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Community violence (CV) is a global public health problem due to its high frequency and severe consequences. Although CV is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents, little is known about the everyday CV situations that do not lead to death. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of exposure to and involvement in CV situations among adolescent students from public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study of 693 individuals in their second year of high school selected through stratified multistage random sampling. Information about their exposure to and involvement in CV was collected through a self-completed multidimensional questionnaire in the classrooms. For approximately 30% of the adolescents, someone close to them had been murdered, and 40% had already seen the corpse of a victim of homicide. Seventeen percent reported having been directly involved in CV situations. Approximately 38%, 13%, and 25% had been victims of robberies, interpersonal aggression, and death threats to either themselves or their relatives, respectively. Many of these situations occurred more than once. In general, CV was more frequently reported by boys and by those who did not live with both parents. Adolescents from higher economic classes experienced more interpersonal aggression and felt a greater need to carry a gun. Those who belonged to the lower economic classes and studied in public schools were more exposed to lethal violence than other students. The results call attention to the very high percentage of adolescent students that are involved in CV situations as well as to the differences in violence rates among population subgroups. Such findings should be considered when planning CV prevention and management actions in schools and other socialization spaces for adolescents.

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Article 217-A of Brazilian Law n. 12,015/2009 defines carnal knowledge or any other libidinous act with an individual under 14 years of age as "rape of a vulnerable individual" (statutory rape). Given the young average age at sexual initiation in current society, the study aimed to understand the adolescents' views of sexual initiation, sexual assault, and the law that defines sex at this age as "rape of a vulnerable individual". The authors used a qualitative approach with 13 focus groups totaling 132 secondary students from public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data analysis used the webQDA software with a hermeneutic-dialectic approach that yielded three categories: feeling ready to initiate sexual activity, (in)vulnerability to sexual assault, and protective mechanisms. Girls associated sexual initiation with a romantic vision and feeling safe with and trusting the partner. Boys associated it with opportunity, regardless of other factors. Most of the students felt that when consent to the sexual act is mutual, regardless of age, there is no violence involved. At the same time, they wondered about the possibility of younger girls' discernment to consent to having sex. Most of these adolescents disagreed with the protective measures established by the law, arguing that it is the family's duty to provide this care. The contradictions in the adolescents' views concerning vulnerability to sexual assault and rape of vulnerable individuals as defined by the law lead us to conclude that it is necessary to expand and improve sex education in general for Brazilian adolescents, besides creating spaces for discussion that can help improve these legal provisions.

O Art. 217-A da Lei nº 12.015/2009 definiu como crime de estupro de vulnerável a conjunção carnal ou outro ato libidinoso praticados com menor de 14 anos. Diante da baixa idade de início da atividade sexual observada na atualidade, objetivamos neste estudo compreender a concepção de adolescentes acerca da iniciação sexual, da violência sexual e da lei que a tipifica como "estupro de vulnerável". Utilizamos método qualitativo por meio de 13 grupos focais com 132 estudantes do Ensino Médio de escolas públicas e privadas do Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A análise dos dados foi realizada com apoio do software webQDA, em uma abordagem hermenêutico-dialética que deu origem a três categorias: sentir-se apto a iniciar o sexo, (in)vulnerabilidade à violência sexual e mecanismos de proteção. A iniciação sexual para as moças está relacionada a uma visão romântica, a se sentirem seguras e terem confiança no parceiro, ao passo que, para os rapazes, está associada a oportunidade, livre de outros fatores. Para a maioria dos estudantes, quando o consentimento para a prática sexual é mútuo, independente da idade, não há violência. Ao mesmo tempo, questionam-se quanto à capacidade de discernimento das mais jovens para permitir o sexo. A maior parte discorda das medidas protetivas previstas na lei, por entender que é dever da família prover esse cuidado. As contradições na percepção dos adolescentes sobre a vulnerabilidade à violência sexual e o estupro de vulnerável previsto em lei nos levam a concluir que é necessário ampliar e qualificar a educação sexual de forma abrangente para adolescentes, assim como criar espaços de discussão que possam proporcionar aperfeiçoamento desse dispositivo legal.

