FATORES DE PROTEÇÃO PARA A REDUÇÃO DA VULNERABILIDADE À SAÚDE PROTECTIVE FACTORS TO REDUCE VULNERABILITY TO HEALTH FACTORES DE PROTECCIÓN PARA REDUCIR LA VULNERABILIDAD DE LA SALUD Pesquisa

This is a qualitative study based on the Bioecological Theory of Human Development. It aimed at identifying protective factors to reduce adolescent vulnerability to health from the perception of adolescents. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents at a school in the state of Sao Paulo. Thematic analysis identified four main themes: knowledge as protective factor; human values as protective factor; family protection and improvement in public health services. Results demonstrated that these factors reflect personal, procedural, contextual and temporal experiences undergone by adolescents in their daily lives and in their social relations (amongst peers, family or community). Protective factors projected by adolescents should be identified and strengthened in order to define spaces that ensure their leading participation, to administer coping strategies in situations of vulnerability.