CONHECIMENTO E PRÁTICA DE ADOLESCENTES E PROFISSIONAIS DA SAÚDE SOBRE GRAVIDEZ NA ADOLESCÊNCIA NO ÂMBITO DA ATENÇÃO PRIMÁRIA

Abstract

For its significance in the life of all involved, pregnancy should be planned, the effectiveness of which depends on access to both information and contraceptive methods. Data from the World Health Organization show that roughly 16 million adolescents aged 15-19 give birth annually, accounting for nearly 11% of global deliveries, most of which occur in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge on adolescent pregnancy and practices adopted to deal with this event held by primary-care professionals working in the Jardim Noroeste neighborhood of Campo Grande, the capital city of Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwest Brazil. Similarly, knowledge and practices held by girls aged 14-18 were investigated, most of whom resided in this same neighborhood, which has the highest number of adolescent pregnancies in the city. This descriptive, cross sectional, quantitative study drew on primary and secondary data collected from structured interviews at the local basic health unit (BHU) and public schools, and also during home visits and from discussion circles at various locations in the neighborhood. Twenty-eight community health workers (CHWs), 33 other professionals of the BHU, and 107 girls were interviewed. The majority of CHWs (53.8%) and 39.4% of the other professionals interviewed reported not knowing the frequency with which awareness-raising campaigns on adolescent pregnancy were run at their local BHU. Twenty-five (23.3%) of the 107 girls interviewed were pregnant at the time of the survey or had experienced a previous pregnancy. Seventy-two percent of the 25 pregnancies were unplanned, yet 24 (96%) cited using condoms and 22 (88%) reported knowing these contraceptives were available at BHUs. Pregnancy had led 28% of the girls to drop out of school, underscoring the socioeconomic impact of this event on the lives of adolescents. Of the 15 girls pregnant at the time of interview, 60% reported their mothers also conceived during adolescence, a rate suggesting perpetuation of a pattern. The adolescents held knowledge about family planning, but failed to apply it. Quality information about pregnancy in adolescence is urgently needed, and this could potentially be promoted by CHWs during home visits, especially among low-income families and high occupancy households. After interviews, training activities were conducted for public school teachers and primary-care professionals working in the neighborhood, as well as educational activities with students from local schools. Identifying low awareness in the region most vulnerable to adolescent pregnancy in Campo Grande can inform primary and family healthcare strategies for reducing pregnancy rates in this age group in the Jardim Noroeste neighborhood and other vulnerable regions in the city. Such efforts can help expand the support network available to these adolescents and improve their life prospects.