Creencias de contagio casual, estigma y discriminación relacionados al VIH, en adolescentes que asisten a colegios oficiales en áreas urbanas de Panamá: La información cruda anonimizada se compartirá a solicitud por el autor corresponsal. . Los autores declaran que no hubo financiamiento para la realización de este trabajo. .La información cruda anonimizada se compartirá a solicitud por el autor corresponsal.

Objective: To describe the prevalence and sociodemographic factors related to beliefs of casual HIV infection. Understand the factors that are associated with stigma and discrimination towards peers living with HIV in the adolescent population (14-19 years) in high school educational centers in urban areas of Panama. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out with two-stage cluster sampling, using random selection in 4 urban regions of Panama (Panama, San Miguelito, Colon and Panama Oeste). The study was carried out among 14-19-year-old participants of public schools of secondary education between the months of June and August 2015-2018 (one region per year). Random-effects multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Of the total of 2,466 participants, 56.9% were female and 43.1% male. No significant difference was found between the sex of the participants and the belief of casual contagion. However, after adjusting the model for the age of the participants, we found evidence of an association between stigma (adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.44,95% Confidence Interval[CI]:1.14-1.82) and discrimination (AOR = 2.02 95% CI:1.40-3.07) in the male participants. After adjusting for the sex and age of the participants, evidence of association was found among those with beliefs of casual contagion and reported stigma (AOR = 2.0, 95%CI:1.4-2.9), as well as strong evidence of association between stigma and reported discrimination (AOR = 2.2 95% CI:1.5-3.2). Conclusions: Students between the ages of 14-19 years who attend public schools of medium level, presented a high prevalence of belief of casual HIV infection, stigma and discrimination.