IMPACT OF SEXUAL EDUCATION ON ADOLESCENTS IN PREVENTING UNPROTECTED SEX AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

This article sought to contribute to the understanding of the impact and effectiveness of sex education in preventing risky behaviors, for the formulation of public policies and more effective educational practices classified into 3 criteria: increased knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, correct use of reliable contraceptives, and sexual abstinence. A search for previous articles was carried out on the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and National Library of Medicine (PubMed) platforms, considering the descriptors "sex education" and "adolescent", both terms in quotation marks, using the Boolean operator "AND". Articles published in English and Portuguese, free of charge, and controlled clinical studies were included, excluding those not related to the study, which did not clearly discuss the impact of education on sexual and reproductive health. At the end of this search, 18 scientific articles were analyzed. It was seen that sex education significantly impacts the correct use of safe contraceptives and knowledge about anatomy, physiology, and sexual health, although the impacts on sexual abstinence remain controversial. Sex education in schools is essential to reduce the vulnerability of adolescents to sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy, and risky behaviors despite the challenges due to cultural taboos and differences of opinion on the subject. Keywords: Sexual Health; Reproductive Health; Sex Education.