HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL CONTEXT: IMPACTS OF AN EXTENSION PROJECT WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH EMPHASIS ON TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy is a significant event in a woman's life, as well as in the life of the entire family. When it occurs during adolescence, this phase can be negatively marked by increasing certain risk factors in the lives of both the mother and family, as well as the child. The Health in Schools Program (PSE) is a health and education policy aimed at young people, children, and adolescents, whose objectives are the development of citizenship and the qualification of public policies. METHOD: This study was developed based on practices carried out within the scope of the extension project: Extension in Schools (PSE), in partnership with the Health in Schools Program (PSE), in 2024, in a city in the Cariri region of Paraíba. This is a descriptive, qualitative study, based on extension activities carried out by students of the bachelor's degree in nursing. The initiatives were implemented in public high schools, including the development and delivery of educational lectures and discussion groups focused on relevant health topics, appropriate for adolescents. RESULTS: Some authors describe schools as having a fundamental role in advising adolescents on sexuality. It appears that what is learned in schools about sexual orientation can be effectively absorbed, which is why the topic of teenage pregnancy is already being addressed in activities related to School Health. CONCLUSION: The partnership between the university, faculty, and the school community enhanced the project's impact, bringing significant benefits to the students' overall development, who now have greater access to quality information and opportunities for dialogue.