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This cross-sectional study examined prevalence and correlates of HIV risk behaviors among a random sample of 431 adolescents (aged 12?1 years) attending schools in the Brasilia Federal District. The results showed that 43% of the students were sexually experienced. Condoms were consistently used by 43% of the sexually active students during vaginal intercourse and by 27% during anal intercourse. About 32% and 16% of the participants reported current consumption of alcohol and illegal substances, respectively, with 17% and 4% reporting having sex under their influence. Having “stable?partners was the main reason for not using condoms. Other high-risk correlates included male gender, older age, having repeated a school year, alcohol consumption, sex under the influence of alcohol, heavier alcohol consumption, and illegal substance use. Access to condoms was not reported to be a problem. These data are useful for designing health education interventions in schools and for behavioral surveillance of adolescents.
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