Beginning of sexual activity in 15 year olds: health promotion

Abstract

Adolescence is the period of life between 10 and 19 years of conflict. Phase of intense physical, psychological and social changes that lead adolescents to promote breakdowns in their relationship with their parents and reinforce their proximity to the group of friends. Here are the first experiences of love and sex, which can lead to sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. The objective of this study was to identify the attitudes of Portuguese primary care nurses to the 15-year-old girl about the beginning
of sexual intercourse. Quantitative methodology, descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study. The data collection instrument was the questionnaire. Sample comprised of 1735 nurses from 226 health centers in mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. Most nurses would explain to the 15-year-old that he asked for “help” to start their sex life, the girl (54.2%) or boy (45.9%) the pros and cons of the decision and would report the need to use contraceptive methods, either boys or girls (32.7%) and boys (40.1%). Nurses 38 years of age or older with adolescent children who started their sexual activity after marriage advised the 15-year-old on the need to use contraceptive methods, or deviated from the subject, nurses with less than 38 years advised to postpone for later or to support the decision with some suggestions. As p greater than 0.05, we concluded nurses would advise the 15-year-old girl and boy to initiate sexual activity due to the existence of adolescent children, and specific training on sexuality and the context of their sexual initiation. It was concluded that the nurses without children supported the decision although with some suggestions, nurses with adolescent children explained the pros and cons and reported the need to use contraceptive methods.