Psychoneuroimmunologic Correlates in a Group of Men who Have Sex with Men with Risky Sexual Behaviors / Os Correlatos Psiconeuroimunológicos em um Grupo de Homens que Fazem Sexo com Homens com Comportamentos Sexuais de Risco

ABSTRACT This work aims to know what correlations can be found among psychological, neuropsychological, neurobiological, and immunological measures in a group of men who have sex with men negative for anti-HIV-1/2 antibodies which have sexual risk behaviors. Statistically significant correlations were found among certain behavioral, emotional, personality, neurobiological, and immunological variables. The circuit of interactions among depression, stress, neuroticism, and conscientiousness stands out, which could indirectly explain risky sexual behavior. In summary, there is a relationship between personality characteristics, mood disorders, risk behaviors, and an activated T cell profile.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho é conhecer as correlações que podem ser encontradas entre as medidas psicológicas, neuropsicológicas, neurobiológicas e imunológicas em um grupo de homens que fazem sexo com homens com HIV-1/2 anti-corpos-negativos que se envolvem em comportamentos sexuais de risco. Foram encontradas correlações estatisticamente significativas entre certas variáveis comportamentais, emocionais, de personalidade, neurobiológicas e imunológicas. Destaca-se o circuito de interações entre depressão, estresse, neuroticismo e responsabilidade, que poderia explicar indiretamente o comportamento sexual de risco. Em resumo, há uma relação entre características de personalidade, distúrbios de humor, comportamentos de risco e um perfil de célula T ativado.

Evaluación de las conductas sexuales de riesgo y hábitos anticonceptivos en una muestra de población mexicana / Evaluation of sexual risk behaviors and contraceptive habits in a sample of the Mexican population

Resumen OBJETIVO: Evaluar, a través de una encuesta, la situación actual de las conductas sexuales de riesgo en una muestra de población mexicana de entre 15-60 años, e identificar los métodos de planificación familiar más utilizados y el promedio de inicio de la vida sexual. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, con muestreo no probabilístico tipo "bola de nieve". Se aplicó una encuesta validada internacionalmente de conductas sexuales de riesgo, entre julio y octubre de 2017, en una muestra mexicana de 15-60 años de edad. Se excluyeron las encuestas incompletas y con discordancias, y personas de otras nacionalidades. Entre las variables estudiadas se incluyeron: sexo, edad y estado socioeconómico. Se calculó un tamaño de muestra de 385, con un intervalo de confianza de 95% (IC95%). Los datos se reunieron en el programa de Excel 2016, donde se analizaron e interpretaron. RESULTADOS: Se encuestaron 689 sujetos, pero se excluyeron 38; de esta forma se registraron 650 casos. El 87.4% de los casos inició su vida sexual entre los 16 y 25 años; un tercio la calificó satisfactoria. El 50% de los encuestados de entre 13 y 15 años utilizó preservativo. El 61% refirió la comunicación de temas sexuales con sus padres poco satisfactoria o inexistente; 6.6% no utiliza o es usuario de algún método de planificación y 40.3% recurre a uno poco efectivo. CONCLUSIÓN: Es importante conocer las prácticas sexuales de la población mexicana, para identificar las áreas de oportunidad, promover la prevención de prácticas sexuales de riesgo y aumentar la difusión de la información.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Evaluate, through an internationally validated survey, the risky sexual behavior in a Mexican sample between 15-60 years, the average of initiation of sexual activity and the most used contraceptive methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, with non-probabilistic sampling type snowball. We apply an internationally validated survey of Risky Sexual Behavior between July and October 2017 through social networks to Mexican population between 15 and 60 years. Incomplete surveys were excluded, with disagreements in responses and people of other nationalities. The variables studied included sex, age and socioeconomic status. A sample size of 385 was calculated with a confidence level of 95%. The data was gathered in an Excel sheet 2016 where they were analyzed and interpreted. RESULTS: A total of 689 subjects were surveyed, 38 were excluded; In this way, a total of 650 cases were registered. 87.4% started sexual life between 16 and 25 years old, being satisfactory in a third of the cases. 50% of people between 13 and 15 years used condoms and 56% between 16 and 18 years. 61% reported the communication of sexual issues with their parents unsatisfactory or non-existent. 6.6% of people do not have a planning method while 40.3% have a little cash. CONCLUSION: It is important to know the sexual practices in the Mexican population to detect areas of opportunity, make changes in the prevention of risky sexual actions and in the distribution of information.

