Representações sociais de caminhoneiros de rota curta sobre HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Neste estudo qualitativo objetivou-se analisar representações sociais de caminhoneiros de rota curta sobre a AIDS, transmissão do HIV e prevenção da AIDS. Envolveu 19 caminhoneiros de rota curta, de uma associação em Vitória da Conquista-BA. A produção dos dados foi por intermédio de entrevista semiestruturada e por análise de conteúdo temática, sendo identificadas três categorias êmicas. Os resultados mostraram que as representações sociais da AIDS estavam ancoradas nos constructos: "doença ruim", "doença perigosa", "doença incurável" e "doença que mata". A transmissão do HIV relacionou-se ao sexo desprotegido com profissionais do sexo, gays e contato com sangue contaminado; a prevenção da AIDS foi representada pelo uso da camisinha nas relações extraconjugais e pela fidelidade da esposa. Apreendeu-se que as representações sobre AIDS estão embasadas em conhecimentos do início da epidemia e fundamentadas no distanciamento dos indivíduos, configurando quadro importante para a reflexão sobre o processo de vulnerabilização.

Factors related to the perceived stigmatization of people living with HIV

“…The low incidence of comorbidities was an expected outcome in this study, as most participants did not use drugs, had not stopped ART, and had not been hospitalized due to HIV complications. The absence of comorbidities predictor was related to a decrease in the stigmatization mean, since in addition to a lack of pathological signs and symptoms being a good health indicator, it helped hide the diagnosis by maintaining the confidentiality of HIV infection, preserving people from discriminatory situations (18,20) . In a study carried out in Mozambique, women who had signs and symptoms suggesting AIDS such as weight loss and fever, in addition to feelings of hopelessness in the face of the "bad", "incurable" disease that leads to death (20) , also felt guilty and devalued because they were labeled in the community and strongly stigmatized for presenting signs that exposed their condition of seropositivity (21) .…”

“…The absence of comorbidities predictor was related to a decrease in the stigmatization mean, since in addition to a lack of pathological signs and symptoms being a good health indicator, it helped hide the diagnosis by maintaining the confidentiality of HIV infection, preserving people from discriminatory situations (18,20) . In a study carried out in Mozambique, women who had signs and symptoms suggesting AIDS such as weight loss and fever, in addition to feelings of hopelessness in the face of the "bad", "incurable" disease that leads to death (20) , also felt guilty and devalued because they were labeled in the community and strongly stigmatized for presenting signs that exposed their condition of seropositivity (21) . Thus, avoiding illness and correctly adhering to ART does not only depend on information and on the individual's posture, but also on many structural factors which are linked to the stigma and perceptions of the disease, and affect individuals regardless of their will (4,14) .…”

“…Not being aware about the category of HIV exposure was also related to a decrease in stigmatization mean. When people were unable to identify the environment in which the viral infection occurred, they felt "victimized" and felt less guilty for having contracted HIV (20) . Thus, in the stigmatization process, individuals linked to the spread of HIV at the beginning of the epidemic such as homosexuals, prostitutes and drug users in addition to spouses with an extramarital sex life, are seen as deserving it by law due to morally reprehensible behavior, being guilty for having HIV even before the infection; while children, hemophiliacs, faithful spouses, and marital relationships are seen as innocent people who do not deserve to be infected (11,21) .…”

Social representations and hiv/aids: an integrative literature review

“…24 The results showed that the social representations of AIDS were anchored in: "bad disease", "dangerous disease", "incurable illness" and "disease that kills". HIV transmission was related to unprotected sex with sex professionals, gays and contact with contaminated blood; AIDS prevention was represented by the use of condoms in extramarital relationships and wife fidelity.…”

“…Research about the social representations of truck drivers about HIV/AIDS articulates the disease with negative aspects, being translated as dangerous, incurable and lethal, denoting the knowledge of the beginning of the epidemic. 24 From this perspective, it is shown the image dimensions and attitude linked to representation object, characterized by HIV/AIDS. It is worth mentioning that fear is a feeling that occurs due to anxiety facing danger or a real or imaginary threat.…”