O uso da argumentação científica na opção por estilos de vida arriscados no cenário da aids

[Sexual positions, body styles and HIV risk among men who have sex with men in Recife (Brazil)]

The article presents the results of an ethnographic study of the gay community in Recife (PE), conducted via participant observation and interviews. It seeks to understand sexual risk conduct among men who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV, focusing on the significance of sexual positions during anal-receptive intercourse (ARI) and anal-insertive intercourse (AII). Those who practice unprotected ARI are subject to a greater risk of infection than those who practice AII. Those who practice both, ARI and AII, are amplifiers (greater chances of receiving and passing on the virus) in the transmission chains. The text addresses the emic categories related with gender identities - pintosa (female gay), boy (male gay), and cafuçu (MSM and with women, non-gay, male, lower social class) - and with gender identities - active (AII), passive (ARI), and versatile (AII and ARI) - in the ways they result in sexual positions and produce sexual attraction. Masculine men are the most sexually desirable. Boys tend to relate with boys, and pintosas with cafuçus. There is a significant number of versatiles, which increases the collective risk within the gay community. By means of the relations between pintosas and cafuçus, there is increased danger for the virus to circulate more among the gay community and society in general.

High HIV infection prevalence in a group of men who have sex with men

Brazil is characterized by a concentrated AIDS epidemic, it has a prevalence of less than 1% in the general population. However, there are higher rates in specific populations, especially in men who have sex with men. The study's aim was to analyze the association between sociodemographic characteristics, sexual practices, sexual behaviors and the HIV infection in a group of men who have sex with men. Secondary data was collected between June 2014 and September 2015 in a research of cross-sectional design in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Volunteers answered an online computerized questionnaire and took HIV test. Chi-squared distribution and multiple logistic regression was used. There were 341 participants. Most of them were racially mixed, single, average age of 30.6 years and with a higher education level. The HIV prevalence was 13.9%. Two logistic models were fit (insertive or receptive anal intercourse). Both models showed an association with HIV among those who had a HIV positive sexual partner (Odds Ratio ≈ 2.5) and a high self-perception of acquiring HIV (Model 1: Odds Ratio ≈ 7/Model 2: Odds Ratio ≈ 10). Low condom usage in receptive anal intercourse with casual partners had a direct association with HIV seropositivity, whereas insertive anal intercourse with casual partners with or without condoms were inversely related. The study identified a high prevalence of HIV infections among a group of men who sex with men with a high self-perception risk of acquiring HIV. The findings also showed a relation with sociodemographic and sexual behavior variables.