Vulnerabilidade e ascensão da doença: significados da Aids para idosos assistidos na Atenção Primária.

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the meanings about HIV/AIDS by elderly patients of the Family Health Care. This is a qualitative and descriptive-exploratory study, developed with all elderly patients registered at the Monitoring System of Hypertenses and Diabetics (HIPERDIA) from three units of Family Health Care (USF), Cajazeiras-PB. The selection for sample was made randomly through the sweepstakes, totaling 26 participants. A sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used as instruments for data collection. Demographic data was analyzed by descriptive statistical method and the speeches were analyzed using the technique of content analysis proposed by Bardin. The results demonstrated that most participants were female (69.2%), with age predominantly in 60-69 years (50%), married (50%), income through retirement with one minimum wage (73,1%), education level ranging from incomplete elementary education (34,6%) until illiteracy (27%), and family arrangement predominantly between 1-3 people (73,1%). Regarding the speeches analyzed, were found three categories: Knowledge from elderly about the Aids, divided into six subcategories: Definition, Sources of Information, severity, Transmission, Treatment and Prognosis; Knowledge about prevention and disease control, which identified two derived subcategories , Prevention Methods and Means of Control; and, individual and collective responsibility, revealing three subcategories, Individual, Collective and Without knowledge. The results showed that there are many gaps in relation to the elderly knowledge about HIV/Aids, in prevention and control, and this makes the subjects become more vulnerable to acquiring the disease. It was also noted that is necessary more interventions by health professionals for this support and an appropriate confront about this problem.