Adolescent development and sexual health in the curriculum of health science careers

Abstract

Adolescence is one of the most complex, profound and transitional stages of the life cycle, a time of interconnection in the biological, psychological, emotional, social, behavioral and cognitive dimensions until reaching maximum maturity; in response to this, society demands health professionals to contribute to the community in activities to promote health and prevent disease. In this sense, this study arises with the intention of determining the sexual health culture in sexually active adolescents.  For this purpose, a qualitative, phenomenological type of research was carried out, in which interviews were conducted with previously structured open-ended questions to 4 adolescents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After collecting the information, the results were subjected to analysis and interpretation through the process of categorization and coding, having obtained that: sexually active adolescents have little information on sexual health, sexual practice is generally monogamous, early onset, product of peer and acquaintance pressure, coupled with curiosity; there is condom use; however, the information comes from various sources and scarcely from the health unit.