Experiences of adolescents seropositive for HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective:Explore the meanings attributed by young individuals about "living as an adolescent with HIV" in a group of patients that acquired the infection at birth and the elements involved with the adherence to antiretroviral treatment.Methods:Qualitative study, involving 20 subjects (aged 13-20 years), followed at services specialized in the treatment of pediatric AIDS in São Paulo, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were carried out of which script consisted of questions about their personal histories, experiences and difficulties they must face while living with HIV/AIDS.Results:Being "normal" and "different" were central issues voiced by the participants. However, a normal life situation is guaranteed by being responsible with one's health, the condition that the diagnosis be kept secret and concerns about HIV transmission and dissemination to a sexual partner. The answers about treatment show that adherence is a dynamic process and involves moments of greater or lesser interest in relation to care for one's health. The adolescents have plans and projects and although HIV is considered a stressor, positive perspectives for the future prevailed.Conclusions:To live as an adolescent with HIV involves subtle dimensions that need to be recognized and legitimized by professionals who follow the trajectory of these young individuals. It is necessary to allow a space in which the adolescents can reflect and find support regarding issues related to the construction of their sexuality and care of one's own body.

Adherence to Treatment of Young Adults Living With Hiv/Aids From the Perspective of Complex Thinking

“…8,16 Young adults are not always prepared for these confrontations and, in this process, the desire to receive more detailed information about the disease and treatment is awakened, a practice that is paramount in the care of young adults with HIV/AIDS. 16,22 Complexity allows for a better understanding of human problems, including those linked to HIV/AIDS. 23 When analyzing the adherence to treatment of young adults with HIV/AIDS from the perspective of complex thinking, the presence of some complex situations in the lives of these young people were observed, among them coping with living with HIV/AIDS, experiencing the effects of antiretroviral drugs at the beginning of the treatment, "Being Young" with HIV/AIDS and having to adhere to the treatment of a chronic condition, among other situations that constitute, therefore, a complex whole.…”

<b> Representações sociais de estudantes de ensino médio da rede pública sobre prevenção em HIV/Aids / Social representations of public high school students on HIV/Aids prevention <b>

“…Quando o adolescente tem a confirmação de soropositividade, passa a viver momentos de angústia, sobretudo, em decorrência da repercussão para a sua vida, especialmente, no que se relaciona à vivência da sexualidade (21) . Nesse aspecto, a representação do HIV/Aids ainda reverbera as limitações incapacitantes e progressivas na vida daquelas/es que convivem com a doença.…”

“…O medo constante da exclusão social, que ainda é associada ao HIV, vista como sinônima da morte, faz com que jovens não revelem sua condição de soropositividade. Esse é um aspecto que tende a dificultar a adesão ao tratamento ou culminar em abandono do mesmo (21) . Nesse contexto, esse tipo de representação social, que caracteriza o conhecimento empírico construído na dinâmica das inter-relações e vislumbra o HIV/Aids sob o ponto de vista conceitual e interpretativo obsoleto, tende a comprometer a implementação da abordagem preventiva, que é tão importante no cenário atual.…”

Adolescentes que vivem com HIV/aids: experiências de sexualidade

“…International researches, consonant to this, revealed that divulging to partners that one has HIV/AIDS is a complex and challenging issue (5,7) . Adolescents feel trapped between the desire to share the secret, the guilt for hiding the truth, and the fear of being rejected (5,12,19) . A study has shown that feelings of trust and attachment, for teenagers, develop with time and are essential elements to discuss the condition of HIV (12) .…”