Although dating applications (apps) have become popular among young adults, there is a dearth of information regarding the sexual health implications among Brazilian college students. This study examined risky sexual behavior and attitudes of dating app users, based on their sex in Brazil’s Legal Amazon. Three hundred and fifty-nine students reported their sociodemographic data, dating app use, and sexual behaviors and attitudes through self-administered questionnaires. Bivariate analyses and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were performed. Dating app use was reported by 238 (66.3%) subjects, most of whom had an encounter and sex with a casual partner. Women frequently requested condom use. Trust in one’s partner or having repeated encounters were the main reasons for engaging in risky sexual behavior. Men had a greater number of sexual partners and less protective attitudes. Sexual health awareness by apps was not reported by 97% of women, and most of them were not tested for sexually transmitted infections. A positive attitude toward sexual health was not a predictor of safe sex. Important similarities and differences regarding risky sexual behaviors and attitudes were observed between the sexes, many of which correlated with increased sexual vulnerability during the sexual encounters arranged through the dating apps. This cross-sectional study supports efforts on sexual health promotion and sexual education implementation in the face of growing usage of apps among young adults for sexual matters.

Educação sexual e vulnerabilidade de usuários de aplicativos, comparações a partir da orientação sexualSex education and vulnerability of application users, comparisons based on sexual orientation Educación sexual y vulnerabilidad de usuarios de aplicaciones, comparaciones a partir de la orientación sexual

The challenges posed by the implementation of sex education within a social context, by teachers or parents, are impasses that compromise adolescents’ and young adults’ sexual health, resulting in sexual risk behaviors. This study evaluated the forms of sex education, knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, and the vulnerability of university students within the Brazilian Legal Amazon. A total of 149 healthcare students provided their sociodemographic data and how they obtain information about safe sex practices. The data collected were evaluated using the Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ) questionnaire. Bivariate analyses and Pearson correlation were performed. The sources of sex education were primarily accessed by students approaching course completion and female students nearing graduation, through teachers, specialized books, media, and friends. In general, men were found to have a higher degree of knowledge about STIs, while women reported feeling less protected sexually. Time spent at the university and the knowledge men possess were not found to reduce risky behavior. This cross-sectional study confirms that interventions to combat misinformation in the face of risky sexual behaviors and their consequences should be prioritized and should consider the gender of individuals and all the differences in the perceptions and actions of both male and female healthcare students.