Abstract
Objective: To identify the knowledge and sexual behavior of adolescents in the interior of Mato Grosso. Methods: Cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive and quantitative study, carried out with 57 male adolescents in 2018, students at a high school located in a municipality in the Midwest region, in the state of Mato Grosso, which were evaluated using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The analysis of the data revealed that the adolescents have knowledge about sexuality, although they reported not having the necessary freedom to talk about the topic within the family, using dubious sources, such as the internet and friends. On the other hand, the results pointed to an unsafe sexual practice among them, with emphasis on the non-use of condoms during sexual intercourse and the practice of sex under the influence of alcohol. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the need to carry out activities that involve health promotion and disease prevention that meets the doubts about sexuality among adolescents, extending to family members and teachers. Thus, it is believed that this group of the population will have the necessary understanding to develop safe sexual behavior, thus expanding their self-care for their sexual health.