A velhice se constitui de uma importante etapa da vida que é extremamente significativa, merecendo atenção e cuidados especiais, com possibilidades de continuidade das fontes de prazer, alegria e de felicidade. Assim, atingir a velhice implica nas diversas superações de etapas, obstáculos, percalços e momentos que conduzem a um amadurecimento maior, dadas as experiências vivenciadas. Embora podendo ser considerada, biologicamente, como uma regressão morfofuncional, esse processo afeta todos os sistemas fisiológicos principais, de forma variável. Entretanto, os sentimentos e as sensações não sofrem deterioração. Não impede o indivíduo de desfrutar a vida, de forma ativa e saudável, possibilitando também a praticar a sexualidade como pode e como queira. Mas, os preconceitos sofridos neste sentido, são muitos. A sociedade, sustenta o mito da fase assexuada, excluindo do imaginário, qualquer vivência da sexualidade entre eles, que por vezes, acreditam que a sexualidade nessa fase da vida já não faz mais sentindo. Assim, sentimos a necessidade de estudar e entender como os idosos percebem a sua própria sexualidade. Para desmitificar esse assunto que perpassa por preconceitos, mitos, tabus e crendices populares, é preciso analisar e depreender os pontos que devem ser trabalhados na perspectiva dessa população, a fim de desenvolver ações educativas mais eficientes e eficazes, nesse contexto. Portanto, propusemos, neste estudo, explorar, recolher, organizar, sintetizar e compartilhar, por meio da revisão sistemática da literatura, os resultados de artigos primários, referentes à percepção dos idosos em relação a sua sexualidade. Assim sendo, esta pesquisa basea-se em um estudo descritivo- analítico e documental, fundamentado em uma revisão sistemática da literatura científica sobre o tema central do presente estudo. Por meio da síntese das ideias principais dos estudos selecionados, identificamos as situações -limite e a partir disso, elencamos 04 Categorias e 02 desdobramentos ou subcategorias: -A falta de informação sobre a sexualidade; -Idoso não pode ter atividade sexual; - As questões de gênero no contexto social e suas influências na sexualidade do idoso; - Fatores como as doenças, a falta de um parceiro e a influência da família, são motivos que interferem na vivência da sexualidade. Como desdobramentos- A religião e suas influências na sexualidade do idoso; - As mudanças físicas e hormonais dificultam a vivência da sexualidade. Após os resultados obtidos e analisados, verificou-se que a percepção do idoso sobre a sua sexualidade é manifesta de maneira ingênua, limitada e simplista. Daí, torna-se evidente haver necessidade de efetivo investimento sobre esse assunto visando a desmistificação frente à sexualidade nesta faixa etária, compreendendo a importância do papel da Educação para a Saúde neste sentido, destacando a relevância do trabalho multiprofissional nesta lógica, relevando o do (a) enfermeiro (a) na promoção da saúde sexual e na qualidade de vida do idoso. Vale destacar a importância de se atentar para a prevenção da Aids a esse contingente no cenário nacional e internacional / Old age is a stage of life, which is extremely significant, deserving special attention and care, with great possibilities of continuing sources of pleasure, joy and happiness . However , to reach old age involves several exceedances of obstacles , setbacks and moments that bring us into maturity . Can be considered biologically functional morphology as a regression that affects all major physiological systems to varying degrees . However , the feelings and sensations are stable . Does not prevent the individual from enjoying life active , healthy and happy way, sexuality can be lived to the end. However , prejudice against sexuality of the elderly are diverse . The company maintains the myth of the asexual phase , excluding any of the imaginary experience of sexuality among the elderly , which in turn , believe that sexuality