El papel e impacto de los agentes de socializacion en el proceso de informacion y formacion en sexualidad de jovenes caleños.

Based upon recent findings (Uribe et. al., in press; Uribe at. Al. 2009); Mosquera and Mateus, 2003) showing high levels of incorrect knowledge towards sexual transmitted diseases and self-care behaviors in sexuality amongst youth, the project aims to explore the role of different socialization agents in the configuration of knowledge and behaviors in sexuality in young men and women from the city of Cali. Specialized literature points out the relevance of traditional agents and sources such as family, education programs and peers, but also underlines the need to explore more explicitly the importance of other elements such as media products for youth, pornography, sexual partners and cultural traditions towards sexuality (Mosquera and Mateus, 2003; Sevilla, 2008, Sevilla, 2007). Accordingly, the project will use a mixed qualitative – quantitative approach to identify and describe the main characteristics and influence of these agents, in order to produce models of actions that fulfill the PAHO 2009 Statement of Sexuality for the Millennium, which claims the need to integrate successful models of communications, and the diversity of social contexts, to the education strategies in sexuality (PAHO, 2009).