Aposentando o preconceito: representação social sobre HIV/Aids entre pessoas no processo de envelhecimento

Abstract

Descriptive research with qualitative approach whose object was social representation of HIV/Aids among ageing people. Objectives were as follows: to identify and to describe the dimensions and contents which integrate social representations concerning HIV/Aids among people over 50 years of age; to characterize factors contributing to the emergence of HIV/Aids in a specific group; to analyze ways of coping with situations in daily social life as well as strategies for upgrading life quality out of social representations constructed. The object chosen allowed for the identification of elements the ageing person uses to characterize ageing with HIV/Aids. In addition, it made it possible to understand how the elderly, despite the chronic nature of the disease, its developments, and the biopsychosocial implications can get organized and adapt to daily situations looking for better life and health conditions. Field work was carried out at a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, from March to June, 2008. Twenty people above 50 years of age were elected as subjects of the study. Interviews were recorded with the use of a portable micro cassette equipment and transcribed. Theme and content analysis technique was used for data analysis. Results showed 7 revealing categories of the representational contents: Definitions and Images of HIV and of Aids; Infection and forms of HIV dissemination; Prevention process: attitudes, practice, and information of people in the ageing process; Stigma, Prejudice, and Discrimination: feelings and behaviors of people in the ageing process; Coping with serum positivity: difficulties and protection mechanisms; Living with and Having HIV/Aids in the ageing process; Daily utilization of antiretrovirals in the ageing process. It has been observed that representation characterized involves not only the biological aspect of HIV/Aids, but also the psychosocial one. It has also been identified how the representation influences the behavior of social actors, whether in relation to prejudice, stigma, adhesion to treatment, isolation, interpersonal relationships, and sexual functioning. The research has shown that Aids has been anchored as chronic disease. This phenomenon stems both from anti-retroviral therapy, which has made it possible to enlist Aids as a chronic disease, and from naturalization mechanisms, triggered by serum positive subjects with long-term diagnosis. Therefore, attention to health required by the subject in the ageing process with HIV/Aids is not limited to objective issues, but also to subjective ones, involving the complexity of treatment and prevention. Adhesion to treatment is a continuous process once it involves a sequence of conditions in which intervention must be geared to individuals and to his/her social context, encompassing professionals and work process. Results suggest the need for further studies along this line given the fact that Aids among people in the ageing process is a recurring theme nowadays and has epidemiological relevance.