at this stage of life is no longer feeling . Therefore , we feel the need to study and understand how the elderly perceive sexuality . We know that to demystify this subject that permeates prejudices , myths , taboos and erroneous beliefs , it is necessary that health professionals understand the points that should be better worked at the prospect of this population in order to achieve more efficient educational activities in this context . We proposed , in this study , explore , collect , organize , synthesize, and share , through the systematic literature review , the results of primary articles relating to the perception of older people in relation to their sexuality . This is a search based on a descriptive - analytical and documentary study, based on a systematic review of scientific literature on the central theme of this study. By summarizing the main ideas of the selected studies , we identify the extreme situations and from this, we list 04 categories and 02 subcategories or developments : a lack of information about sexuality ; - Aged can not have sexual activity ; - The issues gender in the social context and its influence on the sexuality of the elderly; - factors such as disease , lack of a partner and family influence are reasons that interfere with the experiences of sexuality . Developments as a religion and its influences on sexuality of the elderly; - The physical and hormonal changes complicate the experiences of sexuality . After the results obtained from the research , it appears that the perception of the elderly on sexuality is still confusing , which contributes to a negative view . Becomes evident that there is a gap on the subject and lacking information for debunking that permeate our cultural scene with myths and taboos that hinder the experience and authentic perception of the elderly with regard to sexuality. We understand that only education , along with health professionals such as nurses , can and should assist in demystifying and transforming the repressive gaze of the elderly who deny sexuality , as well as the forerunners of own prejudices that permeate the subject

No perÃodo de 1983 a 1996, 54,5% dos casos de AIDS notificados no estado do Cearà foram em decorrÃncia de contatos homo/bissexuais. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com o objetivo de conhecer o comportamento sexual e os fatores de risco associados à prÃtica sexual desprotegida, realizado no perÃodo entre maio e agosto de 1995, junto a 400 homens de prÃtica homo/bissexual, residentes na regiÃo metropolitana de Fortaleza. Os dados foram coletados atravÃs de questionÃrio semiestruturado, aplicado por 10 entrevistadores. Os entrevistados foram agrupados em 5 classes sociais e 4 faixas etÃrias. Foi realizada uma anÃlise univariada entre a variÃvel dependente (envolvimento com relaÃÃes sexuais desprotegidas) e os fatores predisponentes a estas, atravÃs de teste exato de Fischer. Dentre estes fatores, aqueles que se mostraram significativos (p<0,05) foram incluÃdos na anÃlise multivariada, atravÃs de regressÃo logÃstica. Quarenta e sete por cento dos entrevistados se envolveram com relaÃÃes sexuais desprotegidas e os fatores relacionados a este envolvimento foram: nÃo possuir informaÃÃes bÃsicas sobre transmissÃo do HIV/AIDS, ter tido uma freqÃÃncia de relaÃÃo sexual com outro homem maior ou igual a 1 vez no mÃs nos Ãltimos 12 meses, ter tido 1 ou mais contatos sexuais com mulheres nos Ãltimos 12 meses, sentir-se muito excitado com sexo desprotegido, mostrarem atitudes negativas em relaÃÃo ao sexo mais seguro, nÃo conhecer alguÃm com AIDS e a nÃo participaÃÃo em organizaÃÃes homossexuais. Um contingente ainda grande de homens com prÃtica homo/bissexual se envolve em prÃticas de risco, necessitando de um aumento do nÃvel de informaÃÃo, erotizaÃÃo de outras prÃticas de menor risco e o fortalecimento das relaÃÃes sociais visando efetivar os programas de prevenÃÃo do HIV/AIDS junto a esta populaÃÃo.

