Coping strategies adopted by elderly people with HIV in Brazil

Abstract

Objective It aims at unveiling the coping strategies adopted by the elderly people in the course of their lives to overcome the difficulties experienced by the condition of being a person with HIV. Methods Qualitative study based on the oral history method. Six older adults with HIV from a city in the great west mesoregion of Santa Catarina took participated in it. Data was collected through in-depth interviews at the Specialized Care Service (SAE) and the elderly people’s homes. Data analysis was performed through thematic content analysis. Results The coping strategies adopted were centered on the support of health care professionals (formal network) and the part of relatives and friends (informal network). Some adopt the confidentiality of the diagnosis as a way of facing discriminatory acts and prejudice, while spirituality strengthened resilience and faith in treatment and recovery. Conclusion The coping strategies adopted by the elderly patients contributed to living more adapted to this reality, with less suffering and greater resilience.