Abstract Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a major cause of preventable death and disability in children and young adults. Despite significant advances in medical technology and increased understanding of disease mechanisms, RHD continues to be a serious public health problem throughout the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Echocardiographic screening has played a key role in improving the accuracy of diagnosing RHD and has highlighted the disease burden. Most affected patients present with severe valve disease and limited access to life-saving cardiac surgery or percutaneous valve intervention, contributing to increased mortality and other complications. Although understanding of disease pathogenesis has advanced in recent years, key questions remain to be addressed. Preventing or providing early treatment for streptococcal infections is the most important step in reducing the burden of this disease.

A adolescência é uma fase da vida onde o indivíduo passa por rápidas mudanças físicas, emocionais e intelectuais. Em meio a todas essas alterações, as informações distorcidas ou incompletas que o jovem nessa etapa recebe sobre a sexualidade, incluindo as DST/Aids faz com que se exponha com maior facilidade a essas doenças e à gravidez precoce. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as relações de gênero entre os adolescentes, utilizando o estudo analítico com enfoque qualitativo, com base nas representações sociais que trabalha valores, crenças, representações, hábitos, atitudes e opiniões, de forma a abranger intensamente o grupo delimitado. Na análise do discurso ficou evidenciada a desigualdade, sendo reproduzida de forma machista. Apesar de toda informação que existe atualmente sobre a sexualidade, muitos adolescentes possuem déficit de conhecimento relacionado ao assunto e falta de comunicação adequada com os pais, a escola e a mídia.

Adolescence is a phase of life in which individuals experience rapid physical, emotional and intellectual change. In the midst of all these changes, distorted or incomplete information that adolescents receive on sexuality, including STD/AIDS, exposes them more readily to these diseases and early pregnancy. The scope of this work was to identify gender relations between adolescents. The method used was an analytical study with a qualitative approach based on social representations that examine values, beliefs, habits, attitudes and opinions in order to encompass the target group thoroughly. In analysis of the discourse, inequality was swiftly apparent with decidedly macho overtones. Despite the amount of information currently available on sexuality, many adolescents have precious little knowledge of the subject and a lack of adequate communication with their parents, their schools and the media.

A adolescência é uma fase da vida onde o indivíduo passa por rápidas mudanças físicas, emocionais e intelectuais. Em meio a todas essas alterações, as informações distorcidas ou incompletas que o jovem nessa etapa recebe sobre a sexualidade, incluindo as DST/Aids faz com que se exponha com maior facilidade a essas doenças e à gravidez precoce. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as relações de gênero entre os adolescentes, utilizando o estudo analítico com enfoque qualitativo, com base nas representações sociais que trabalha valores, crenças, representações, hábitos, atitudes e opiniões, de forma a abranger intensamente o grupo delimitado. Na análise do discurso ficou evidenciada a desigualdade, sendo reproduzida de forma machista. Apesar de toda informação que existe atualmente sobre a sexualidade, muitos adolescentes possuem déficit de conhecimento relacionado ao assunto e falta de comunicação adequada com os pais, a escola e a mídia.

Adolescence is a phase of life in which individuals experience rapid physical, emotional and intellectual change. In the midst of all these changes, distorted or incomplete information that adolescents receive on sexuality, including STD/AIDS, exposes them more readily to these diseases and early pregnancy. The scope of this work was to identify gender relations between adolescents. The method used was an analytical study with a qualitative approach based on social representations that examine values, beliefs, habits, attitudes and opinions in order to encompass the target group thoroughly. In analysis of the discourse, inequality was swiftly apparent with decidedly macho overtones. Despite the amount of information currently available on sexuality, many adolescents have precious little knowledge of the subject and a lack of adequate communication with their parents, their schools and the media.