3 out of 10 young Brazilians do not use contraceptives, survey shows

Nearly a third of young Brazilians did not use a condom the last time they had sex because one was not available or they could not afford one, according to a Health Ministry study released Tuesday.

The study "is a portrait of the situation of an age group that worries the government," Health Minister Agenor Alvares said at a news conference.

The results "show us the path we must follow," said Alvares, who endorses the government policy of distributing condoms to prevent the spread of HIV.

This year the health ministry distributed some 25 million condoms, more than double the 11 million condoms distributed last year, at Carnival and other celebrations across this nation of 185 million people.

The study was carried out between May and June 2005 in 135 high schools in 14 of Brazil's 26 states and the federal district, said the study's coordinator Lorena Bernardete. The students were aged 14 and older.

The written questionnaire filled out by 102,000 students showed 69.7 percent had used a condom the last time they had sex, although it was an increase from 60.9 percent who used one in their first sexual relation.

Some respondents said they did not use a condom because they had stable relations with a single partner. Others said they did not have one handy, could not afford one or were too embarrassed to ask for one.

Alvares said 17 percent of Brazil's schools distribute some 100,000 condoms free annually.

Fabiano Pimenta, the ministry's Secretary of Health and Vigilance, said there were 55,060 cases of AIDS registered among Brazilians under 24 _ 15.2 percent of total cases _ according to the most recent data available.