Master of Public Health - MPH / There are estimated to be 840,000 people living with HIV in China (1) of whom 65% are estimated to be in the 16-29 year age group. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution and the opening of China to Western influence, traditional cultural norms have rapidly eroded and China is described as being in the middle of a sexual revolution (2). People are increasingly engaging in behaviours exposing them to the risk of contracting HIV which is spreading from the traditionally high risk populations to the general population via the heterosexual route (3). Comprehensive prevention strategies are necessary to prevent further spread (4). There is evidence that the observed increase in sexual activity is not accompanied by adequate knowledge of HIV transmission. 79% of 18-25 year olds know that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by sexual intercourse, but a mere 30% know that correct and consistent condom use can protect against HIV transmission (5). This exploratory study investigated the factors that influence safe sexual practices amongst female Chinese university students, enabling or preventing them from taking responsibility for their reproductive health. The literature search revealed this to be a largely unexplored area. The study was undertaken amongst third year male and female students, recruited from the Department of Comparative Literature and Media Studies at the Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, China. Data was predominantly collected using two male and two female focus group discussions. Three key informant interviews supported and contextualised the findings. The study revealed that the factors influencing female students&rsquo; ability to adopt safe sexual practices are complex. The recognised shortcomings of sex education in China (6) are compounded by the taboo of sex and the pressure placed on students for the achievement of good grades. The university environment exerts a powerful influence. The ease with which mutually beneficial same sex friendships develop in the dormitory can be contrasted with the difficulties faced by couples attempting to conduct relationships. The restrictive university environment has the effect of driving relationships underground. Gender roles are deeply entrenched. The need to conform to the ideal pure, na&iuml;ve, and non-inquiring female stereotype affects a female student&rsquo;s ability to source sexual health information, negotiate safe sex, and to adopt safe sexual practices. Two distinct male stereotypes emerged: the traditional more gender equal male, and the liberal male who believes in an earlier age of sexual initiation and condones multiple sexual partners. All students are aware of HIV but have misconceptions about the specifics of HIV transmission, believing that HIV can be transmitted by kissing, from unclean baths and from doctors. Some students were of the belief that poor personal hygiene is an indicator of possible HIV positive status. Students were confused by condom quality issues. As they had received no formal condom training students relied on reading the package instructions or working it out for themselves.This small exploratory study resulted in the production of rich and surprising findings. These are incorporated into recommendations for future research and a comprehensive sex education programme at the university. Abstinence and mutual monogamy should be emphasised. Gender stereotypes that influence behaviour and choice of sex education materials should be acknowledged. Negotiation skills training should be incorporated together with condom and contraceptive advice. A sexual health page on the student website and a training programme for students to become peer-to-peer sex educators should be introduced. / South Africa

The effects of anxiety arousal on subsequent sexual arousal were investigated to determine if sexually functional and dysfunctional women respond differentially to pairings of anxiety-evoking and erotic cues. Eight sexually dysfunctional and eight sexually functional women viewed a neutral control (travelogue videotape) or anxiety-evoking (threatened amputation videotape) preexposure stimulus followed by a sexually arousing (erotic videotape) experimental stimulus. A repeated measures design was used in which each subject observed both pairs of preexposure and experimental stimuli. Changes in sexual arousal were measured physiologically with a vaginal photoplethysmograph, and subjectively with a self-report rating scale. As predicted, functional women showed significantly greater physiological sexual arousal than dysfunctional women in both the neutral-erotic and anxiety-erotic conditions. Consistent with previous research, anxiety preexposure significantly enhanced genital arousal relative to the neutral-control stimulus for functional women. Moreover, dysfunctional women also achieved a significantly enhanced rate and magnitude of genital arousal following exposure to the anxiety stimulus. Contrary to the strength of their physiological responses however, both groups rated the anxiety-erotic condition as significantly less sexually arousing. Non-significant correlations between vaginal blood volume and subjective ratings revealed a trend for functional and dysfunctional women to experience enhanced genital arousal accompanied by an inhibited likelihood of acknowledging feeling aroused. These findings contradict the literature on sexually functional and dysfunctional men, and challenge current conceptualizations of sexual dysfunction. The findings suggest that (1) anxiety arousal enhances genital arousal in functional and dysfunctional women, (2) heightened arousal occurs despite contradictory cognitive perceptions, (3) the female sexual response system is desynchronous, (4) functional women do not necessarily process genital cues more effectively than dysfunctional women, (5) the physiological response system is imperative to defining a response as sexual and must be targeted in therapy, and (6) common modes of treatment directed toward increasing parasympathetic response may be counterproductive to the elicitation of sexual arousal. Alternative treatment strategies directed toward response synchrony, sympathetic activation, and cognitive attribution are discussed. A preliminary model of sexual dysfunction in women is proposed, .and discussed in terms of directions for future research. