Introduction: The spread of HIV/AIDS in the elderly population is already characterized as a serious public health problem, requiring the development of actions and strategies to reduce the vulnerability of these individuals. Objective: Identifying the knowledge of older people about HIV/ AIDS. Method: This is an exploratory-descriptive study of a qualitative approach, developed with 26 elderly enrolled in three Family Health Strategies of the city of Cajazeiras, Paraiba, Brazil. Data were collected through interviews with a structured questionnaire and analyzed according to the Content Analysis Technique proposed by Bardin. Results: Participants were 26 elderly, most of whom were women belonging to the age group of 60-69 years old and married. From the analysis of the speeches of the participants emerged the theme category Knowledge about HIV/AIDS, with the following subcategories: Definition, Sources of Information, Treatment and Prognosis. Conclusion: It showed that many seniors have relevant knowledge about the disease; however, most of this is insufficient or surrounded by the mystification of knowledge rooted in the popular daily life.

Este artigo objetiva analisar os motivos que levaram os idosos a morarem sozinhos ou em instituições de longa permanência. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido no municí­pio de Cajazeiras, Paraí­ba. A coleta de dados foi realizada entre grupos de idosos formalmente instituí­dos no municí­pio e em Instituições de Longa Permanência, totalizando 25 idosos que moravam longe do conví­vio familiar. Observou-se que há fatores diversos envolvidos no processo que levaram aos idosos a morarem sozinhos ou em Instituições de Longa Permanência, visto que a iniciativa pode partir tanto do idoso, como da famí­lia e/ou por decisão comum a ambos os grupos. Este trabalho possibilitou analisar os motivos reais que levaram este grupo de idosos a morar longe do seio familiar. É notória a necessidade de estudos nesse campo, assim como o esclarecimento da sociedade sobre os benefí­cios e malefí­cios que o afastamento familiar pode causar

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Introduction: the reaction states or leprosy reactions are periods of acute inflammation in the course of a chronic illness, the main cause of damage to the nerves and disabilities caused by leprosy. They are divided into three types: reversal reaction, erythema nodosum leprosum and isolated neuritis. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of cases of leprosy reactions in a city of high backlands of Paraiba. Method: Utilized a structured and individual questionnaire applied in the homes of patients and former patients of Hansen's disease who developed leprosy reactions, registered in the three Family Health Units with more cases of leprosy in the city of Cajazeiras-PB. Results: Among the 22 participants, most were male, aged over 61 years old and incomplete primary education. Regarding the classification of leprosy, 90.9% were multibacillary and 77.2% of the blackening clinical form. When evaluated the type of reaction, 68.2% were considered cases of RR or type 1 reaction, 45.5% developed reactions during treatment and 40.9% after discharge by cure. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the need for qualification of the professionals in the primary health care to a greater and better monitoring of these cases by the Family Health Strategy, so much so that the leprosy reactions are diagnosed early during treatment and after discharge, as mainly for carrying out monitoring conducts of