Dynamic health education strategies for STI prevention

experience with young apprentices

Authors

Keywords:

Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Sexual Vulnerability, Primary Health Care

Abstract

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a significant health risk to young people and adolescents, who are more vulnerable due to the lack of information at the beginning of their sexual life. Health education is essential to promote knowledge, clarify doubts, and encourage responsible decision-making. Objective: To report the experience of medical students in carrying out a health education activity that is part of a curricular extension project with young apprentices. Experience Report: A health education activity was carried out with 14 youth apprentices during the second semester of 2023. The theme and methodology of the visit were defined through dialogue with the participants. Third-semester medical students developed informational pamphlets on STIs and led an interactive activity. The participants, divided into groups, answered questions about clinical cases using boards with options A, B, and C, stimulating discussion. At the end of each round, doubts were clarified. Theoretical Reflections: Most young apprentices demonstrated prior knowledge about STIs, although still insufficient to ensure full health. There was active participation from the target audience, attentive study of the informational booklet, and group discussion to solve the proposed questions. Final Considerations: The relevance of dynamic and participatory educational approaches for disseminating health information is highlighted. Moreover, this experience contributed to a more humanized training of the medical students.

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Each day, more than 1 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections. 6 Jun 2019. Accessed: Jan 6, 2025. Available from: https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/6-6-2019-cada-dia-ha-1-milhao-novos-casos-infeccoes-sexualmente-transmissiveis-curaveis.

2. Zanotta N, Magni E, De Seta F, Petix V, Sossi K, Colli C, Monasta L, Suligoi B, Comar M. Sexually Transmitted Infections in Italian Young and Adult People: A Worrying Positive Trend Hidden by COVID-19 Epidemic. Microorganisms. 2024 Aug 6;12(8):1600. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39203443/

3. Anbesu EW, Aychiluhm SB, Alemayehu M, Asgedom DK, Kifle ME. A systematic review and meta-analysis of sexually transmitted infection prevention practices among Ethiopian young people. SAGE Open Med. 2023 Jan 4; 11:20503121221145640. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9827517/

4. Ministry of Health (Brazil). Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). [2024]. Accessed: Jan 6, 2025. Available from: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/saude-de-a-a-z/i/ist

5. Silva IA da, Pereira LMM, Muniz FJ de A, Soares AF. Perceptions, evidence and prevention of STIs among students from two reference high schools in the city of Paudalho/PE. RSD [Internet]. 2023Jan.14 [cited 2025Jan.7];12(2): e3812239881. Available from: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/39881

6. Spindola T, Santana RSC, Antunes RF, Machado YY, Moraes PC de. Prevention of sexually transmitted infections in the sexual routines of young people: differences according to gender. Ciênc saúde coletiva [Internet]. 2021Jul;26(7):2683–92. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021267.08282021

7. de Wit JBF, Adam PCG, den Daas C, Jonas K. Sexually transmitted infection prevention behaviours: health impact, prevalence, correlates, and interventions. Psychol Health. 2023;38(6):675-700. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08870446.2022.2090560

8. Moreira GBC, Martins GBB da S, Péret ISA, Pires LCS, Ribeiro LFC, Santos LI dos. Adolescents and sexually transmitted infections: risk behaviors and contextual factors that contribute to the increased incidence in Brazil. Rev Interdiscip Ciênc Méd. 2021;5(1). Available at: https://revista.fcmmg.br/index.php/RICM/article/view/120

9. Couto ACB, Silva AT, Picinin GL de S, Silva HG da, Caldeira MVR, Zimmermann JB. Sexual behavior of higher education students. REAS [Internet]. 25 Aug. 2023 [cited 7 jan. 2025];23(8):e13117. Available from: https://acervomais.com.br/index.php/saude/article/view/13117

10. Fontes MB, Crivelaro RC, Scartezini AM, Lima DD, Garcia A de A, Fujioka RT. Determinant factors of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding STIs/AIDS and viral hepatitis among young people aged 18 to 29 in Brazil. Ciênc saúde coletiva [Internet]. 2017Apr;22(4):1343–52. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232017224.12852015