Conductas sexuales de riesgo asociadas a las infecciones de transmisión sexual en adolescentes de una comunidad / Risky sexual behaviors associated to sexually transmitted infections among adolescents in a community

Introducción:Las infecciones de transmisión sexual constituyen un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades de extrema importancia para la salud pública mundial dada su magnitud, trascendencia y repercusión para el paciente, la familia y la sociedad. Afectan con mayor frecuencia a los adolescentes. Objetivo: Identificar conductas de riesgo asociadas a las ITS en la adolescencia. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico de casos de estudio y control para evaluar conductas de riesgos asociadas a las ITS en adolescentes del policlínico California. Se aplicó un cuestionario semiestructurado y anónimo, para la recogida de información, los resultados fueron representados en tablas, calculándose pruebas de significación estadísticas. Resultados: El mayor número estudiado fue entre 18 y 19 años (47.0 por ciento); 50.5 por ciento presentaban cambios frecuentes de parejas; 48 por ciento mantenían relaciones sexuales desprotegidas; la percepción de riesgos de adquirir una ITS, tanto en el grupo de estudio y control fue de 23,2 por ciento y 40,3 por ciento respectivamente. Conclusiones: Las relaciones sexuales no protegidas y los cambios frecuentes de parejas constituyeron conductas sexuales de riesgos relacionadas con las Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual(AU)

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections constitute a heterogeneous group of diseases of extreme importance for the world public health due to their magnitude, consequence, and repercussion for the patient, the family, and the society. Adolescents are more highly affected by them. Objective: To identify risky behaviors associated to STI in the adolescence. Material and Methods: An analytical case-control study was conducted to evaluate risky behaviors associated to STI in adolescents in California Polyclinic. A semi-structured and anonymous questionnaire was used to attain information, and the results were represented in charts in which significant statistics were calculated. Results: The greatest number studied was the one of 18 and 19 years of age (47.0 percent); 50.5 percent presented frequent changes in their couples; 48 percent maintained unprotected sexual relations; the risk perception of acquiring a STI both in the study and the control group was 23,2 percent and 40,3 percent, respectively. Conclusions: Unprotected sexual relations and frequent changes in couples were the risky sexual behaviors related to Sexually Transmitted Infections.

"Amigos con beneficios": salud sexual y estilos de apego de hombres y mujeres / "Friends with benefits": sexual health and attachment styles in men and women

Resumen Este estudio pretende analizar las variables relacionadas con la salud sexual de los individuos que pueden tener un impacto negativo en la asunción de riesgos - el uso de preservativo y el consumo de alcohol -; también pretende describir la prevalencia de infecciones de transmisión sexual y los estilos de apego que manifiestan hombres y mujeres en el marco relacional de amigos con beneficios. Para ello, se realiza un estudio transversal descriptivo. La información fue recogida mediante un cuestionario en línea y la escala de evaluación de los estilos de apego de Casullo y Fernández Liporace. En total, una muestra de 119 personas inmersas en una relación sexual casual con un amigo cumplimentaron el cuestionario. En relación a los resultados, casi el 30% de los participantes no han utilizado el preservativo en sus relaciones sexuales aduciendo razones asociadas al displacer e incomodidad; son las mujeres las que más padecen de infecciones de transmisión sexual; el consumo de alcohol ha constituido una práctica habitual en este tipo de relación. Aunque el apego seguro ha sido el más elevado, las mujeres se han mostrado temerosas. Amigos con beneficios puede entrañar graves consecuencias para la salud de los individuos y especialmente para las mujeres. Estos resultados recomiendan que desde la salud pública se preste atención a este novedoso vínculo sexual, así como la puesta en marcha de estrategias de promoción de la salud sexual dirigidas a las prácticas de riesgo de esta relación y a la mayor fragilidad afectiva y sexual de la mujer.

