The female body integrated into the social and environmental environment: a qualitative and quantitative analysis

Abstract

This article is the result of an extension research project that was awarded a grant from the Araucária Foundation's Women of Paraná: Empowerment and Leadership program (CP 02/2022). We mapped the profiles of 20 women in foster care for abusing psychoactive drugs. We used qualitative and quantitative methods by means of a questionnaire containing questions on the anatomy and physiology of the female and male reproductive systems, menstrual hygiene, disposable and ecological sanitary pads, women's rhythms, reproductive health and the prevention of STIs and unwanted pregnancies. With regard to knowledge of the menstrual cycle, 50% of the women had difficulties and 75% had never thought about the impact of sanitary pads on the environment. Implementing effective health education measures can contribute to meeting local social demands and emancipating individuals so that women have the opportunity to achieve self-management of their reproductive cycles, including in a sustainable way through university extension, which has proved to be a revolutionary educational process.