Following the school calendar, Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim is holding sessions in schools, within the project Sexuality Education in School (Educação para a Sexualidade na Escola). The initiative, destined to middle school students (7 th , 8 th, and 9 th grades), with ages between 12 and 14, is being developed by nurses and other clinical professionals of this hospital and has for purpose to promote a healthy and informed sexual education. Sexuality is a fundamental component of growth and physical and mental welfare, influencing thought, feelings, actions, and interpersonal relations. Since school is a place where children and youths experience some of their first physical and emotional transformations, this is the ideal space to approach these topics in an educational and constructive way. This Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim project was launched in 2023, in a Vila do Conde school, and will be extended to other educational institutions. The project integrates the social responsibilities of our own institution – namely to support and collaborate with the community – and is guided by: National directives , in accordance with the goals established by the Educational Framework for Health (RES – Referencial da Educação para a Saúde), created in 2017 by the General Directorate of Education and the General Directorate of Health, within the topic “Sexuality Education and Affections”; Collaboration with schools , in the context of the Citizenship and Development discipline. The team leading the project includes nurses Sandra Ferreira, Sofia Peliteiro and Sónia Cancela , who coordinate the planning and implementation of the sessions. The content is supervised by nurse Sandra Ferreira , specialized in maternal health and obstetrics, counting with the support of Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim director of nursing, Maria José Reis . The sessions in schools approach topics such as: Intimate hygiene and physical changes in adolescence; Sexuality in adolescence; Sexually transmitted infections. Sessions are interactive and use slides and educational material thoroughly prepared to ensure a clear, dynamic, and accessible presentation of the topics. This material includes pictures, videos, anatomic models, and practical examples, which help to illustrate the content in an appealing and educational way. Assessment of needs: an essential step To ensure that the project approaches the most relevant issues for the school community, it is essential that students, parents, and teachers share with our team their doubts and concerns, which will be done anonymously. To facilitate the process, two methods are made available: Anonymous suggestions / doubts boxes , which are placed at the school entrance, together with simple forms that can be filled by students at school or at home, with the help of parents or other caretakers. Digital form , available online via link, to ensure that everyone can participate with all convenience and confidentiality. These tools, together with the educational resources, allow us to create a safe informational environment, where everyone can learn and share knowledge on sexuality in a natural and respectful way.