11. Bergamini M, Cucchi A, Guidi E, Stefanati A, Bonato B, Lupi S, Gregorio P. Risk perception of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage sexual behaviour: attitudes in a sample of Italian adolescents. J Prev Med Hyg. 2013;54(2):114-9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24396993/

12. da Fonte VRF, Spindola T, Lemos A, Francisco MTR, Oliveira CSR. Knowledge and risk perception regarding sexually transmitted infections among young university students. Cogitare Enferm. 2018;23(3). Available from: https://revistas.ufpr.br/cogitare/article/view/55903

13. Spindola T, Melo LD, Brandão JL, Oliveira DC, Marques SC, Arreguy-Sena C, Pinto PF. Social representation of young people in higher education about sexually transmitted infections. Rev Bras Enferm. 2023 Dec 4;76(6):e20220406. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38055469/

14. Pinto VM, Basso CR, Barros CR dos S, Gutierrez EB. Factors associated with sexually transmitted infections: a population survey in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil. Ciênc saúde coletiva [Internet]. 2018 Jul;23(7):2423–32. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018237.20602016

15. de Pontes APM, da Costa MM, Justem FF, Santos TE, Chaves TF. Sexual behavior of young university students in the nursing course regarding STIs/AIDS in the interior of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Rev Saber Digital [Internet]. 22 Jan 2020 [cited 7 Jan 2025];12(2):17-32. Available from: https://revistas.faa.edu.br/SaberDigital/article/view/787

16. Soares AER, Rocha GB de S, Santos JVS dos, Neiva GSM, Neiva GSM, Ferreira MER, et al. Health promotion and STI prevention: extension activities in a dialogical approach in Maceió – AL. Rev Ext Deb [Internet]. Dec 2022;11(10). Available from: https://www.seer.ufal.br/index.php/extensaoemdebate/article/view/14803

17. Barros LGDS, Terto ML, Ramos ABBR, Braga DVV. Playful teaching as a tool for educational transformation. IJET [Internet]. 2023 Dec 31 [cited 2025 Jan 4];6(3):222-36. Available from: https://ijet-pdvl.institutoidv.org/index.php/pdvl/article/view/302

18. Góis CL de A, Soares J de L, Moreira B dos S, Carneiro KS, Santana JSE de, Souza MC de. Adolescent knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, challenges and formative processes: a literature review. REASE [Internet]. Sep 2024; 10(9):3983-97. Available from: https://periodicorease.pro.br/rease/article/view/15778

19. Merenhque CC, Barreto CN, Cremonese L, Sehnem GD, Demori CC, Neves ET. Knowledge and behavior of nursing students regarding the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Rev Enferm UFSM [Internet]. Nov 2020;11:e4. Available from: https://periodicos.ufsm.br/reufsm/article/view/43700

20. Silva RBP. Cooperative games: a feasibility study for the sexual education of adolescents in conflict with the law [dissertation]. São Paulo: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); 2021. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11449/214089

21. Alencar NES, Pinto MAO, Leite NT, Vieira CM da S. Serious games for sex education of adolescents and young people: an integrative literature review. Ciênc saúde coletiva [Internet]. 2022 Aug;27(8):3129–38. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232022278.00632022

22. Jobim MLA, Nascimento AS do, Santos TDV dos, Silva JPM da, Simões T dos S. The importance of sexual prevention for school-age adolescents in Brazil: a nurse's perspective. Revista JRG [Internet]. jun 2023;6(13):808-19. Available from: https://revistajrg.com/index.php/jrg/article/view/637

Published

2026-02-07

How to Cite

1.
Oliveira MP de, Batista JEA, Silva A de O. Dynamic health education strategies for STI prevention: experience with young apprentices. REES [Internet]. 2026 Feb. 7 [cited 2026 Jun. 11];5(1):e678. Available from: https://revista.fcmmg.br/index.php/REES/article/view/678