O adolescente enquanto protagonista em atividades de educação em saúde no espaço escolar

The paradigm of youth leadership recognizes, in adolescents, potentialities and values for mobilization and participation, which can contribute for health promotion and better quality of life in this population. This cross-sectional and quantitative study aimed to verify and analyze the participation of adolescent students in health educational activities at school and their insertion as protagonists in these activities. The study was carried out in two elementary municipal schools in Ribeirao Preto, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, between February and July 2007. Study data included answers to a questionnaire with validated instruments, and statistical analysis consisted of the variables categorization and output of the frequency lists, carried out using the Program Epi Info 3.3.2 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States). Interviewed adolescents reported they still depend on the school and educators for accomplishing and participating in health educational activities at school. This means these adolescents still have a unilateral educator-student relation, with little participation, indicating an urgent need of promoting their inclusion as active actors in the school context. Descriptors: Adolescent; Citizen participation; Health education; Schools.