Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in Brazil. Recent data shows a staggering increase in cases of gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.
The pandemic has overwhelmed both the public and private health systems to the point that attention to other diseases has been neglected. In addition, taboos related to STIs, misinformation and the lack of effective sex education are factors that have contributed greatly to this situation.
In five years of census conducted by the Health Department on the subject, 29 thousand new cases of some STI were registered in the country. But the most alarming data is the profile of those infected: young adults between 20 and 29 years old.
These are all preventable and curable infections if treated early. So why are cases increasing?
General scenario
The two main factors that help us understand why the number of STI cases is increasing in Brazil are: the trivialization of the consequences of an infection and the decline in condom use. As many infections are treatable and even curable, young people consequently stop protecting themselves and using the famous condom.
In the census carried out by the Health Department between 2010 and 2015, the following were reported: 3,010 new AIDS infections, 4,290 syphilis infections, 6,550 genital warts and 3,063 genital ulcers. There was no distinction of social class, education or race among the profiles of the interviewees.
Although the data is reliable, experts believe that the number is substantially higher. This is because a portion of those infected with an STI often do not even know they have the disease, so the case is not even reported.
In this scenario, unreported cases pose an even greater risk, as they represent a serious risk of death for the infected person, in addition to spreading the STI among other people.
In other words, if a person who is uninformed about their clinical condition has unprotected sex, they will end up transmitting viruses or bacteria to other people.
Justifying irresponsibility
When we delve deeper into the profile of those interviewed to understand what may be contributing to the increase in STI records, the trust factor weighs heavily in several cases.
After all, the decline in condom use is also related to the level of trust between partners. At the beginning of a relationship, condom use is natural, but as the relationship becomes more stable, its use is put aside. However, recent research has shown that 8 out of 10 people have cheated on their partners in romantic relationships.
Another factor is relationships with “trustworthy” people or with whom one has had previous contact. In this scenario, partners also tend to forgo using condoms, focusing only on the contraceptive aspect of the sexual encounter and forgetting about the risks of STIs.
Talking about STIs is a necessary topic
Sociologist Roberto Geraldo da Silva, president of the Associação Esperança e Vida, which treats and shelters AIDS patients, observes that society’s behavior and language regarding STIs have changed.
Simple campaigns to encourage condom use and testing do not have the same traction as before. Even so, the sociologist points out that information is still the best way. With a sexual education approach in schools based on the value of life, the results of condom use and the impacts of diseases, it is possible to change reality.
According to Valéria Paes (consultant for the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases), the reduction in condom use among the younger population is due to a lack of knowledge about the long-term consequences of untreated cases. As a result, young people end up taking more risks. For Paes, it is necessary to modernize the approach and disseminate information.
Sex education is still taboo for Brazilians
For young people, it is still not natural to talk about sex education at home. So they end up looking for and sharing information among friends or online. Without consistent guidance, preventive actions among young people can be neglected.
Due to the embarrassment of the taboo, the young population does not receive the necessary information to prevent STIs. This factor results in an even greater risk of unprotected sex.
The taboo also contributes to the delay in diagnosis and treatment of these infections. As a consequence, the spread of STIs also finds more space.
New drugs on the market
Leandro Mena, director of the STI division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, says there is “reason to be hopeful,” as research shows success in reducing new HIV and herpes infections, and advances in technology are making screening and treatment easier.
Mena shares that new drugs are showing promise in trials that aim to reduce the risk of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis when taken within 72 hours of sex. In addition, at-home testing is becoming more accessible and vaccines for bacterial STIs are being developed.
However, prevention is still better than cure, isn’t it? To achieve this, the best practices continue to be the use of condoms (male or female, whichever you prefer) and seeking information from qualified sources!
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