Promoção da saúde sexual de adolescentes na perspectiva dos profissionais de saúde da Atenção Primária de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Adolescence is the time of puberty and frequently the time for the first sexual intercourse. The influence of social contexts in which the teenagers develop, associated with their personal characteristics such as emotional maturity, impulsivity, and a defying attitude, often present in this phase of adolescence, creates an impact on the way they live their sexuality. The promotion of sexual health and reproductive health of teenagers is one of the challenges posted to the collective health and to the clinic. The current study discusses how the promotion of sexual and reproductive health of teenagers becomes effective from the perception of professionals who act in the Primary Attention to Health in Belo Horizonte/MG. The standoffs in guiding actions to promote sexual health and reproductive health may be associated to the historical, cultural and structural context of our society. Moral judgments, the sex and sexuality taboo, gender relation and religious values, which are intrinsic to our social culture, might all interfere in the conduct of the professional. In addition to this, there is the social representation of adolescence as often improper and unfavorable to teenagers. The main objective of this study, therefore, is to investigate the knowledge and conceptions which drive and guide the professional practice towards the promotion of sexual health and reproductive health of teenagers, in the Primary Attention of Health in Belo Horizonte. The qualitative method was used, with semistructured interviews for collecting data. We worked with an intentional convenience sample. Eight professionals in the primary attention of health in Belo Horizonte were invited to the interviews. The technique used to treat the data was the Content Qualitative Analysis. Despite the involvement of professionals, they stated difficulties for a comprehensive attention to teenagers. The importance to institutionalize a health policy to the adolescent, as well as to sexual health and reproductive health, is appointed as indispensable for the success of this approach.