Conhecimento de adolescentes acerca das doenças sexualmente transmissíveis.

Abstract

The sexuality's development is occurring increasingly early, and most teenagers are starting their sexual life around 12 to 17 years old, becoming vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), in view of the characteristics of their age, the lack of skills for making decisions, and the lack of experience in dealing with their feelings and the other people's feelings, as well as the lack of responsibility when they are involved in affective and sexual relationships. This is .therefore, an exploratory and descriptive study with quantitative and qualitative approach that aimed to ascertain the knowledge level among teenagers enrolled in the Estrategia Saude da Familia Vital Rolim , situated in Cajazeiras - PB, about STDs, with emphasis on its transmission and prevention. The sample was composed of 30 adolescents goers of the mentioned unit, where they answered a half structured questionnaire between May and June. The data was analyzed descriptively , the objective questions quantitatively analyzed and presented in tables and graphs. The subjective questions were analyzed through the technique of content analysis. It is noteworthy that the study was submitted to the Ethics Committee in Research, of the Universidade Estadual da Paraiba (UEPB) being approved in opinion number 0182.0.133.000-1 EAfter analysis, was verified that teenagers have some knowledge about STDs, whereas the teenagers look for information about the subject at school, internet and television. Among the STD's best known by them are AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital herpes. The teenagers also claimed to know how is the STD's transmission. Although many adolescents have cited condoms as a preventive method, a significant proportion of them also said that to know the partner is a good prevention method. !t was also noted that teenagers don't seek for health services aimed at diseases prevention, but just when they are already sick. Most don't know i f activities were developed for adolescents' health, and some of them elucidated educational practices and prevention. We conclude, therefore, the necessity for a link among the health staff, the family and the school, that should participate more in sexuality education of teenagers.Thus, the adolescents' health requires a different look and multidisciplinary , in order to ensure the transition through this stage of life with biological and emotional risks reduced through the careful technical approach safe and humane.