Educational strategy with a participatory approach to prevent teenage pregnancy

Abstract

Preventing teenage pregnancy requires comprehensive approaches that go beyond the biological model. This study aimed to develop a participatory educational strategy to prevent teenage pregnancy among first-year students at the Professional School of Physical Education (EPEF) in Santiago de Cuba. Mixed-methods research was used, with theoretical methods (analytic-synthetic, modeling) and empirical methods (surveys of 60 students, interviews with 20 teachers, document analysis, and focus groups). The diagnosis revealed: prevalence of a biological approach (65% of students held misconceptions about contraception), weak intersectoral coordination (only 22% of teachers coordinated with health services), and underutilization of information and communication technologies, despite high student access to smartphones (92%). The strategy "Growing with Responsibility" was designed and implemented, structured around three components: pedagogical renewal towards Comprehensive Sexuality Education, intersectoral articulation of school-family-health, and critical appropriation of information and communication technologies. After implementation, misconceptions about contraception were reduced by 51%, teacher-health coordination increased to 80%, and the created digital repository achieved a 98% penetration rate. It is concluded that the strategy proved effective in transforming the pedagogical model, strengthening support networks, and leveraging information and communication technologies, constituting a replicable model for the comprehensive prevention of teenage pregnancy in educational settings.