Gir E, Duarte G, Macedo RF; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 205 (abstract no. We.D.3907).
University of Sao Paulo, Nursing School at Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fax: 55-16-6333271. E-mail: egir@usp.br.
Objectives: 1. To detect emotional, social and sexual problems occurred in HIV seropositive Brazilian women 2. To intervene, through follow-up nursing counselling.Method: A prospective survey was carried out with 26 women, from 20 to 35, in stages II and III of HIV-1 infection, cared at Clinics Hospital of Medical Faculty at Ribeirao Preto University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Individual structured interview was made, every time they looked for care at the outpatient specialized clinic. The structured tool used permitted evaluate some social, emotional and sexual changes and problems occurred in their lives, due to the HIV infection. The data were analysed based on Health Belief Model. Intervention was done, based on the problems detected. Results: The main problems detected were concerning the fears of revealing their HIV diagnosis to family (19,2%), friends (46,2%) and neighbors (57,7%) (fears of discrimination, isolation, rejection). About jobs, 13 (50%) had important changes, being that 9 (69,2%) of them do not work anymore because no employer accept such diagnosis. From the remaining 13 (50%), some work by themselves. About the religion, 14 (53,8%) have changed the religious habits. About sexuality, they referred it was strongly affected. Some women considered they "lost their sexuality", they do not want to have intercourse anymore. Others do not mind they got the virus from someone they really love. Some think condom is not necessary if the partner is also seropositive. Nine of them (36,6%) revealed their partners never use condom, besides knowing the importance, being that a few of these men are seronegative and others seropositive. Some do not believe they have the HIV. Emotionally they feel as inferiorized persons, waiting for death. They became sad, without hope to live, worried, nervous. The interventions were based on the problems detected, trying to elevate their self esteem, giving emotional support and sexual orientations. Positive changes in number of sexual partners, frequency of intercourse were detected, though there is persistence of some sexual risky behaviors. Conclusion: It is necessary to continue such following up structured evaluation, to detect problems about quality of life, and to intervene whenever possible. It has certainly brought benefits for the patients and for multidisciplinary health team.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Brazil
- Condoms
- Condoms, Female
- Evaluation Studies
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV-1
- HIV-2
- Humans
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Sexual Behavior
- Sexual Partners
- Virus Diseases
Other ID:
UI: 102220088
From Meeting Abstracts