The far-right leader made the claim, without citing a source, in a Facebook post he later deleted.

"This is the World Health Organization whose advice on coronavirus some people want me to follow," he wrote late Wednesday.

"Should we follow their education policy guidelines, too? For children zero to four years old: satisfaction and pleasure when touching their bodies, masturbation.... For children four to six years old: a positive gender identity... masturbation in early childhood, same-sex relations.... Nine to 12 years old: first sexual experience."

The allegations appeared to stem from social media posts suggesting the WHO encourages such practices among young children.

A Bolsonaro adviser, Arthur Weintraub, had earlier tweeted, "The WHO has guidelines recommending children zero to four years old be taught about 'masturbation,' 'pleasure and enjoyment,' 'touching one's body' and 'gender ideology.' Is that right?"