Young scientists: facing arboviruses and youth participation in the Ceilândia territory, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Background Arboviruses currently represent a growing public health problem in the world. There is a set of structural and historical issues involved in the health-disease process and arboviruses prevention, among which are the need for critical and problematizing health education, with real participation of the school community and commitment of young students in the territories. Therefore, the study aims to analyze a training experience in scientific initiation on arboviruses, from the youth perception, as protagonists in the territory of Ceilândia-Distrito Federal-Brazil. Methods This study is characterized as a qualitative research-action, which was structured in 3 stages: 1) document analysis of the essays written by the students; 2) realization of the Training Course for Scientific Initiation in Basic Education and Arboviruses; 3) focus group with 12 students, after having participated in the training activity, in order to understand their pe rceptions about the educational process and its repercussion in the protagonism and responsibility of acting in the territories. Results The results of the Content Analysis showed the students' perception centered on eight analytical categories: students' motivation for scientific initiation; process of knowledge formation; importance of the scientific dissemination; training of young scientists; relationship of arboviruses with waste accumulation; health and environment; arboviruses prevention and control; youth participation and empowerment. Conclusions Facing arboviruses requires broad-spectrum policies and interventions, with interdisciplinary actions in society, both in the health and education scenarios. It is understood that youth are social protagonists in facing the vulnerabilities to which they are subjected. Therefore, scientific education strengthened the Ceilândia's youth as subjects of rights, stimulating the innovation in preventive ac tions to combat arboviruses in the territory. Key messages Facing arboviruses requires interdisciplinary broad-spectrum policies and interventions. Scientific education stimulates youth leadership in combating arboviruses in the territory.