Representações de adolescentes do município de Santa Luzia/MG acerca da doença hepatite B, seus riscos e prevenção

Abstract

Adolescents are in a peculiar phase of life, filled with new experiences anddiscoveries. Therefore, they are more vulnerable to Sexually Transmissible Infections STI, including hepatitis B. The vaccine is the best resource available to prevent thisdisease. However, few adolescents are vaccinated in Santa Luzia/MG. The objectiveof this study was to understand the representations and attitudes related to the lowadhesion to the vaccine against hepatitis B by adolescents between 11 to 19 yearsold in the city of Santa Luzia/MG.To reach the goal proposed, qualitativemethodology was used, based on the Social Representations Theory. The researchwas done in two schools of the city, one public, and other private. 23 adolescentswere interviewed, seven boys and sixteen girls. The subjects were contacted in theirstudy places, during the time of the class, and invited to participate in an individualinterview, composed of a questionnaire with essay questions about therepresentations of the Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI), including hepatitis B,about vaccines and the vaccine against hepatitis B. The analysis of the interviewswas based on the Structural Analysis of Narrative. The results were organized in fourcategories: 1) Knowledge about sexually transmissible infections; 2)Informationsource about the sexually transmissible infections; 3) Adolescence and STIprevention and; 4) Vaccination and vaccine against hepatitis B. Data interpretationsindicated that adolescents do not have representations about hepatitis B vaccine norabout these infections specifically. There is a negative representation focused onaids, perceived as a bad disease that kills. However, other STI are put in a secondaryposition when it comes to seriousness. In some cases, adolescents have and seekinformation at school, in the media or in the social aspect of the subject. But thisknowledge is superficial and, many times, confusing. There is not a construction ofrepresentations from this knowledge. The representation of vaccine as a painfulprocedure is a part of childhood. However, nowadays, adolescents represent it assomething good, preventive. Yet, disinformation about STI and about the existenceof a vaccine against hepatitis B, allied with an absence of health practices for thispublic, favor low vaccine coverage against hepatitis B, and, consequently, a highervulnerability of the adolescents. This study points to the need to implement a sexualeducation program in both private and public schools of the city, in a partnership withthe health system, approaching the sexuality sphere. One can still assume that thiscould be the situation in other similar cities. Educational programs in health andprevention services need to be developed as an effective action before adolescentsget involved in risky behavior.