[Nurses' perceptions of the vulnerabilities to STD/AIDS in light of the process of adolescence].
OBJECTIVE
to understand the perception of nurses on the vulnerabilities to STD/AIDS in light of the process of adolescence.


METHODS
qualitative research conducted with 15 nurses in a centre for the studies of adolescent healthcare of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. The adopted theoretical and methodological frameworks were the Complexity Theory and the Grounded Theory, respectively. The semi-structured interview was used to collect data from January to August 2012.


RESULTS
this research presents the category: Nurses' perceptions of the vulnerabilities to STD/AIDS in light of the process of adolescence, and the subcategories: Risks and uncertainties of the process of adolescence: paths to STD/AIDS; Age-adolescence complex: expanding knowledge from the perception of nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
once the nurses understand the complexity of adolescence, they create strategies to reduce the vulnerability of adolescents to STD/AIDS. This signals the need to invest in education, assistance and the management of nursing care for adolescents.
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Ítalo Rodolfo
ÍR
Silva
Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Antonio Marcos Tosoli
AM
Gomes
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Glaucia Valente
GV
Valadares
Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Nereida Lúcia Palko
NL
dos Santos
Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Thiago Privado
TP
da Silva
Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Joséte Luzia
JL
Leite
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D035862:Vulnerable Populations