Representações sociais acerca do planejamento familiar para adolescentes que vivenciaram a gravidez recorrente

Abstract

The study aimed to know the social representations about family planning for adolescents who experienced recurrent pregnancy. This is a descriptive and qualitative research based on the Theory of Social Representations proposed by Serge Moscovici. Nine adolescents, aged between 10 and 19 years, who experienced recurrent pregnancy, were part of this study. The data were collected from March to May 2017 through a semi-structured interview, at the two neighborhoods that have the highest incidence of pregnancy during adolescence in Pelotas/RS. Through the Discursive Textual Analysis and the theoretical reference of the Theory of Social Representations, three categories emerged: (Un)knowledge about sexuality and contraceptive methods before the first sexual intercourse: the formation of knowledge under the adolescents' perspective; Unplanned pregnancy in adolescence X use of contraceptive methods; and Social Representations on the desire to becoming pregnant during adolescence: planning motherhood. Different social representations about the planning of the pregnancy of the adolescents were observed, both for those who planned the pregnancy and those who did not plan it. These representations were tied to aspects such as education, culture, habits and participants’ values. Regarding the unplanned pregnancy, there are different dimensions of social representations, anchored in the lack of knowledge about sexuality and protection against pregnancy and acceptability as an alternative to face the experience of motherhood. This study made it possible to understand that knowing and awareness about the difficulties faced are part of the daily life of adolescents after becoming mothers, even if these factors are not a reason for fear of experiencing another pregnancy. Knowing the social representation of family planning of adolescents who have experienced recurrent pregnancy helps to evaluate this event and reinforces the importance of dialogue and reception of adolescents to build knowledge about family planning, not as a means of avoiding children, but as a form of conscious planning, conscious and responsible family.