SAÚDE SEXUAL DE HOMENS ATENDIDOS EM UM CENTRO DE TESTAGEM E ACONSELHAMENTO

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.82725190210

• Palavras-chave: Saúde do Homem. Saúde Sexual. Profissionais do Sexo. Modelos Biopsicossociais. Fatores de risco.

• Keywords: Men’s Health. Sexual Health. Sex Workers. Biopsychosocial Models. Risk Factors.

• Abstract: Introduction: Men’s health, particularly for those involved in sex work, is frequently overlooked, resulting in higher mortality rates and significant public policy challenges. This is especially critical given the specific risks faced by sex workers. Objective: The sexual health of men was investigated to identify which aspects of their clinical history are most closely related to the practice of sex work. Methods: A case- control study was conducted with 23 male sex workers and 149 controls at a Testing and Counseling Center in Teresina, Piauí. Data on sociodemographics, sexual behavior, use of licit and illicit substances, and urological history were collected. The association between these variables and sex work was analyzed using logistic regression. This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of UniFacid Wyden 3 University Center under ethical approval number 6,207,145. Results: The median age was 30 years, ranging from 17 to 62 years. Most participants were Black (77.2%) and from the Greater Teresina area (94.7%). The study revealed that male sex work in Teresina has independent risk factors such as homoaffective relationships (OR: 8.09; 95% CI: 1.44-45.31), non-use of condoms (OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.04-8.28), history of gonorrhea or chlamydia (OR: 6.59; 95% CI: 1.28-33.94), history of hematuria (OR: 4.57; 95% CI: 1.05-19.86), lower urinary tract symptoms of voiding (OR: 3.39; 95% CI: 1.08-10.67), and use of cocaine or crack (OR: 15.14; 95% CI: 2.44-93.72). Sex workers also had higher rates of paternity (39.1% versus 19.7%). Conclusion: Certain aspects of the clinical history of men treated at the Teresina Testing and Counseling Center are strongly associated with sex work, providing valuable insights for screening this practice. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted actions addressing the comprehensive health of men engaged in sex work. However, this research is limited by the sample size and reliance on self-reports. Future studies with larger, more representative samples are required.