Sofrimento velado do indivíduo portador do HIV

Abstract

This study originated from a research and intervention project entitled "HIV/aids and Prejudice", developed by residents of three professional areas, characterized by a multiprofessional team: pharmacy, nutrition and psychology. The objective was to verify the degree of perception of the prejudice related to individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Ten HIVpositive individuals attended at the Infectious Diseases outpatient clinic at a University Hospital in the city of state of Rio Grande do Sul were interviewed until data were saturated. Individuals, who had a recent diagnosis of HIV, were not included in the study, due to the thematic being related to the experience of the prejudice. Data were analyzed through content analysis, resulting in the categories: facing the pathology of HIV/aids; self image; and relationship with the team of health professionals. It has been found that advances related to disease control have given people living with HIV/aids a better coping with the syndrome, but nonetheless the social prejudice, originated at the beginning of the epidemic, is still present. It was possible to verify that the greatest instrument for the demystification and reduction of prejudices related to HIV/aids is information.