ENTRE TABUS E DIREITOS: O PAPEL DA EDUCAÇÃO SEXUAL NA PREVENÇÃO DE VIOLÊNCIA E ISTS ENTRE ADOLESCENTES BRASILEIROS

This article examines the role of sex education in preventing child sexual violence and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Brazilian adolescents, based on a literature review of scientific productions published between 2015 and 2023 (Monteiro; Jesus, 2023; Brasil, 2023). The results, organized into three analytical axes, reveal: (1) the specific vulnerability of this population, marked by early sexual initiation and misinformation (Krubbe et al., 2016; IBGE, 2023); (2) challenges in implementing educational programs, including cultural resistance and lack of teacher training (Furlanetto et al., 2020; Brino; Williams, 2019); and (3) successful intervention strategies, such as participatory methodologies and intersectoral articulation (UNESCO, 2023; Sfair; Bittar, 2022). As demonstrated by Spaziani and Maia (2019) and Spaniol and Arruda (2022), comprehensive sex education significantly reduces rates of violence and STIs, although the need to overcome social taboos (Carrara, 2015) and expand public policies persists. In light of the framework of sexual and reproductive rights (UNESCO, 2023), we conclude that effective prevention requires multidisciplinary approaches that recognize sexuality as a fundamental dimension of human development.