Learning to take care helps minimize the damages of sexual violence: a report of experience

Abstract

This report is about an experiment conducted within the discipline Applied Assistance Nursing by 4 Nursing undergraduate students, a nurse and a professor, and aimed at caring and educating adolescents victims of sexual violence, in order to motivate them to health self-care, which is usually neglected in the context adolescent victims of sexual abuse live, due to the heavy pressure they are exposed to. The project was developed at Complexo Ilha Criança through workshops and Nursing appointments. A total of 15 adolescents of both sexes participated in this project, where topics suggested by the group were approached: body changes in puberty, dating, contraceptive methods, pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The evaluation showed the achievement of the goals, judged by the improvement noticed in the adolescents’ behavior, compatible with their chronological age and responsibility. Also, it made evident the relevance of the Nursing role in the interdisciplinary assistance which is required in such complex situation and that the chosen methodology proved to be adequate for the implementation of the project.