Sexualidade das adolescentes em situação de acolhimento: contexto de vulnerabilidade para DST

Abstract

Adolescent girls in care are no exception to the labels commonly applied to teenagers, but because of their context are more vulnerable to STDs. This qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study examined situations of vulnerability in the sexual health of adolescents in care. The scenarios were two reception units in Rio de Janeiro city. The sample comprised 10 adolescents from 13 to 18 years old. Data were collected between June and September 2014 using narrative interviews, and treated by thematic analysis. Two categories emerged: violence in dating as vulnerability in adolescents’ sexual health; and the teenager’s body and her sexuality: low self-esteem as a factor in vulnerability. The girls’ difficulty in pointing to strategies for credibility and empowerment portrayed a context of submission, subjugation and deprivation. Adolescent girls need to be identified as subjects of rights and capable of deciding on their own lives.