Curricularized extension in the fight against child sexual abuse in a public school in Barretos: an experience report

Abstract

This is an experience report on a curricular extension activity carried out by Grupo Flora, composed of medical students from the Barretos School of Health Sciences Dr. Paulo Prata - FACISB, at a elementar public school in Barretos, São Paulo. The initiative aimed to raise awareness among fifth-grade students about sex education and sexual abuse prevention. Using playful and educational approaches, the project addressed topics such as puberty, reproductive anatomy, and self-care, making the content accessible and engaging. One of the strategies used was the “Stop Sign,” an interactive and easy-to-understand resource for teaching about boundaries and sexual abuse prevention. The activity was conducted in a safe and welcoming environment, encouraging anonymous participation, which facilitated the emergence of questions and revealed the lack of information about basic sex education among students. The report highlights the importance of preventive dialogue in schools and the need to pedagogically prepare extension workers to ensure a more sensitive and effective approach. We recommend expanding these initiatives to students in other health fields and providing prior pedagogical training for extension workers, aiming to improve the quality of interventions and increase their positive impact on the education of elementary school students.