AEGiS-14IAC: Sexual risks and vulnerability: "Street kids" and "loose girls" in a Shanty Town in Chiclayo, Peru.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Sexual risks and vulnerability: "Street kids" and "loose girls" in a Shanty Town in Chiclayo, Peru.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. ThOrE1408)

Salazar XS, rate MR, Maiorana AM, Coates TC, ceres CC
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

BACKGROUND: Young people constitute a frequently studied group in sexual health. In most studies, the rule has been to regard them as a homogeneous group defined by developmental stages, and to see their problems as inherent to youth, rather than as a result of structural vulnerability.

METHODS: In an ethnographic study for the Peruvian component of the NIMH HIV/STD Collaborative Intervention Trial, 33 interviews, 4 focus groups, and participant observation in 10 settings, were conducted with young people in Chiclayo, Peru. Self- and peer- images of youths, as well as differences in patterns of social and sexual behavior were examined on the basis of access to economic resources, educational opportunities and social support.

RESULTS: Although most youths showed similar STI/HIV knowledge, their attitudes towards health and HIV/STI, and exposure to sexual risk varied according to their living conditions (levels of employment, educational opportunities, family characteristics, social support). Two special segments were described to exist in the population: Street kids and loose girls, since they did not study nor work, used drugs, and frequently practiced various forms of compensated sex. Members of both segments lacked ideas about preserving long-term health. They differed importantly from two residual population segments: young males who studied/worked, and the "quiet girls".

CONCLUSIONS: This study provided strong evidence for the need, in prevention interventions, to abandon the concept of "young people" as a single group defined only by age and gender. When incorporating economic/educational resources and social support into the analysis, specific segments may emerge which show diverse beliefs, sexual practices and health seeking behaviors. Understanding this diversity will not only help us design more focused programs, but also consider the role of structural change in HIV prevention.

Keywords: AEGIS, Sex Behavior, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, Adolescent Behavior, Social Support, Culture, Coitus, HIV Seroprevalence, Employment, Peru, Child, Adolescent, Human, Male, FemaleKWDaegis,sexbehavior,hivinfections,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hiv,adolescentbehavior,socialsupport,culture,coitus,hivseroprevalence,employment,peru,child,adolescent,human,male,female

020707
ThOrE1408

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.