Community Nursing and Education: Strategies for Promoting Adolescent Health

Introduction: Adolescence is a vital stage marked by emotional and behavioral changes that frequently derive in risk behaviors, including early initiation of sexual activity without adequate protection. These actions have increased the cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies in adolescents, especially in Argentina, where interest in addressing this phenomenon intensified with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This context underscored the importance of comprehensive sexuality education and the promotion of responsible health practices. Development: The role of Primary Health Care (PHC) and community nursing as fundamental pillars to mitigate these problems was explored. PHC, defined by WHO as accessible care based on scientific evidence, emphasized preventive and educational strategies that include access to contraceptive methods and community training. For its part, community nursing was positioned as a critical link between health systems and communities, playing roles as educator, manager and advocate. Resource and policy constraints that hindered the effective implementation of these interventions were also addressed. The article concluded that health promotion and disease prevention in adolescents requires a comprehensive approach involving PHC, community nursing and sound public policies. Sex education was highlighted as an essential tool to empower adolescents, reduce inequalities and improve community health indicators, effectively facing the challenges associated with sexual and reproductive health in this population