El Art. 217-A de la Ley nº 12.015/2009 definió como delito la violación de personas vulnerables, la unión carnal, u otro acto libidinoso practicado con un menor de 14 años. Ante la baja edad para la iniciación sexual observada en la actualidad, el objetivo de este estudio fue comprender la concepción de los adolescentes sobre: iniciación sexual, violencia sexual y la ley que la tipifica la "violación de una persona vulnerable". Utilizamos el método cualitativo mediante 13 grupos focales con 132 estudiantes de enseñanza media de escuelas públicas y privadas del municipio de Río de Janeiro, Brasil. El análisis de datos se realizó con el apoyo del software webQDA, desde un enfoque hermenéutico-dialéctico que dio origen a 3 categorías: sentirse apto para iniciarse en el sexo, (in)vulnerabilidad ante la violencia sexual y mecanismos de protección. La iniciación sexual en el caso de las chicas está relacionada con la visión romántica, sentirse seguras y tener confianza en la pareja, mientras que, para los chicos, está asociada a la oportunidad, aparte de otros factores. Para la mayoría de los estudiantes, cuando el consentimiento para la práctica sexual es mutuo, independientemente de la edad, no hay violencia. Al mismo tiempo, se cuestionan respecto a la capacidad de discernimiento de las más jóvenes para permitir el sexo. La mayor parte está en desacuerdo con las medidas protectoras previstas en la ley, por entender que es un deber de la familia proporcionar ese cuidado. Las contradicciones en la percepción de los adolescentes sobre la vulnerabilidad a la violencia sexual y la violación de personas de vulnerables prevista en la ley nos llevan a la conclusión de que es necesario ampliar y mejorar la educación sexual de manera que abarque a los adolescentes, así como crear espacios de discusión que puedan perfeccionar este recurso legal.

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BACKGROUND: Teen-dating violence (TDV) can lead to health problems for those involved, especially females, including homicides and is predictive of intimate partner violence in adulthood. METHODS: To analyze the adolescents' perception of definitions, justifications and consequences of TDV, a qualitative study through 13 focus groups with 132 high school students from public and private schools of Rio de Janeiro city, including 70 girls and 62 boys was conducted. We followed a guide with questions about interpersonal violence and participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on socio-demographic data. The data analysis included reading and comprehension of the textual data; coding of the reports according to the emerged categories; identification of the meanings attributed by the subjects to the questions raised; comparative dialogue with literature; and elaboration of interpretative synthesis. RESULTS: Most adolescents affirmed that TDV is not justifiable. However, in practice, they found it acceptable in certain situations. The narratives of the boys were based on the role of the perpetrator and the girls on that of the victim. Violence occurs when the man feels his power challenged and is influenced by situations of violence experienced in his own family as victims or witnesses. The TDV consequences are for the women and include, in addition to physical and psychological damage, relational problems in other spheres such as family, friends and school. The experience of violence was more common among public school students. CONCLUSIONS: The adolescents' narratives reflect the gender patterns of society in which violence results from inequality of power. The data of this study offer subsidies to policies on TDV prevention and its consequences. They can contribute to training primary care professionals to identify on clinical consultations signs and symptoms of violence and to develop interventions to reduce the health problems of victims.

RESUMO

Resumo: O Art. 217-A da Lei nº 12.015/2009 definiu como crime de estupro de vulnerável a conjunção carnal ou outro ato libidinoso praticados com menor de 14 anos. Diante da baixa idade de início da atividade sexual observada na atualidade, objetivamos neste estudo compreender a concepção de adolescentes acerca da iniciação sexual, da violência sexual e da lei que a tipifica como "estupro de vulnerável". Utilizamos método qualitativo por meio de 13 grupos focais com 132 estudantes do Ensino Médio de escolas públicas e privadas do Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A análise dos dados foi realizada com apoio do software webQDA, em uma abordagem hermenêutico-dialética que deu origem a três categorias: sentir-se apto a iniciar o sexo, (in)vulnerabilidade à violência sexual e mecanismos de proteção. A iniciação sexual para as moças está relacionada a uma visão romântica, a se sentirem seguras e terem confiança no parceiro, ao passo que, para os rapazes, está associada a oportunidade, livre de outros fatores. Para a maioria dos estudantes, quando o consentimento para a prática sexual é mútuo, independente da idade, não há violência. Ao mesmo tempo, questionam-se quanto à capacidade de discernimento das mais jovens para permitir o sexo. A maior parte discorda das medidas protetivas previstas na lei, por entender que é dever da família prover esse cuidado. As contradições na percepção dos adolescentes sobre a vulnerabilidade à violência sexual e o estupro de vulnerável previsto em lei nos levam a concluir que é necessário ampliar e qualificar a educação sexual de forma abrangente para adolescentes, assim como criar espaços de discussão que possam proporcionar aperfeiçoamento desse dispositivo legal.

