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Victoria Villacorta, MA Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development Cayetano Heredia University School of Public Health INTERNET USE, CYBERSEX AND RISK: A QUALITATIVE STUDY AMONG MALE TEENAGERS FROM LOW-INCOME AREAS IN LIMA, PERU BACKGROUND Increasing accessibility and use of Internet
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Victoria Villacorta, MA Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development Cayetano Heredia University School of Public Health INTERNET USE, CYBERSEX AND RISK: A QUALITATIVE STUDY AMONG MALE TEENAGERS FROM LOW-INCOME AREAS IN LIMA, PERU
BACKGROUND • Increasing accessibility and use of Internet • Increase of demand for Internet interactive sessions with sexual content • Male teenagers are the most frequent users of such Internet services • Our goal was to explore how cybersex could lead to risky sexual practices among male Peruvian teenagers
METHODS • Exploratory and descriptive study • 22 male teenagers between 15 and 19 years old • Inclusion criteria: • ever having had sexual intercourse; and • reporting regular internet use in Internet Cafes. • In depth interviews and focus groups • Here we focus on sexual activity that takes place inside an Internet Cafe (Cabina Privada de Internet)
FINDINGS • The Internet Cafe infrastructure is set up to facilitate certain kinds of sexual activity • Male teenagers do engage in sexual activity with peers in Internet Cafes • Risky sexual practices are diverse, from non- protected oral sex to non- protected anal sex • These kind of practices are seen as part of a process for sexual learning and developing their masculinity • Sex partners are essentially casual • Most of the times, there is no condom use
CONCLUSIONS • Internet is a powerful technology tool to expand entertainment practices, including Cybersex • Internet use also allows users to seek, find and practice new ways of sexual interaction • Sexual Health Programs should use the Internet to inform young people • It is important to work with internet cafes owners • More studies should be conducted to further understand such practices and promote public policies regarding Internet use for sexual purposes among teenagers and young people that respect their sexual rights and autonomy.