/OMS) avaliou o papel que 3331 adolescentes portugueses (1579 rapazes e 1752 raparigas), com uma media de idades de 15 anos, atribuem a educacao sexual, os seus conhecimentos e atitudes face ao VIH/SIDA. Usou-se um questionario de auto-relato que foi aplicado as turmas em sala de aula. Resultados Analisados os resultados do estudo, verificou-se que quer os factores de risco quer os de proteccao em relacao aos comportamentos sexuais de risco dos adolescentes sao inumeros. Conclusoes Sendo assim, e crucial que a educacao sexual abranja intervencoes do tipo preventivo de caracter universal, abrangendo toda a populacao escolar e respectivos contextos de vida: escola, familia e grupo de pares, mas tambem intervencoes mais especificas, em pequenos subgrupos identificados como prioritarios.

Sexual Education in Schools in Portugal: Evaluation of a 3 Years Period

Sexual education is crucial for reducing sexual risk behaviors (or at least not to enable their increase). The goal of this study was to evaluate the implementation of sexual education in schools. For the quantitative study, all schools (clustered in Schools Organic Units—SOUs) in mainland Portugal were invited to participate. Study 1—A total of 428 school principals, 424 coordinating teachers of health education, belonging to 428 Organic Units (OU), which correspond to 53% of the Portuguese public SOU, corresponding to 617,701 students and 60,595 teachers participated in the quantitative study. Study 2—For the qualitative study, interviews were conducted. Analysis of the results of both studies emphasized that Law n.° 60/2009 (6th August) is being fulfilled with regard to the implementation of sexual education as well as the number of hours established for its implementation. In general the SOUs organized an office that provides information and support for students and manages its functioning. The implementation of the Law is, overall, ranked as good/very good (83.7%). However, during the qualitative study, school principals and teachers emphasize that SOUs are making a huge effort to implement the Law, some of them questioning their ability to continue this process due to the present conditions. Principals and teachers reported the need to “revitalize” this area, underlining the need to maintain the Law and one annual “Call” from which the Ministry of Education and Science receives proposals for funding schools for projects in the area of health promotion, and teacher training.

Communication and Information About “Safer Sex”: Intervention Issues Within Communities of African Migrants Living in Poorer Neighborhoods in Portugal

ABSTRACT The aims of this study are to determine the influence of migrant status on sexual behavior and communication about “safer sex” and to identify ethnic-specific prevention issues. Data were obtained from a special administration of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in a special sample of Portuguese schools located in low-income Lisbon neighborhoods with large proportions of African migrants. Survey participants included 919 sixth, eighth, and tenth graders (52.3% female), of whom 19.2% were migrant foreigners from African, Portuguese-speaking countries, including Cape Verde (60.8%), Mozambique (1.6%), Angola (16.8%), Sao Tomé (8%), and Guinea-Bissau (14.8%). Subsequently, four focus groups were held with adolescents who had participated in the survey (n = 45), three focus groups with health and education professionals (n = 25), and one focus group with parents (n = 6). Compared with Portuguese adolescents, African migrant teens reported initial sexual intercourse at earlier ages, less frequent condom use, and less frequent and less comfortable communications with parents about sexual issues. Implications for selective prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are discussed and recommendations are made.

Sexual Health questions included in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study: an international methodological pilot investigation

BackgroundThis paper describes the methodological developments of the sexual health items included in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study since their mandatory inclusion in the study in 2002. The current methodological, ethical and pedagogical challenges in measuring young people’s sexual health behaviours are discussed along with the issues associated with the sexual health items introduced to the HBSC study in 2002. The development and piloting of new cross-national items for use in the 2013/14 HBSC data collection are presented and discussed.MethodsAn international pilot study was undertaken to determine the impact of these proposed changes. Questionnaires and classroom discussion groups were conducted in five pilot countries in 2012/2013 (France, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal and Romania) with a total of 612 school-aged children (age M = 15.55 years, SD = 0.95).ResultsThe majority of participants in each country provided positive feedback about the appropriateness of the questions. Some small cross-national differences were found in the self-reported quantitative data relating to the appropriateness of the questions (χ2 = 22.831, df = 9, p = .007, V = .117). Qualitative feedback suggests that for the vast majority of students the phrasing and age-targeting of the questions were considered appropriate. With the exception of a small number of respondents who commented on the clarity and/or personal nature of the content, no specific issues with the questions were identified.ConclusionsThese findings provide guidance on the answerability (including the extent of missing and inconsistent data), understandability, acceptability (including in different cultures) and relevance of questions to potential participants. The findings from the pilot study suggest that in general, the questions are understandable, acceptable, and of a high priority to the target population, and that the simplification has significantly reduced the proportion of missing data. The new developments thus enhance the capacity of the questions to measure cross-nationally, sensitive aspects of young people’s sexual behaviour. These questions were included in the 2013/2014 round of the HBSC survey and will continue to be used to monitor trends in adolescent sexual health and behaviours, and to inform and influence health services and health education policy and practice at local, national and international levels.

Trends in adolescent sexual behavior, impact of information, and attitudes about HIV/AIDS in Portugal

There is a recent decline in HIV in a significant number of countries due to the adoption of preventive sexual behaviors, which demonstrates that HIV reduction is possible. The goal of this research was to deepen knowledge of preventive sexual behavior in adolescents, including knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS, and assessing whether they changed from 2002 to 2010. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from the Portuguese sample of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children, a collaborative WHO study. The study provided national representative data of 10,587 Portuguese adolescents attending 8th and 10th grade. In terms of preventive behaviors, results showed an increasing trend regarding the percentage reporting first sexual intercourse at 14 years old or more and condom use at last intercourse and a stabilized trend concerning having had intercourse, contraceptive pill use at last intercourse and having had intercourse under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Nevertheless, results showed a systematic decreasing trend in terms of knowledge and attitudes. This suggested that sex education programs are still too limited to teaching sessions, strongly homogenized in their content and inadequate to enhance knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV, let alone personal and social skills of different target groups.

Dream Teens: Adolescents-Led Participatory Project in Portugal in the Context of the Economic Recession

This article describes the implementation process of a nationwide project to enhance young people’s participation and active citizenship in the context of Portugal’s economic recession. This project used an innovative Positive Youth Development approach that engaged Portuguese youth (aged 11-18 years) through social media tools to facilitate their civic engagement and development. Participants from all over the country were empowered (1) to design and conduct research activities on topics of their choice and about their life contexts and (2) to create ways to improve youth civic participation in their communities, while developing supportive interactions with adults and peers. Overall, youth were engaged in their activities, felt their voices were heard, and felt that they were viewed as experts of their own well-being and living contexts. Youth research actions and preliminary findings were then compiled in a set of recommendations that was formally received by a high commissioner of the Ministry of Health. The article concludes with a discussion of the next steps for the project and its limitations so far.