Abstract This study aims to analyze the variables related to the sexual health of individuals that could have a negative impact on risk-taking - condom use and alcohol consumption -, as well as describing the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and attachment styles showed by women and men in the relational framework of friends with benefits. For that, a cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. The information was collected through an online questionnaire based on the Casullo and Fernandez Liporace's attachment styles assessment scale. The total of 119 persons involved in casual sex with a friend filled out the questionnaire. In relation to the results, nearly 30% of respondents have not used a condom during sex on grounds related to displeasure and discomfort. STIs have been suffered by women in significantly higher proportion. Alcohol consumption is a common practice in this type of relationship. Although secure attachment was the highest, women are shown fearful. Friends with benefits may entail serious consequences for the health of individuals, especially for women. Therefore, these results recommend that this new sexual bond is to be considered by Public Health, as well as the implementation of sexual health promotion strategies aimed at risks of this relationship and the greater emotional and sexual fragility of women.

Representação social do sexo nos jovens adultos portugueses / Social representation of sex in portuguese young adults

Foi nosso objetivo medir a representação social do sexo através das evocações livres de 1138 jovens adultos portugueses, com idades entre os 18 e os 25 anos, explorando uma abordagem explicativa da possível influência desta representação social nos comportamentos sexuais de risco observados nesta faixa etária. As evocações foram recolhidas através de um questionário online, divulgado pelas universidades e escolas profissionais portuguesas. Foi realizada uma análise prototípica de representações sociais. Os resultados sugerem uma representação social do sexo romantizada, com um núcleo central baseado na ideia de amor e prazer, em que aspectos relacionados com o risco, como preservativo ou infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, pertencem apenas ao sistema periférico, considerando-se que aí são integrados como uma forma de preservar o núcleo central, mas sem interferir na forma como os participantes vivem as suas experiências sexuais. A associação entre a ideia de amor e preservativo parece estar mais associada à heurística de quem "ama protege" o que facilita a não utilização do preservativo, em vez de a aumentar. A representação social do sexo, centrada no amor e no prazer, poderá enquadrar as questões cognitivas, afetivas e comportamentais presentes na explicação e predição da utilização do preservativo, complementando os modelos sociocognitivos já conhecidos.

The objective of this study was to measure the social representation of sex through free evocations of 1,138 young Portuguese adults, aged between 18 and 25 years, with the goal of exploring an explicative approach of a possible influence of this social representation in risky sexual behaviors observed in this age group. Evocations were collected through an online questionnaire made available by Portuguese universities and professional schools. Data were analyzed according to Vergès' prototypical analysis for social representations. The results suggest a romanticized social representation of sex, based on love and pleasure ideas, in which risky aspects such as use of condoms or sexually transmitted infections belong to the peripheral system. These aspects are integrated in order to preserve the central nucleus without interfering in the way participants live their sexual experiences. In addition, the association between love and condom use seems to be associated to the concept of "who loves, protects" which reduces condom use, instead of increasing it. Therefore, social representation of sex, focused on love and pleasure, might include cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects present in the well-known socio-cognitive models used for explaining and predicting condom use behavior.

Binge drinking: conductas sexuales de riesgo y drogas facilitadoras del asalto sexual en jóvenes españoles / Binge drinking: Risky sexual behaviors and drug facilitated sexual assault in spanish youths

El uso de drogas -alcohol incluido- como facilitadoras del asalto sexual y las conductas sexuales de riesgo son dos fenómenos relevantes desde una perspectiva sociosanitaria. El objetivo de la presente investigación es comparar las actitudes hacia estas variables en una muestra de 164 jóvenes en condiciones de intoxicación etílica frente a sobriedad. La muestra está compuesta por 82 varones y 82 mujeres. Su media de edad era 27.50 ± 63.72. Contestaron un cuestionario en el que se recogen datos sociodemográficos, información del consumo de drogas y la Escala de Conductas Sexuales; además, se emplearon varios etilómetros Digital Zaphir Deluxe para determinar la alcoholemia. Se trata de un estudio cuasiexperimental realizado sobre un diseño intraindividual. El muestreo es no probabilístico de tipo "bola de nieve". Los resultados muestran unas actitudes más positivas y una mayor intencionalidad hacia el empleo de drogas como facilitadoras del asalto sexual y hacia las conductas sexuales de riesgo de los sujetos que se encuentran bajo el efecto del alcohol en contextos recreativos, independientemente del sexo de la muestra. Se destaca, por un lado, la importancia de investigar sobre el uso de drogas como facilitadoras del asalto sexual (tema ampliamente ignorado en España) y se profundiza en cómo el consumo de drogas afecta al uso de métodos anticonceptivos, y por otro, la necesidad de incluir información en los programas preventivos sobre cómo el consumo de alcohol (y otras drogas) está relacionado con la actividad sexual.

