Occupational Therapy and Sexual and Reproductive Health Promotion in Adolescence: A Case Study

Abstract

Occupational therapy can contribute to sexual and reproductive health through health education. The purpose of this study was to describe an occupational therapy intervention aimed at sexual and reproductive health promotion in adolescents. Fifty-eight adolescents were involved in the study, before, during and after the interventions. Educative activities such as puzzles, storytelling, mime and board games were used, which occupational therapy faculty and students had constructed. The games were employed as mediators for gaining knowledge in sexual and reproductive health. Outcome was measured using a questionnaire, audio recordings and field diaries. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. The results showed the adolescents' increased knowledge of sexual and reproductive health information immediately after the intervention. The thematic analysis was grouped into three categories: the adolescents' initial expectations regarding the project, reflections on the process experienced during the interventions and use of educational games by occupational therapists. The importance of rapport and dialogue was highlighted in the construction of interventions based on participatory methods. The absence of a longitudinal follow-up is a limitation in this study. Further research is important to systematically assess sexual health promotion strategies in adolescence.

Effect of Activity Based Adolescence Education on Awareness of Students Related to Adolescent Reproductive Health at Secondary Level

“…On the other hand Svanemyr et al (2015) showed that through the intervention programme adolescents developed their better knowledge in the field of reproductive health. Finding also goes along with the finding of Gontijo et al (2016) who showed that that immediately after the intervention by educative activities such as puzzles, storytelling, mime and board games the adolescents' increased knowledge of sexual and reproductive health related information.…”

Posibles Abordajes de Terapia Ocupacional en la educación sexual de niños, adolescentes y jóvenes Lesbianas, Gay, Bisexuales y Transgéneros

“…Es importante seguir generando información respecto a este tema para poder facilitar el proceso de las futuras generaciones de profesionales, evitándoles la inseguridad del cómo desempeñarse frente éstas situaciones (Crespillo & Barbero, 2016), fomentando nuestra identidad como profesionales, capaces de poder participar de forma satisfactoria en los procesos en los que se requiera tratar temas de orientación sexual, limitaciones y/o restricciones en la expresión de género, mediación en relaciones con familiares, profesionales de la educación y los pares, otorgando ambientes facilitadores de la participación ocupacional en actividades lúdicas, significativas y centradas en los intereses de cada persona, como se menciona en el estudio de Ponzetti, Selman, Munro, Esmail, & Adams (2009) y que incluyan las tecnologías actuales, como juegos virtuales (Gontijo, de Sena e Vasconcelos, Monteiro, Facundes, de Fátima, & de Lima, 2016). Dichos abordajes, desde una perspectiva participativa, y con un moderador, que facilite el clima del grupo social (De las Heras, 2015) generarían resultados favorecedores inmediatamente al terminar la intervención, según lo descrito en el estudio de Gontijo et al (2016). Estos resultados se podrían traducir en una mejoría en el desempeño ocupacional en el contexto educativo, pues existiría menor ausentismo y deserción escolar, demostrándole a la sociedad educativa que los TOc son esenciales en sus dispositivos y en los procesos de educación sexual en todos los participantes y no tan solo a la población lGBt, pues como se mencionó anteriormente, todos poseemos esta faceta, pues es central y transversal para cualquier persona.…”

Development and Validation of a Smartphone Educational Game Regarding Healthy Lifestyle Habits for Adolescents

“…The game is considered as a potential educational instrument capable of contributing to the development of education as well as to the construction of health knowledge, appearing as an innovative pedagogical proposal, as opposed to traditional pedagogical models in health education due to its attractiveness, playful nature and development. 16…”