The aim of this study was to understand how women deal with Infections Sexually Transmitted (IST) and Aids prevention within the context of relationships. Two discussion groups and 12 individual interviews were carried out with women aged 20-35. One of the groups was formed by five participants, who attended school for a period inferior or equivalent to eight years (Group 1) and, the other, by seven university students or graduates (Group 2). Only three participants (two from Group 1 and one from Group 2) reported consistent use of condom as a preventive measure against IST/Aids. Sexual exclusivity between partners was the main explanation given for the inconsistent use of condom. Values and beliefs related to factors such as, knowing the sexual partners well and trust invested in them, guided participants' perceptions regarding the circumstances in which adhesion to preventive measures is necessary. Results also suggest that those perceptions were associated to the type of relationship and other implications regarding that.
Infections sexually transmitted and Aids; prevention; gender