Papiloma vírus humano e mal-estar: representações sociais de homens e mulheres

Abstract

This inquiry considers the magnitude, transcendency, vulnerability of infection and impact of programs of prevention related to the health problem presented to society by Human Papiloma Vims (HPV) and considers how society's collective health is effected, across all ages, when exposed to this health risk, the objective of the inquiry is to understand the lack of concern of men and women about the potential of HPV's contamination, trying to understand them from the joint theories of social representation and health promotion. Using a methodological triangulation, 200 subjects were asked to respond to questions about this health risk. They had to fi-ee-associate their reaction to figures with words that expressed what they thought when informed that they were infected by HPV. Fifty subjects (25 men and 25 women) agreed to write a personal essay expressing their understanding of the vims. The data was assembled and analyzed quantitatively by using EPI ESTFO software. The Software considered ten quantitative variables from the subject's social demographics; the usage of words were analyzed by EVOC software, indicating the elements of central nucleus and peripheral system of individuals's representations; responses to figures were analyzed by content and hermeneutics; ten categories were identified for men and nine for women; essays were analyzed using ALCESTE software, the analysis of the writing of twenty-five men resulted in three general social representations: Coping behavior strategies after the diagnosis of illness; and both men and women's experiences when cohabitating with illness; and reactions to symptoms and search for treatment. The frwenty-fíve women produces four general social representations: concerns for their future upon the diagnosis of HPV; the impact upon their feelings of affection and sexual relations after the illness; frustration over the lack of prevention; and permanent disabilities caused by the illness. Rationalizing the results, the thesis proved valid and applied well to the various variables analyzed,and demonstrated that even if the subjects are aware of the risk, men and women assume the risk but for different reasons. Women rely upon and trust their partners, submitting to the man's decision and men assume the risk to simply live for the moment. There was positive evidence that individuals had a favorable attitude toward prevention of the disease after they were infected by HP V, but the involvement and excitement of the sexual experience was different between the genders and resulted in a complicating factor toward practicing diseaseprevention.