Políticas públicas de atenção às adolescentes grávidas - uma revisão bibliográfi ca

Public policies on care for pregnant adolescents - a bibliographic review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze whether current public policies have been effective in preventing teen pregnancy. Data source:
Integrative review of the literature on Public Policies for Adolescence, using the LILACS, SciELO and BVS Adolec databases
for 2001 - 2010, with the following descriptors: public policies and adolescence, public policies and health, public policies
and pregnancy during adolescence, public policies and adolescents, sexual policies. The inclusion criteria were: original
research articles, complete and available for reading/analysis; addressing public policies in Brazil. 29 articles related to this theme were selected. Data synthesis: Although the Children’s and Adolescents’ Statute (ECA) introduced several youth
oriented public policies for Brazil, they have proven to be incoherent, restricted and ineffective, especially in the healthcare
sector. Adolescents have been excluded from policy planning, implementation and assessment processes, while healthcare
practitioners offer limited care capabilities for this age group. Conclusion: The reviewed material shows that, despite
existing knowledge about Public Policies for Youth, there are no specifi c policies for this age group being implemented in
Brazil that address teen sexuality and reproduction, with the Family Health Strategy identifi ed in the context of healthcare
for young women. However, it is clear that this Strategy does not encompass knowledge of the specifi c requirements of
adolescents. Political discussions are needed on the particular needs of adolescents, especially for preventing pregnancy.