[Adolescents: knowledge about sexuality before and after participating in prevention workshops]

Teenagers go through biological/psychosocial changes including experiencing his/her sexuality. Adolescent sexuality is often shown in unsafe sexual practices; lack of information, taboos or even the fear of accepting one s sexuality can turn it into a problem. This study aims at analyzing the knowledge of adolescents on sexuality, contraceptive methods, pregnancy, STD/AIDS before and after prevention workshops. 117 8th grade students of a public school in Londrina, Paraná, ages 14 to 16, comprised the sample. A pre- and post-test questionnaire was used and data analysis was based on the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Boys began their sexual activity earlier than girls. In the pre-test, 28.2% of the adolescents were informed about the girl's fertile period; after the workshops, this rate surpassed 55.8%. In the pre-test, AIDS was the most frequently mentioned STD; in the post-test other STDs were brought up (41.1%). The most well-known contraceptive methods were condoms and the pill. No statistically significant difference was found between the answers about risk behavior in relation to STD/AIDS transmission. Thus, it is necessary to reflect about and discuss ways of approaching the issue in schools in order to provide the adolescents with the knowledge they need to live their sexuality more safely.