The Public University in Brazil Is Revisiting Its Social Commitment to Establish a School-Based Sex Education Program

Abstract

The sexual and reproductive health program, in Florianópolis/SC, promoted workshops, mounted and performed by medical students, in public elementary schools. After that, it was possible to investigate the students’ opinion with a transverse quantitative study. 333 school children aged from 11 to 16 and enrolled between 5th and 9th grades answered the questionnaire. In the sample, 15.9% had initiated sexual activity, and 38.8% of them did not use condoms every time. The young people who have not started sexual activities talk about sexuality with their parents in greater proportion than those who have already started (significant difference). The students’ evaluation about the project was positive. It is expected to raise interest in new strategies for sex education permanently in public elementary schools, with the support of higher education institutions and strengthening the participation of parents and caretakers, in the process.