Sexualidade de pessoas que vivem com HIV - AIDS e o diagnóstico tardio da infecção.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: AIDS represents a serious and serious public health problem. Despite the benefits of antiretroviral therapy, many people are diagnosed late. Late diagnosis of HIV infection decreases the quality of life of people living with HIV / AIDS, increases mortality and contributes to the spread of the virus. Among the factors associated with the occurrence of late diagnosis, we highlight those related to the sexuality of people affected. OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors related to the sexuality of people living with HIV / AIDS and its association with the late diagnosis of HIV infection. METHOD: This research is a cross-cutting of a broader project entitled "Late diagnosis of HIV infection: trajectories and perspectives of people living with HIV / AIDS." This is a quantitative, epidemiological, Observational, analytical and transverse. It was developed in Campina Grande-PB. The sample consisted of 72 participants, attended at the Specialized Assistance Service of the University Hospital Alcides Carneiro and the Specialized Municipal Assistance Service. Data collection was performed in April and May of 2017, through a questionnaire applied with interview. The data were stored and analyzed in Software SPSS statistics, version 20.0, initially estimating the prevalence of late diagnosis of HIV infection, followed by the association of the exposure variables with the outcomes, and a discussion of the results obtained. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results obtained were represented by tables and discussed according to published literature on the subject. As a result, the following stand out: of the total number of participants, 33 (45.8%) reported being of the female gender and 38 (52.8%) of the male gender; Of the women interviewed, 26 (76.5%) of them reported that they were not pregnant at the time of diagnosis; 30 (41.7%) of the participants reported being single at the time of diagnosis and 31 (43.1%) were married or in a stable union, and currently 35 (48.6%) of the participants were single and 22 (30.6%) were married or in stable union; 44 (61.1%) reported having at least one child; 53 (73.6%) of the respondents reported being heterosexual, 13 (18.1%) declared to be homosexual and 6 (8.3%) were bisexual; With regard to the occurrence of STIs, 29 (40.3%) of the interviewees already had some STIs; In relation to the mode of transmission, sexual intercourse was the most prevalent, reported by 68 (94.5%) of the study participants; 62.5% presented late or late diagnosis; As for the occurrence of delayed diagnosis, individuals who dated for the first time between the ages of 13 and 17 years had the highest occurrence of late diagnosis, corresponding to 73.3%; There were more cases of delayed diagnosis in people who had the first gender with age between 13 and 17 years, corresponding to 55.6%; In relation to the number of sexual partners during the life, the interviewees who had ten or more sexual partners were diagnosed later, corresponding to 48.9%; The occurrence of late diagnosis was higher in individuals who declared never to have been related to persons of the same sex, corresponding to 66.7%; The occurrence of delayed diagnosis was considerably higher in individuals who reported never seeking the service to undergo HIV testing after unprotected intercourse, corresponding to 91.1%; As to the reasons that influenced the non-use of the condom, the most mentioned responses were: trust in the partner, having a fixed partner and having been with the same partner for a long time. CONCLUSION: The main route of transmission was sexual, and the majority of people living with HIV / AIDS interviewed had late diagnosis (62.5%) and high viral load at the time of diagnosis.