Introduction:

Brazil is currently reporting a significant increase in survival and consequent rise in its elderly population. From the point of view of proposals to improve their quality of life, sexuality should be understood from a holistic, and not just a biological, perspective. In this scenario, new reflections by health professionals become indispensable for the planning of specific actions aimed at providing comprehensive health care for the elderly.

Experience report:

This experience report describes the beginning of a dialogue with medical students from a public university about the complexity of sexuality and sexually transmitted infections among the elderly, seeking to identify their knowledge of the subject and devise proposals for action with the target audience. To this end a teaching-learning strategy was structured based on an approach that adapted and applied the Arc of Maguerez methodology to the debate on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the context of Brazilian public health, which was conducted out within the guidelines of emergency remote learning. Our results are in line with the literature that seeks to understand the social representations about sexuality among the elderly. It was found that the social representations about sexuality in the elderly are similar to the scientific description, with similarities between common sense and scholarly knowledge.

Discussion:

Given the discrepancy described in the literature regarding the misconceptions on the part of the elderly, family members and health professionals about sexuality in old age, it is essential that campaigns be conducted, and preventive measures and strategies developed for the elderly to reduce the incidence of STIs in this community. Hence, health education strategies are needed in academic teaching and continuing professional education to consolidate the knowledge required to devise effective proposals.

Conclusions:

Based on fit-for-purpose medical education, the discussion of complex aspects about this subject will support the construction, implementation, and evaluation of public health policies to tackle STIs, reducing barriers related to the prevention and promotion of sexual health in the elderly population.

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