Adolescência: pane no sistema confi gurando responsabilidades

Adolescence: breakdown in the system - configuring responsibilities

Abstract

Objective: This paper presents a project conducted by fi nal-year medical students about to graduate from the Estácio de
Sá University working with adolescents at the Santa Catarina Municipal School and the Ernani Agrícola Municipal Health
Center in Rio de Janeiro. The introduction of medical students into the school setting was prompted by an extended
concept of healthcare, encompassing social participation, comprehensiveness and an understanding of the limitations of
the biomedical model focused on disease. Methods: Opting for a qualitative constructivist approach, this research project
held four meetings at the school, using playful participative dynamics with adolescents who selected sexuality and drug use
as the topics. Results: The fi ndings disclosed their concern about the risks to which they are exposed, feeling responsible
for their decisions and seeking better dialogs with family, school and community. Conclusion: These outcomes underscore
the need to extend the contributions of healthcare services through pro-active inter-institutional approaches that buttress
factors protecting vulnerable aspects of this group. The adolescents and healthcare practitioners were able to build up links
that help reshape the idea that Healthcare Centers treat only the sick.