Adolescence and Sexual Education: Analysis of Educational Resources and Creation of Guidance Manual on Sexually Transmitted Infections

Abstract

In Brazil, there is significant concern regarding the incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) among young people and adolescents. Many informational materials on STIs are published by the Ministry of Health and private organizations. However, these pieces of information are not always easily accessible. The main objective of this work is to report the results of a study that sought to analyze educational materials containing information about STIs. The research adopted a qualitative approach and collected data from documents and records on sexual health available in libraries or on the internet with free access permission. We conducted a documentary analysis of each document based on the following elements: context, authors, interests, reliability, nature of the text, key concepts, and then proceeded with document analysis. The results led to the creation of a guidance manual on STIs, recommended for use by teachers working with adolescents. This study is significant in the context of CTS Education for inclusion, as it enables the expansion of adolescents’ access to reliable information about STIs, seeking to eliminate barriers to knowledge and responsible decision-making. In the final considerations, we pointed out that the development of critical skills can occur through the use of the guide as a facilitating material that helps adolescents understand, question, and evaluate information about STIs. Teachers can use the guide in the classroom, demonstrating the integration of CTS Education into formal education and assisting in the promotion of the inclusion of sexual health information in schools.