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This thesis explores the psychosocial dynamics of sexual risk-taking in men who have sex with men, with particular focus on the dilemmas that gay men face in establishing trust in themselves and reasonable trust and intimacy with their sexual partners. As well, the practical function of this study is to analyze past and current social marketing efforts aimed at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to offer suggestions for how to approach a strategy to reduce HIV incidence in gay men and at the same time bolster efforts to assist men who have sex with men (MSM) in adhering to safer sex guidelines. In part, this thesis uses a sample of participants of the Vanguard Project cohort (St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia), in order to explore the social meanings attributed by MSM towards sex, risk, intimacy, and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Through the use of first-person narratives, this thesis examines the concordance or discordance of MSM beliefs and behaviour with long-standing theoretical models of harm reduction methods concerning sexual risk. The study reveals that, in great measure, due to past life course events, many gay men suffer from a lack of trust in themselves, which results in a tendency to make irrational or unreasonable decisions concerning their long-term sexual health, and a lack of trust in other gay men. As welL through the misguided and often untruthful health models that advocate fewer sexual partners and rely upon the false assumption that all potential sex partners are carriers of contagion, the sense of mistrust has been reinforced. The lack of confidence in self and others further translates into a suspicion of the motives and/or efficacy of social institutions entrusted with community health development and maintenance, rendering their efforts even less effective. Moreover, traditional harm reduction messages, especially 'fear campaigns', often act as a deterrent, rather than as an incentive, to harm reduction. Of more appeal are supportive harm reduction messages delivered by someone whom the recipient trusts, especially when the social meanings of sex, risk, trust and intimacy are, for many gay men, less fixed and more contingent than for the population at large. This means that attempts to modify risky behaviour must acknowledge and negotiate multiple meanings, shifting values and changing social climates, as well as routine epidemiological concerns. The research identifies four key themes within a problematic of trust, risk and intimacy, and delineates the harm reduction social complexities experienced by gay men in the study group; these recurring themes deal with family and early sociahzation, internalized homophobia, contingency and instability of meanings of risk, trust and sex, and the toistworthiness of the messengers of harm reduction strategies. Out of these recurring themes come a number of recommendations for remedial programs aimed at both mid- and long-term reductions in HIV incidence. The recommendations are grounded in the recognition that homophobic and/or dysfunctional social conditions are, to a great extent, implicated in sexual risk behaviour, and therefore must be eliminated or ameliorated before meaningful harm reduction gains can be realized. The discussions with the gay men in the study reveal their need for positive role models and communal social support in their efforts to combat HIV infection, suggesting a need to rethink the meanings of what it is to be gay, a need to redevelop and revitalize what was once a vibrant and cohesive corrimunity, and bearing in mind the lessons of the past, a need to re-approach the task of sternming the tide of HIV infection in ways that are sensitive to the factors that adduce high-risk sexual behaviour. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate

AFRIKAANS: Die behoefte aan 'n instrument, om die seksuele kennis, - houding en - gedrag van adolessente te assesseer ten einde 'n teikengerigte seksuele voorligtingsprogram te ontwikkel, is vanuit die literatuur geïdentifiseer. Die doel van hierdie studie was dus om 'n nie-gestandardiseerde maatskaplike assesseringsinstument te ontwikkel wat die seksuele kennis, - houding en - gedrag van adolessente kan assesseer. