Perfil dos adolescentes com HIV/AIDS atendidos no ambulatório de infectologia pediátrica do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria - RS

Abstract

Young people, including adolescents, are being infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and affected by the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in greater numbers than other groups of individuals. The social, economic and cultural characteristics of this special group require the implementation of preventive and clinical interventions. The goal of this study was to know the profile of HIV-infected adolescents in follow-up at The Pediatric Infectology Outpatient Clinic at the Santa Maria University Hospital, as well as to evaluate the degree of knowledge about their disease, adherence to treatment, and others, through the application of a questionnaire and medical records. Thirty-seven adolescents with HIV/AIDS were enrolled. The average age was 15.3 years, with 60% whites, 64.87% female, 59.4% orphans and more than a half in conditions of vulnerability or poverty. Adequate knowledge about the disease was observed in only 43.2% of the participants. The mode of transmission was vertical for almost all the adolescents. The reported adherence was 92%, but the HIV treatment success rate was lower (75.7%). Only 8% reported side effects attributed to HIV treatment. Sexual activity was prevalent in one fifth of the participants with more than 40% of these having started early, before the age of fifteen. Non-adherence was higher among older boys compared to adherents. The knowledge of the aspects raised in this study will be of great importance to promote actions that can qualify the assistance provided to this specific group of people.