Representações sociais do HIV/AIDS para mulheres idosas

Abstract

AIDS is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus that is one of the biggest health problems today, because of its pandemic character and severity. Today AIDS is marked by feminization, heterosexual, internalization, aging, low education and pauperization. Brazil is quickly moving toward an increasingly aging demographic profile and the increase in life expectancy has been a concern of many discussions. Healthy aging and the reduction of chronic diseases contributed to continuity and quality of sexual performance in this specific population. However, the continuity of sexual life triggered the increase of elderly HIV-infected. In this research, the object of study are the social representations of older women about HIV/AIDS. Aims to: analyze the social representations of aged women who attended a health institution directed to care for the elderly in a town on the Rio de Janeiro on HIV/AIDS; describe the knowledge and use these to reduce their vulnerability to contamination and illness caused by HIV/AIDS and how to identify the social representations influence on vulnerability to illness caused by HIV/AIDS. Multimethod research approach with a qualitative, descriptive analysis based on the Theory of Social Representations. The scenario was the institution responsible for health care for the elderly in public health Health in town in the Vale do Paraíba Fluminense region. Two techniques for data collection were used. The first technique used was the technique of free association of words (TALP) and the second, unstructured interview. Data collection was carried out between October 2013 and March 2014 participated in the study 103 women aged between 60 and 84 years. The categories were named: the representation of AIDS as a disease; representations of HIV/AIDS as a disease of other people; knowledge of women about HIV/AIDS; Women and their representations about condom use and sources of information. Access to scientific knowledge by health professionals and the knowledge produced by social actors in the group where women are inserted to allow these weave their webs in the tangle of individual and collective perceived reality. The vulnerability of the female sex was an obvious issue in life situations encountered. Especially in an age group in which these women still carry the stigma of submission and asexuality, both emerging discourses. In which women consider taboo sexuality in her age group and even to the distrust toward the partner, prefer to remain in the relationship without complaint. Resulting in poor adherence to preventive practices such as condom use, male due to refusal.