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gevolg met intervensie navorsing as die soort navorsing ter sprake. Die navorsingsprosedure en werkwyse was aan die hand van Rothman en Thomas (1994:28) se intervensie ontwerp en ontwikkelingsmodel se fases hanteer. Die volgende fases word in die model onderskei: (1) Probleemanalise en projekbeplanning, (2) Insameling van data en sintesevorming, (3) Ontwerp, (4) Vroeë ontwikkeling en voorlopige toetsing, (5) Evaluasie en gevorderde ontwikkeling, en (6) Disseminasie. Dit was van kardinale belang om die studie vanuit 'n spesifieke teoretiese raamwerk te benader. Na aanleiding van die kompleksiteit van seksualiteit is van 'n multi-teoretiese benadering gebruik gemaak. Die egosielkundige teorie van Erikson en die sisteemteorie is gebruik. Die rede waarom die egosielkundige teorie van Erikson hierby ingesluit is, is omdat dit die adolessentefase in konteks plaas binne die totale lewensloop van die mens. Die sisteemteorie verduidelik weer die kompleksiteit van seksualiteit in terme van die verhouding tussen die sisteme, en die elemente binne die adolessentsisteem. Die universum van hierdie studie was graad 8, 9 en 10 leerlinge van twee skole in Pretoria wie se ouers toestemming verleen het om aan die studie deel te neem. Aangesien al die respondente nie by die ondersoek betrek kon word nie, is 'n steekproef van 320 respondente by wyse van 'n proporsioneel gestratifiseerde ewekansige steekproeftrekking gekombineerd met sistemiese steekproeftrekking geselekteer. Die respondente het 'n self¬geadministreerde vraelys (assesseringsinstrument) voltooi. Deur die benutting van die nie-¬gestandardiseerde assesseringsinstrument kon die navorser daarin slaag om 'n profiel van die adolessent se seksuele kennis, - houding en - gedrag saam te stel. Voortspruitend hieruit kon gevolgtrekkings gemaak word, en aan die hand daarvan is aanbevelings gedoen rakende die inhoud van die nie-gestandaardiseerde assesseringsinstrument, die ontwikkeling van moontlike seksuele voorligtingsprogramme, asook verdere navorsing. ENGLISH: The need for an instrument that will assess the sexual knowledge, - attitude and - behaviour of the adolescent which could be used in developing a specific sexual programme for adolescent, was identified. The purpose of this study was therefore to develop a non-standardised social work assessment tool to assess the sexual knowledge, - attitude and - behaviour of the adolescent. A quantitative research approach with intervention research as the type of research was followed. The research procedures that were followed were according to the phases of the intervention design and development model of Rothman and Thomas (1994:28). The following phases can be identified in this model: (1) Problem analyse and project planning, (2) Data gathering and synthesis formulation (3) Design, (4) Early development and pilot testing, (5) Evaluation and advanced development, and (6) Dissemination. It was also important to address the study from a specific theoretical framework. Sexuality is very complex and therefore a multi-theoretical approach was used namely the ego psychological theory of Erikson and the system theory. The theory of Erikson was used due to the fact that it explains adolescence in context of the total life cycle of mankind. The system theory explains the complexity of sexuality in terms of the relationship between systems and the elements of the adolescent as a system. The universum of this study was grade 8, 9 en 10 pupils of two schools in Pretoria whose parents gave permission to participate in this study. Since not all of the respondents could participate in this study, a sample of320 respondents was selected through proportional stratificational random sampling combined with. systematic sampling. The respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire (assessment tool). The result of the utilisation of this non-standardised social work assessment tool was a profile of the adolescent's sexual knowledge, - attitude and - behaviour. Conclusions were made and resulted in recommendations regarding the content of this non-standardised social work assessment tool, the development of possible sexual programmes for adolescents, and further research that could be conducted in future. / Dissertation (MA (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The current study was a cross-sectional examination of data collected during an HIV risk reduction intervention in south Florida. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationships between neighborhood stress, parenting, attitudes, and adolescent sexual intentions and behavior. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used as a model to guide variable selection and propose an interaction pathway between predictors and outcomes. Potential predictor variables measured for adolescents ages 13-18 (n=196) included communication about sex, parent-family connectedness, parental presence, parent-adolescent activity participation, attitudes about sex and condom use, neighborhood disorder, and exposure to violence. Outcomes were behavioral intentions and sexual behavior for the previous eight months. Neighborhood data was supplemented with ZIP Code level data from regional sources and included median household income, percentage of minority and Hispanic residents, and number of foreclosures. Statistical tests included t-tests, Pearson’s correlations, and hierarchical linear regressions. Results showed that males and older adolescents reported less positive behavioral intentions than females and adolescents younger than 16. Intentions were associated with condom attitudes, sexual attitudes, and parental presence; unprotected sexual behavior was associated with parental presence. The best fit model for intentions included gender, sexual attitudes, condom attitudes, parental presence, and neighborhood disorder. The unsafe sexual behavior model included whether the participant lived with both natural parents in the previous year, and the percent of Hispanic residents in the neighborhood. Study findings indicate that more research on adolescent sexual behavior is warranted, specifically examining the differentials between variables that affect intentions and those that affect behavior. A focus on gender and age differences during intervention development may allow for better targeting and more efficacious interventions. Adding peer and media influences to the framework of attitudes, parenting, and neighborhood may offer more insight into patterns of adolescent sexual behavior risk.

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