Conhecimento de homens que fazem sexo com homens acerca da profilaxia pós-exposição sexual ao HIV.

Abstract

Post-exposure prophylaxis in consensual intercourse includes the use of antiretrovirals to ensure the protection of the individual after a situation considered to be at risk with exposure to the HIV virus, and is beneficial when initiated within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. The populations vulnerable to HIV in Brazil are related to individual problems and difficulties as collective, so it is important to relate risk factors, cultural aspects, social and economic factors, which led the individual to the context of the disease. The low knowledge about sexual PEP of both users and health professionals seems to be one of the main causes for not using the method, thus reducing possibilities of prevention. The objective of this study is to investigate the knowledge of men who have sex with men of an LGBT group about post-exposure prophylaxis to the HIV virus. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study, carried out through a structured questionnaire applied by the researcher. The collection took place in June 2018 after approval of the Committee of Ethics in Research with Human Beings of the Federal University of Campina Grande, under opinion number 2,689,909. In this study, the data collected show that the analyzed population consists mostly of young people, with higher percentage of Gays, high school graduates and monthly income higher than a minimum wage, unspecified values. There is little knowledge related to postsexual exposure prophylaxis as a preventive method of HIV transmission, despite the policies implemented in the country in the face of the AIDS epidemic, yet the population receives little information related to advances and forms of treatment on the disease. Regarding the source of the knowledge about sexual PEP, it occurred mainly through friends, showing to be a subject little debated by the media, services and health professionals, as well as the majority of the participants is not aware of the correct purpose of the prophylaxis, being again the need to expand knowledge. Among the most used methods the male condom presented a higher percentage and as to the frequency of its use there were also greater responses for use in all sexual relations. It could be concluded that the lack of knowledge about this method inserts the analyzed population in a context of vulnerability, and there is a need for educational health actions aimed at this public directed at the subject investigated.