Saúde sexual e reprodutiva e autoestima em adolescentes do sexo feminino residentes no município de Juiz de Fora, MG

Abstract

The sexual life of Brazilians usually begins in adolescence. It is notorious that sexual practice in adolescence exposes this public to situations of unplanned pregnancy, unsafe abortions and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s). The risk of exposure to such situations is considerable, since a portion of the adolescent population reports not having used contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse. Self-esteem is one of the determining factors in the adoption of risky behavior in adolescence, whether in relation to risky sexual behaviors or the consumption of alcohol and drugs. To evaluate sexual and reproductive health and self-esteem in female adolescents from Juiz de Fora. It consists of a cross-sectional study with female adolescents (14-19 years) enrolled in state schools in Juiz de Fora, MG. The dependent variables include sexarche, age at sex, use of contraceptive methods in the first and last sexual intercourse and self-esteem. Anthropometric measurements and questionnaires were used to obtain data. Pearson's chi-square test and logistic and linear regression analyzes (both multivariate) were used to identify factors associated with outcomes. The variables with p <0.05 were considered significant. 480 adolescents were evaluate. Among them, 44.1% have had sexual intercourse, 34.8% had their sexual debut under the age of 15. It was notice that condom use decreased between the first (67.3%) and the last relationship (52.9%), while the use of other contraceptive methods grew between the first (26.1%) and the last relationship (44.7%). In addition, 35.8% of the sample had low self-esteem. An association was observed between sexarche and the variables cigarette experimentation, previous history of drunkenness, age, self-esteem and conversation with family members about sex. Regarding the age of the debut sexual, they were associated: age of experimentation with cigarettes and age of menarche. Regarding the use of contraceptive methods, the following variables were associated with the outcomes: number of visits to the health service, experimentation with cigarettes, mother’s education level, maturation of pubic hair, age of sexarche, condom use in the first and last relationship, use of other contraceptive methods in the last relationship, self-esteem, age and conversation with family members about sex. As for self-esteem, an association was observed with the following variables: mother's education level, economic class, adolescents 'and parents' perception of health, experimentation with alcohol and cigarettes, screening for bulimia nervosa, age, satisfaction with weight and with body image. In view of the diversity of factors that affect the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, it seems sensible to say that the programs and policies that will focus on this theme, should address not only the prevention of STIs and other problems that unprotected sexual intercourse entails, as well as encompass aspects of self-esteem and body image, since low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction can be triggers for the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes, consumption that can even increase the adoption of risky sexual behaviors among adolescents.