Resumen: El Art. 217-A de la Ley nº 12.015/2009 definió como delito la violación de personas vulnerables, la unión carnal, u otro acto libidinoso practicado con un menor de 14 años. Ante la baja edad para la iniciación sexual observada en la actualidad, el objetivo de este estudio fue comprender la concepción de los adolescentes sobre: iniciación sexual, violencia sexual y la ley que la tipifica la "violación de una persona vulnerable". Utilizamos el método cualitativo mediante 13 grupos focales con 132 estudiantes de enseñanza media de escuelas públicas y privadas del municipio de Río de Janeiro, Brasil. El análisis de datos se realizó con el apoyo del software webQDA, desde un enfoque hermenéutico-dialéctico que dio origen a 3 categorías: sentirse apto para iniciarse en el sexo, (in)vulnerabilidad ante la violencia sexual y mecanismos de protección. La iniciación sexual en el caso de las chicas está relacionada con la visión romántica, sentirse seguras y tener confianza en la pareja, mientras que, para los chicos, está asociada a la oportunidad, aparte de otros factores. Para la mayoría de los estudiantes, cuando el consentimiento para la práctica sexual es mutuo, independientemente de la edad, no hay violencia. Al mismo tiempo, se cuestionan respecto a la capacidad de discernimiento de las más jóvenes para permitir el sexo. La mayor parte está en desacuerdo con las medidas protectoras previstas en la ley, por entender que es un deber de la familia proporcionar ese cuidado. Las contradicciones en la percepción de los adolescentes sobre la vulnerabilidad a la violencia sexual y la violación de personas de vulnerables prevista en la ley nos llevan a la conclusión de que es necesario ampliar y mejorar la educación sexual de manera que abarque a los adolescentes, así como crear espacios de discusión que puedan perfeccionar este recurso legal.

Abstract: Article 217-A of Brazilian Law n. 12,015/2009 defines carnal knowledge or any other libidinous act with an individual under 14 years of age as "rape of a vulnerable individual" (statutory rape). Given the young average age at sexual initiation in current society, the study aimed to understand the adolescents' views of sexual initiation, sexual assault, and the law that defines sex at this age as "rape of a vulnerable individual". The authors used a qualitative approach with 13 focus groups totaling 132 secondary students from public and private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data analysis used the webQDA software with a hermeneutic-dialectic approach that yielded three categories: feeling ready to initiate sexual activity, (in)vulnerability to sexual assault, and protective mechanisms. Girls associated sexual initiation with a romantic vision and feeling safe with and trusting the partner. Boys associated it with opportunity, regardless of other factors. Most of the students felt that when consent to the sexual act is mutual, regardless of age, there is no violence involved. At the same time, they wondered about the possibility of younger girls' discernment to consent to having sex. Most of these adolescents disagreed with the protective measures established by the law, arguing that it is the family's duty to provide this care. The contradictions in the adolescents' views concerning vulnerability to sexual assault and rape of vulnerable individuals as defined by the law lead us to conclude that it is necessary to expand and improve sex education in general for Brazilian adolescents, besides creating spaces for discussion that can help improve these legal provisions.

