Violence and unsafe sexual activity of adolescents under 15 years of age

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with unprotected sexual activity in female adolescents younger than 15 years. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional trial with female teenagers less than 15 years-old and sexually active, attended at a public gynecology clinic. Instruments for data collection were: semi-structured interviews for personal data and about sexuality as well as clinical examination and laboratory tests for diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. Data were analyzed by testing of frequency, association of variables with p <0.05 and multiple correspondence analysis. RESULTS: One hundred adolescents between 11 and 14 years of age sexually active were interviewed and examined, 71 percent declared themselves black, one-third were behind in school, 80 percent began sexual activity before 13 years of age , 58 percent reported having been victims of violence in the intrafamily environment and 13 percent had suffered sexual abuse, 77 percent did not use condoms regularly and 22 percent had STDs. Unprotected sexual activity occurred more frequently with the first sexual intercourse before 13 years of age, commercial sexual exploitaion, multiple sexual partners, intrafamily violence and school delay, in addition to be black, to unexpected pregnancy and have STDs. CONCLUSION: The multiple violence suffered by teenagers, including structural, intrafamily and sexual, contribute to increase their vulnerabilities, early and unprotected sexual activity, as well as STDs and unexpected pregnancies. The synergy between poverty, poor education and low self-esteem reduces the chances of adolescents building self-protection mechanisms and exposes them to be victimized again outside the family environment.