Law promotes awareness and preventive care for boys in Brazil

‘Blue November’

Month will be dedicated to reinforcing preventive care for the sexual and reproductive health of boys up to 15 years old

Law 14,694/2023, known as the “Blue Novembrinho Law,” was sanctioned, representing a significant advance in the awareness and prevention of diseases related to sexual and reproductive health in boys up to 15 years of age. Approved by the National Congress in September and sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the text of the law was published in the Official Gazette of the Union on October 11, consolidating a commitment to the health of young people in Brazil.

“Prevention is the key to avoiding serious complications later in life. Therefore, it is essential that boys become aware of the importance of self-examination and vaccination against HPV”,

emphasizes Dr. Washington Junior, highlighting the importance of preventive education.

From now on, the month of November, traditionally associated with raising awareness about men’s health, takes on a new meaning with the implementation of annual educational activities. The month will be dedicated to reinforcing preventative care for the sexual and reproductive health of boys up to 15 years of age. This includes essential measures, such as vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), encouraging testicular self-examination and promoting routine consultations. The objective is clear: to reduce the worsening of diseases in adult life through early detection and treatment of congenital problems.

Data from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE), carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2019, highlight the importance of the new law. According to the research, the percentage of girls who sought and were seen by a basic health unit was 88.3%, while the percentage of boys who did so was only 85.2%. This difference of 3.1 percentage points reveals that boys, aged between 13 and 15 years, are less likely to seek health care, emphasizing the urgency of interventions aimed at this group.

“It is crucial that boys understand the importance of seeking medical care regularly to ensure healthy sexual and reproductive health,”

highlights Dr. Washington Junior, a doctor specializing in men’s health.

One of the pillars of the campaign is the distribution of educational material that addresses topics such as pain, testicular enlargement and the importance of vaccination against HPV. Education is essential to raise awareness among both boys and their parents about the importance of sexual and reproductive health from an early age.

*With information from consultancy

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