Elder Cerqueira-Santos

Gravidez na adolescência: análise contextual de risco e proteção

Early pregnancy has been widely understood as a risk factor, moreover, in some cases, it has been considering as a protective factor. Thus, more studies among this population should be done, looking for the variables involving such question. This exploratory-descriptive study had as aim to identify the existent differences among a group of adolescents that lived the pregnancy experience. Participants were 1015 low SES young people from Porto Alegre, aged between 14-24, males and females. A questionnaire with 109 questions was used asking about major domains of life: drug use, sexuality, religiosity, school. There were more females 52.3% than males 47.7% in the sample. Most of the participants already had their first sexual intercourse, 53.5%, most of them males (64.6%). The average for first sexual intercourse was lower for males (M=13.64; dp=1.7) than females (M=14.79; dp=1.4). Results indicate an expected rate of pregnancy and abortion for low SES young. We stress the low age for first sexual intercourse and the fact that ¼ of our sample has an irregular contraceptive method. We discuss about contraceptive method and abortion linked to the adolescents health.Early pregnancy has been widely understood as a risk factor, moreover, in some cases, it has been considering as a protective factor. Thus, more studies among this population should be done, looking for the variables involving such question. This exploratory-descriptive study had as aim to identify the existent differences among a group of adolescents that lived the pregnancy experience. Participants were 1015 low SES young people from Porto Alegre, aged between 14-24, males and females. A questionnaire with 109 questions was used asking about major domains of life: drug use, sexuality, religiosity, school. There were more females 52.3% than males 47.7% in the sample. Most of the participants already had their first sexual intercourse, 53.5%, most of them males (64.6%). The average for first sexual intercourse was lower for males ( M=13.64; dp= 1.7) than females ( M=14.79; dp= 1.4). Results indicate an expected rate of pregnancy and abortion for low SES young. We stress the low age for first sexual intercourse and the fact that ¼ of our sample has an irregular contraceptive method. We discuss about contraceptive method and abortion linked to the adolescents health.

Developmental risks and psychosocial adjustment among low-income Brazilian youth

Exposure to developmental risks in three domains (community, economic, and family), and relations between risks and psychosocial well-being, were examined among 918 impoverished Brazilian youth aged 14-19 (M = 15.8 years, 51.9% female) recruited in low-income neighborhoods in one city in Southern Brazil. High levels of developmental risks were reported, with levels and types of risks varying by gender, age, and (to a lesser extent) race. Associations between levels of risks in the various domains and indicators of psychological (e.g., self-esteem, negative emotionality) and behavioral (e.g., substance use) adjustment differed for male and female respondents. Findings build on prior research investigating the development of young people in conditions of pervasive urban poverty and reinforce the value of international research in this endeavor.

Exploração sexual comercial de crianças e adolescentes: um estudo com caminhoneiros brasileiros

This article aims at understanding the reasons for children and adolescents commercial sexual exploitation by the perception of brazilian truck drivers, both clients and non clients of this service. Based on a questionnaire, interviews were made with 239 truck drivers in different regions in Brazil. The answers were categorized and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and mean). The main reasons stressed were the social and economic inequality, the strong male chauvinist culture and the drivers ideas about adulthood as well as the tendency to feel not responsible for the children and adolescents abused and the poor knowledge and consideration for the rights and development characteristics of this population. We may conclude emphasizing the importance of studies which stress the abuser perspective. They may contribute to better understand the economic, social, cultural and political realities involved both in the formation of the demand as well as of the offer of sexual commerce. Based on this information, it could be possible to elaborate more efficient projects to confront this problem.

