Sex education in the pedagogical practice of public school teachers

Abstract

This descriptive study was performed with 29 teachers from three public state schools in Goiânia, Goiás state. The teachers answered a semi-structured questionnaire that aimed at verifying the pedagogical practice in sex education, difficulties related to the theme, and the need for training. Most teachers were male (69%) and aged between 25 and 35 years (74%). Half held a graduate degree (54%) in human sciences (49%). Nearly all teachers find difficulties in working the topic (89%) and need training (93%). Contents on sexuality were not addressed in the Political Pedagogical Projects (76%) and the biology program aimed at teaching the theme (55%), a reality that disagrees with the National Curricular Standards, which is based on transversality. Partnerships between health and education must be established, particularly between the Family Health Strategy the higher education institutions, providing public school teachers with the necessary didactic-pedagogical support to address sexuality in the classroom.

Descriptors: Sexuality; Schools; Nursing; Public Health.