OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in a cross-sectional survey, psyco-social risk factors for HIV infection among a random sample of 55 street youth in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, during 1989. METHODS: The participants, from several Belo Horizonte Institutions dealing with street youth, were interviewed (using a pre-coded standardized questionnaire) regarding psyco-social risk factors known to be associated with HIV infection. RESULTS: Males constituted 87.3% (48/55) of the sample: their mean age was 14.9 years (range 10-20 years). Sexual activity was reported by 80%. Among those sexually active, 77.5% related heterosexual relations, whereas 10% reported homosexual activity with adults and 5% with other youth. Only 7.3% said to be condom users. Prostitution was reported by 2.4%. Drug use was reported by 84% of the sample; 29% of the users acknowledge IV drug utilization. The question dealing with drug use during sexual activity was not answered by 75% of the interviewees. Regarding HIV/AIDS, 56.3% of the sample reported having knowledge of this infection/disease, although 63.6% and 61.2% said to know how to get and how to avoid the infection, respectively. Blood transfusion was related by 8% of the participants. CONCLUSION: Risk behavior for HIV infection was reported by a large proportion of the street youth sample included in this survey. These results indicate the need of establishing health education/behavior modification programs, specifically targeted to this population, in order to prevent and decrease their risk for HIV infection and a possible AIDS epidemic.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL Adolescence Adult Brazil/EPIDEMIOLOGY Contraceptive Devices, Male Cross-Sectional Studies Health Education Homeless Persons Homosexuality Human Interviews Male Questionnaires Random Allocation Risk Factors *Sex Behavior ABSTRACT

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