Representations about sexuality of people diagnosed late with HIV infection

Abstract

Objective: to understand the representations about sexuality of people diagnosed late with HIV infection and its implications in the delayed search for diagnosis. Methods: this is a qualitative study, whose theoretical and methodological framework was Social Representation Theory. The research was carried out with 18 people diagnosed late with HIV infection through an open interview. For data analysis, Structural Narration Analysis was used, with support from MAXQDA 12®. Results: representations about sexuality contributed to delayed diagnosis, such as trust in a fixed partnership, sexual intercourse is natural, sexuality as a taboo, search for pleasure in sexual intercourse, regardless of risks, denial of risk for HIV infection. Final considerations: representations about sexuality participate in a web of stereotypes and riskier ways of living, which contribute to delayed diagnosis. Sexual health education remains necessary and essential throughout people’s lives.

Social representation of young people in higher education about sexually transmitted infections

“…Thus, it appears that the first chunk presents syphilis as the element with the most connections and with the greatest connection strengths with gonorrhea, AIDS and HIV, which reinforces the recognition of the current overview of public health in the country, with HIV/syphilis co-infection a considerable frequency, evidencing the vulnerability imposed by HIV infection, as previously mentioned. Moreover, this result is also related to the fact that syphilis is an old STI, prior to the AIDS pandemic ( 21 ) , which explains why it was mentioned more often and established many connections in the maximum similarity tree, including with other STIs.…”

“…Promoting a change in this SR network could allow modifications in the elements used for prevention, changing its status to CN. This could also be reflected in changes in practices ( 21 ) , insofar as the change in a social practice is conditioned, in certain situations, by the change in the structuring SR, i.e., the one that supports the subgroups’ representational constructs.…”