Articulação de saberes e práticas acerca da infecção e prevenção do Papilomavírus humano: um estudo de representações sociais

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the social representations of nursing undergraduates about human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the prevention practices adopted. Descriptive, qualitative research, based on the Theory of Social Representations and use of the procedural approach. The participants were 30 undergraduates of the nursing course of a public university in the city of Rio de Janeiro, enrolled in the seventh and eighth periods, and sexually active. Two instruments were used in data collection: a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. All ethical research procedures involving human beings were respected, and all participants signed the Free and Informed Consent Form. The data from the 30 questionnaires were organized, tabulated and analyzed using simple descriptive statistics, with absolute frequency and percentage. The discursive information of the 30 interviews was transcribed in full and organized, in a file in the Microsoft Word 2007 Software, and the data analyzed using the content analysis technique, in the thematic-category modality. The characterization of the students shows that they were aged between 21-24 years (24); self-declared white skin color (13); lived with their parents (13); never worked (20); approximate monthly income of R$ 500.00 (19); Catholic religious orientation (12); had a steady partner (21) and declared themselves heterosexual (26). In relation to sexual practices, they had the first sexual intercourse in the age group of 15-17 years (17) and used condoms at the time (23). The undergraduates (17) reported that they use condoms "sometimes" in sexual relations; and that they "sometimes" negotiate the use with their sexual partners (13); six students reported the occurrence of STIs, and of these three reported HPV infection. The analysis of the interviews revealed five categories: 1- Knowledge of the undergraduates about HPV infection; 2- Attitudes, feelings and images associated with HPV infection; 3- Knowledge, images and attitudes towards HPV prevention; 4- HPV prevention practices adopted by nursing undergraduates and 5- Strategies for personal and professional coping with HPV infection. The results denote that HPV infection has a great impact on the sexual health of the young women investigated, who identify it as an important and potential oncogenic factor and associate it as a precursor of tumors, especially cervical cancer. The social representation of the group is anchored in the feelings of fear, concern, shame, repentance, guilt and sadness, associated with prejudice and judgment of the students. Most do not feel protected against HPV, and assume that condoms do not use condoms continuously in the practice of oral, genital and anal sex, besides recognizing that this method is not fully effective against this infection. They usually perform the Pap smear and rapid diagnostic tests, seek medical and nursing care, immunize with the quadrivalent vaccine and the use of condoms, as necessary actions for prevention. The undergraduates also emphasized the importance of nurses in coping with HPV, with qualified actions that favor the prevention and control of this infection.