PRÁCTICAS SEXUALES RELACIONADAS CON EL VIH/SIDA EN LAS COMUNIDADES SHUAR DE LA PARROQUIA SEVILLA DON BOSCO - MORONA SANTIAGO, 2017

BACKGROUND: Ethnic groups of Latin America and Ecuador do to their cultural differences, sexual behaviors, low escolarity, and poor access to information; would be exposed to an increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections. The transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in Shuar communities is increa-sing lately. The aim of this study was to identify sexual practices related to the transmission of human immu-nodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Shuar communities of the Don Bosco – Morona Santiago.METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological study was performed. The universe included Shuar communities of Sevilla Don Bosco – Morona Santiago in Ecuador; the sample was selected by convenience. Inclusion criteria were people with active sexual life and not diagnosed with the disease. The information was collected through four focus groups and eleven in-depth interviews.RESULTS: 35 people were included, men and women between 12 to 50 years old. The data showed that sexual practices were mainly heterosexual, high risk sexual behaviors were identified due to the sporadic use of the condom and multiple sexual behaviors. The exchange sexual partners, sporadic sex, and oral or anal sex were unknown sexual practices and were identified as strange to the community. CONCLUSIONS: High risk sexual practices that could increase the risk of human immunodeficiency virus trans-mission were identified in people belonging to the Shuar communities; being the lack of use of contraceptive methods and the multiple sexual partners the most representatives. Barrier methods were the most common known but their use was infrequent