Atividades investigativas no ensino médio: uma estratégia de educação em saúde para a conscientização e maior adesão à vacinação contra o Papilomavírus (HPV)

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the world. Currently, in Brazil, vaccine against HPV infection is offered for girls aged 9 to 14 and boys aged 11 to 14 years. The school has a relevant role in the scientific education, but also in the promotion of health and prevention of epidemics. In this context, the present work, carried out with high school students from a state public school in the city of Montes Claros (MG), a didactic sequence, based on the methodology of action research, in order to provide the opportunity to students reflecting about HPV, promoting infection awareness and improving adherence to HPV vaccination. This approach was developed mainly through the analysis and discussion of HPV materials from Ministry of Health, followed by the elaboration of strategic intervention proposals that could improve the vaccine adherence rate at school. In the first step, a questionnaire was applied as diagnostic for knowledge to the 3rd grade high school students about the HPV virus, infection and cervical cancer. In the next stage of knowledge construction, different activities were carried out, such as discussion group, seven workshops, and elaboration of material for HPV lectures organization and a blog. To quantify the vaccination coverage at the school, a survey of the vaccination status was carried out. Then, 3rd grade high school students presented a talk and apply a vaccination adherence surveyed post-intervention for the elementary students. The analysis of the data also showed that students unknowing vaccination schedule (age and doses) for the target public. In addition, the survey showed that the percentage of girls from elementary school who have already been vaccinated is higher than boys. The high school students talk promoted increased HPV vaccination for both girls and boys from elementary grade. In summary, all data suggest that the teaching biology through investigative activities not only promoted learning about HPV infection, but also stimulated the autonomy of high school students as agents of the construction of knowledge itself, contributing to awareness and behavior change, essential for reducing the incidence of HPV infection.