A representação das singularidades de vivenciar a infecção pelo HIV/AIDS: "mulheres no mesmo barco e homens egocêntricos e fragilizados"

Abstract

The present study was aimed at complementing current health care practices related to HIV/AIDS-challenged individuals. The specific objectives were to determine how men and women cope with their disease and to understand the differences observed between the sexes in this respect. While the theory of social representations and gender was used to apprehend the object of study. Ten women and ten men receiving outpatient care at a reference facility for AIDS patients in Fortaleza were included in the study. The data were collected from May to November, 1999, through semi-structured interviews, observation and field notes. The social representation for the study group was observed to be death, although this was clearly regarded in different ways according to gender. It is hoped that the disclosure of the meaning of life for the AIDS-challenged individuals interviewed for this study will help specialized health care workers reflect on ways to promote health care actions which do not reinforce the inequality between the sexes.