Avaliação de uma intervenção educacional para a prevenção das DSTs - AIDS com adolescentes e adultos jovens que frequentavam Centros Sociais Urbanos em Fortaleza (Ce)

Abstract

The largest HIV contamination rates have been taking place among adolescents. This picture requests the intensification of prevention actions among this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efifectiveness of an educational intervention project in STDaids among adolescents and young adults who used to go to the Urban Social Centers in Fortaleza-CE. An intervention study was carried out among adolescents from both sexes, aged 13-23 years from October, 2001 to October, 2002. A control group (CG=244) and an experimental one (EG=68) were formed, being the latter submitted to interventions through workshops and drama. Both groups answered the same semi-structured questionnaire. The Fisher test was used to measure the occurring changes. The qualitative methodology was also employed, by using the field diary and the focal group. Three categories were built in the analysis starting fi-om the adolescents' talks. Concepts approached by specialists in the Intervention and fflV/AGDS fields were also^used in the inteq)retatioiL Only 23,3% of CG and 31,8% of EG (p>0.05) referred to seeking the public health service to talk about sexuality and STD. Almost all of them knew about the condom (CG=95,3% and EG=95,5%; p=0,94), however, only 14,8% used it in all their intercourse. The percentage (CG=69,2% and EG=84,8%; p=0,03) of adolescents who intended to use a contraceptive method in the next intercourse increased. The condom was the chosen method for 51,0%. There was cognition on DST-aids, but there are still significant doubts in relation to the transmission. According to the adolescents, the intervention provided a space for new conceptions. There is a discredit to the caring model of the health services. The prevention works should focus the main vulnerabilities and the social-cultural meanings involved in the construction of the adolescents' sexuality.