Early pregnancy: a contextual analysis about risk and protection

Early pregnancy has been widely understood as a risk factor, moreover, in some cases, it has been considering as a protective factor. Thus, more studies among this population should be done, looking for the variables involving such question. This exploratory-descriptive study had as aim to identify the existent differences among a group of adolescents that lived the pregnancy experience. Participants were 1015 low SES young people from Porto Alegre, aged between 14-24, males and females. A questionnaire with 109 questions was used asking about major domains of life: drug use, sexuality, religiosity, school. There were more females 52.3% than males 47.7% in the sample. Most of the participants already had their first sexual intercourse, 53.5%, most of them males (64.6%). The average for first sexual intercourse was lower for males (M=13.64; dp=1.7) than females (M=14.79; dp=1.4). Results indicate an expected rate of pregnancy and abortion for low SES young. We stress the low age for first sexual intercourse and the fact that ¼ of our sample has an irregular contraceptive method. We discuss about contraceptive method and abortion linked to the adolescents health.Early pregnancy has been widely understood as a risk factor, moreover, in some cases, it has been considering as a protective factor. Thus, more studies among this population should be done, looking for the variables involving such question. This exploratory-descriptive study had as aim to identify the existent differences among a group of adolescents that lived the pregnancy experience. Participants were 1015 low SES young people from Porto Alegre, aged between 14-24, males and females. A questionnaire with 109 questions was used asking about major domains of life: drug use, sexuality, religiosity, school. There were more females 52.3% than males 47.7% in the sample. Most of the participants already had their first sexual intercourse, 53.5%, most of them males (64.6%). The average for first sexual intercourse was lower for males ( M=13.64; dp= 1.7) than females ( M=14.79; dp= 1.4). Results indicate an expected rate of pregnancy and abortion for low SES young. We stress the low age for first sexual intercourse and the fact that ¼ of our sample has an irregular contraceptive method. We discuss about contraceptive method and abortion linked to the adolescents health.

Religião, saúde e cura: um estudo entre neopentecostais

The precarious health system has taken great part of the population to search alternative forms for the re-establishment of his/her well-being. We sought to understand the way he/she feels the construction of the notions of health and disease starting from a religious vision of the world and with the influences of this conception in the patients’ relationship with Medicine or with the search for supernatural powers. Participating in six cults of a neopentecostal church, we observed and accomplished semi-structured interviews with three followers and a shepherd. We noticed that the speech of the church supplies sense, guides and helps the people to solve problems and outline their daily afflictions. The “devil” becomes the main cause of all evils. Thus the disease becomes a demoniac action and the cure requests the exorcism of the faithful. It stands out that the rituals of cure in the church and the medical consultation are almost excluding actions.

Exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes: uma análise comparativa entre caminhoneiros clientes e não-clientes do comércio sexual

This study aims at comparing two groups of truck drivers, clients and non-clients of children and adolescents commercial sexual exploitation (ESCA). Interviews were conducted with 239 truck drivers in different areas of Brazil. The data were analyzed statistically by inferential and descriptive analyses. The comparison between the groups showed that those who said they were clients of ESCA (n = 85) use to have a higher loading time than the ones in the other group (n = 154). Moreover, the clients use to utilize more prostitutes services and have less knowledge of childrens rights. However, the profiles of both groups were very similar, according to demographic and professional data. This study highlighted the circumstantial feature of the relationship between the truck drivers and the children and adolescents commercial sexual exploitation.

Concepções de policiais sobre crianças em situação de rua: um estudo sobre preconceito

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a concepcao que policiais militares tem das criancas em situacao de rua. Pela tecnica da insercao ecologica, doze policiais homens foram selecionados ao acaso e entrevistados nas ruas perante um roteiro pre-estabelecido. Foi realizada uma analise qualitativa do conteudo das entrevistas e de diarios de campo dos pesquisadores. Os criterios utilizados pelos policiais para definir a crianca em situacao de rua foram a aparencia, as atividades desenvolvidas na rua, o comportamento, a frequencia com que as criancas estao na rua, o local de permanencia e a relacao da crianca com a familia. Para todos os criterios houve uma tendencia a valoracao negativa, no entanto, percebeu-se uma relativizacao do conceito criado. O estudo destacou a importância da qualificacao profissional no enfrentamento deste problema social, sobretudo num carater educativo que revele melhor a dinâmica de vida das criancas em situacao de rua.