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OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the knowledge produced in studies about the association between violence and STI during pregnancy. METHODS: In this systematic review, we conducted basic activities of identification, compilation, and registration of the trials. The instruments of data collection were studies that investigated, explicitly, relationships between violence, gestation, and STI, from July 2012 to July 2017, using PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and LILACS. RESULTS: In all, 26 articles were chosen to form the basis of the analysis of this study. The relationship between violence and STI was observed in 22 of the 26 studies, and in eight of them, the violence was practiced during the gestation period. In two studies, there was no evidence of this relationship. In one study, the lack of care for STI was attributed to the unpreparedness of health professionals. Mental disorders were cited as resulting from STI in three articles and in another as a result of violence. One study found more frequent violence against adolescents, while two others cited gestation as a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: IPV combines characteristics that have a different expression when the woman is in the gestational period. The literature points to a relationship between IPV against women and the presence of STI. The monitoring of pregnancy, whether in the prenatal or postpartum period, offers unique opportunities for the health professional to identify situations of violence and thus provide assistance.

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SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the knowledge produced in studies about the association between violence and STI during pregnancy. METHODS: In this systematic review, we conducted basic activities of identification, compilation, and registration of the trials. The instruments of data collection were studies that investigated, explicitly, relationships between violence, gestation, and STI, from July 2012 to July 2017, using PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and LILACS. RESULTS: In all, 26 articles were chosen to form the basis of the analysis of this study. The relationship between violence and STI was observed in 22 of the 26 studies, and in eight of them, the violence was practiced during the gestation period. In two studies, there was no evidence of this relationship. In one study, the lack of care for STI was attributed to the unpreparedness of health professionals. Mental disorders were cited as resulting from STI in three articles and in another as a result of violence. One study found more frequent violence against adolescents, while two others cited gestation as a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: IPV combines characteristics that have a different expression when the woman is in the gestational period. The literature points to a relationship between IPV against women and the presence of STI. The monitoring of pregnancy, whether in the prenatal or postpartum period, offers unique opportunities for the health professional to identify situations of violence and thus provide assistance.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Sintetizar o conhecimento produzido em estudos sobre a associação entre violência e IST na gestação. MÉTODOS: Nesta revisão sistemática, envolvemos as atividades básicas de identificação, compilação e registro dos ensaios. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados foram os estudos que investigaram, explicitamente, as relações entre violência e gestação e IST, no período de julho de 2012 a julho de 2017, utilizando PubMed, Biblioteca Cochrane, SciELO e Lilacs. RESULTADOS: Ao todo, 26 artigos foram escolhidos para formar a base da análise deste estudo. A relação entre violência e IST foi observada em 22 dos 26 estudos, sendo que em oito deles a violência foi praticada durante o período de gestação. Em dois estudos, não houve evidências dessa relação. Em um estudo, a falta de cuidados com a IST foi atribuída ao despreparo dos profissionais de saúde. Transtornos mentais foram citados como resultantes de IST em três artigos e em outro como resultado de violência. Um estudo encontrou violência mais frequente contra adolescentes, enquanto outros dois citaram a gestação como um fator de proteção. CONCLUSÕES: A VPI combina características que possuem uma expressão diferenciada quando a mulher está no período gestacional. A literatura aponta para uma relação entre a VPI contra as mulheres e a presença de IST. O acompanhamento da gravidez, seja no pré-parto, seja no pós-parto, oferece oportunidades únicas para o profissional de saúde identificar situações de violência e, assim, prestar assistência.

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INTRODUCTION: In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1.9 million pregnant women were infected with syphilis worldwide, of which 66.5% had adverse fetal effects in cases of untreated syphilis. Congenital syphilis contributes significantly to infant mortality, accounting for 305,000 perinatal deaths worldwide annually. AIM: To estimate the prevalence of syphilis in parturients, the incidence of congenital syphilis and the vertical transmission rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a cross-sectional study with data collected from 2041 parturients who had undergone treatment between 2012 and 2014 in the maternity section of the Pedro Ernesto Hospital of the State University of Rio de Janeiro, in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. The inclusion criterion was positive VDRL and treponemal test in a hospital environment. RESULTS: the prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women was 4.1% in 2012, 3.1% in 2013 and 5% in 2014, with official reporting of 15.6%, 25.0% and 48.1%, respectively. The incidence of congenital syphilis (CS) was 22/1,000 in live births (LB) in 2012; 17/1,000 LB in 2013 and 44.8/1,000 LB in 2014. CS underreporting during the period was 6.7%. Vertical transmission occurred in 65.8% of infants from infected mothers. It was concluded that, in 34.6% of the CS cases, maternal VDRL titers were = 1/4. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate the magnitude of the disease, fragility of the reporting system in the assessment of the actual prevalence, impact on perinatal outcomes, and they are a warning about the real situation of syphilis, which is still underestimated in the State.