Drug use (alcohol included) as a sexual-assault facilitator and risky sexual behavior are two important issues from a social and health perspective. This study aims to compare the attitudes towards these variables in a sample of 164 young people in conditions of intoxication vs sobriety. The sample consisted of 82 men and 82 women. Their mean age was 27.50 (SD = 3.72). Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, a drug information questionnaire, and the Sexual Behaviors Scale. and moreover, Several Zaphir Deluxe Digital breathalyzers were also used to monitor alcohol level. This is a quasiexperimental study conducted using a within-subject design. Non-probabilistic snowball sampling was used. The results showed more positive attitudes and greater intentions towards the use of drugs as facilitators of sexual assault and risky sexual behaviors in those who are under the influence of alcohol in recreational contexts, regardless of the sex of the sample. These results showed, on the one hand, the importance of studies into the use of drug facilitated sexual assault -a largely ignored issue in Spain- and to determine how drug use affects the use of contraceptive methods. On the other hand, the results show the need to include information in preventive programs about the way alcohol (and other drugs) use is related to sexual activity.

Prevalence and network-characteristics of risky sexual behaviors among clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment at clinics in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the risky sexual behaviors,associated factors and characteristics of sexual network among clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) at the clinics in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted.Data was collected through questionnaire and from the national unified MMT system.Urine was collected to test heroin,methamphetamine,3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine.Blood was collected to test infections on HIV,hepatitis C vims(HCV) and syphilis.Results Totally,362 clients were recruited.Most of the clients were male (88.7％),31--40 year-olds (54.5％),married (61.6％) and having received junior high school education (56.6％).85.1％ of them received urine test with 82(26.6％) positive for heroin,21 (6.8％) positive for methamphetamine,19 (6.2％) positive for MDMA and none for ketamine.77.1％ of them received blood test,and prevalence rates for HIV,HCV and syphilis were 1.1％,36.7％ and 3.6％.19.5％ of the clients who had sex in the past 6 months.Factors as having multiple sexual partners and positive for club drugs were under higher risk.Sexual networking seemed to be loose,linear and acyclic among this population but overlapping with the drug-using network.Conclusion Effective and targeted interventions should be taken among the MMT clients since continuing drug use and HIV/STD related sexual behavior were found common in them,suggesting there was a risk of HIV/STD transmission in this ppulation.

Study on herpes simplex virus 2 infection and risky sexual behavior among HIV-infected patients in a county of Yunnan province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the sero-prevalence and risk factors for herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infection and unprotected sexual behavior in an ethnically diverse population of HIVinfected subjects in a county of Yunnan province. Methods HIV-infected individuals attending for routine follow-up by local Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were recruited to participate in the study under 'informed consent'. A face-to-face questionnaire interview was administered to each participant. Blood was drawn for HSV-2 testing by HerpeSelect HSV-2 ELISA (Focus Diagnostics) and CD4+ T counting. Results A total of 300 HIV-infected individuals participated in the study. The mean age of the subjects was 37.6 years with 76.7% as males. Ethnically, Han, Dai and Jingpo accounted for 44.3%, 37.3% and 16.0% of the sample, respectively. Half of the subjects reported HIV acquisition through injection drug use. The sero-prevalence of HSV-2 was 35.0%. Results from multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals who acquired HIV through heterosexual contact were more likely to be HSV-2 positive than those who acquired HIV through injection drug use (OR=4.244,95%CI: 1.924-9.364),whereas Dai (OR=0.300,95% CI: 0.152-0.593) and Jingpo (OR=0.376, 95% CI: 0.167-0.850) were less likely to be HSV-2 positive than the Hans. Among 105 people who were co-infected with HIV/HSV-2, 60 had sexual intercourses in the past 3 months and 41.7% of them reported no or inconsistent use of condoms. Most unprotected sexual contacts occurred within married couples. Conclusion HSV-2 infection was highly prevalent among HIV-infected individuals in this county, and a significant proportion of HIV/HSV-2 co-infected subjects engaged in unprotected sex. HSV-2 testing, behavioral and biomedical interventions among HIV-infected individuals and their sexual partners should be involved in the local HIV prevention and control programs.