From the (in)visibility of the education for sexual reproductive health to the production of knowledge in nurse practice

Maria Fátima Vieira Martins, Minho University - Nursing School

Contrary to what used to happen not so long ago, today in Portugal the women are precociously accompanied by health professionals among whom gives advice and even more and more frequently gives adequate formation on how to live in a healthy and balanced way during this period of her life. On the other hand, many attitudes and behaviours of the woman, normally part of a family, are also associated to this wide and in a way complex context. In this perspective, we intend with this study to learn the importance given by women to the health education concerning the consultation of Family Planning and identify the elements that influence the fulfilled practises. This study can, not only contribute towards the progress of scientific knowledge and be socially useful, but it can also establish an exceptional opportunity to investigate an area not very studied in Portugal, thus reflecting the role of the family in sexual and reproductive health in three municipalities on the Northwest of Portugal. From the information gathered we have concluded that the nurses were unanimous in stating that health education is a priority activity. However, we confirmed that there was not a complete match between the information mentioned by the nurses and the information given out by the women as well as between the observations of the developed educational practices. These practices are divided into two models which we designate as traditional and dialogic. The first model points to the prevention of diseases and damages in accordance with the information of biometric contents in order to reduce individual risks. The second is focused on the individual and its reality, thus considered as subject of the educational practice. Therefore it is pertinent to question on the manner the schools should teach the health professionals on this matter.