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OBJECTIVE: To study postnatal and postabortion outpatient care for adolescents in relation to the guidelines of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was conducted between 2011 and 2012 via interviews with coordinators from 147 of 148 (99.3%) National Health System facilities providing sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescents in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The χ(2) test or Fisher exact test was used to compare ratios, and t test to compare means, with a significance level of 5% (P<0.05). RESULTS: Postnatal care was provided by 141 (95.9%) facilities; however, only 95 (67.4%) facilities complied with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health by providing two consultations: one in the first week and one between the 30th and 42nd day postpartum. In 32 (22.7%) facilities, a consultation was not scheduled in the first week; and in 25 (17.7%), a consultation between the 30th and 42nd day postpartum was not scheduled. Furthermore, only 11 (7.8%) facilities provided care in the age bracket recommended by WHO and the Brazilian Ministry of Health. CONCLUSION: The provision of puerperal care in the Brazilian National Health System is currently far from the recommendations in government guidelines.

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OBJECTIVE: To identify the sexual and reproductive profile and demand for gynecologic services by high school girls in the city of Rio de Janeiro. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study carried out by administration of a questionnaire filled in by the respondents on their own, given to students at 3 high schools with different socioeconomic profiles: private, state, and federal. The questions covered socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behavior, and demand for gynecologic services. The data were analyzed by the Yates chi-square test and Student t-test, with P < .05. SETTING: Three high schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro. INTERVENTIONS: None. PARTICIPANTS: Female high school students. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Age, race, socioeconomic level, parents' schooling, and sexual activity. RESULTS: A total of 418 students participated, 122 from a private school, 165 from a state public school, and 131 from a federal public school. The state school students were predominantly black and had the lowest socioeconomic level, with their parents having the fewest average years of schooling. They also reported the most sexual partners, pregnancies, and abortions. Their characteristics differed significantly from those of the private and federal school students, which were similar to each other. The average age of first sexual activity was similar for all the respondents and the first visit to a gynecologist occurred significantly later among the state school students. CONCLUSIONS: The more frequent pregnancies and abortions by the state school students can be a consequence of the lower demand for or insufficient access to gynecologic services, depriving these students of the necessary care to promote sexual and reproductive health. This demonstrates the need for public policies that promote and facilitate access to routine preventive gynecologic care by low-income adolescent girls.

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Com objetivo de analisar a epidemia de Aids na França e no Brasil, especialmente entre adolescentes, realizou-se revisão crítica de literatura, documentos oficiais e verificação in loco de serviços de saúde sexual e reprodutiva para adolescentes. Utilizaram-se as categorias que compõem o conceito de vulnerabilidade como base teórica da análise. O Brasil em relação à França tem o triplo do número de casos de Aids, proporcionalmente à sua população. Na França houve declínio ininterrupto da incidência a partir de 1998 e, no Brasil, a redução iniciou somente em 2002, voltando a aumentar em 2008. O acesso universal ao tratamento antirretroviral (ARV) e a tendência de pauperização, feminização e heterossexualização da epidemia está presente em ambos os países. Entre adolescentes brasileiros, o número de casos é proporcionalmente 3,5 vezes mais elevado e estes vivem em contextos de maior vulnerabilidade: têm iniciação sexual mais precoce, usam menos preservativos e a escolaridade é menor. Na França a educação sexual nas escolas é prevista em lei, a notificação da Aids e do HIV são obrigatórias, o acesso a serviços para adolescentes com confidencialidade é facilitado, e há disponibilidade de exames para DST e interrupção voluntária da gravidez oportunizando prevenção e tratamento de agravos sexuais.

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