A feminização do HIV/AIDS no município de Salvador/Bahia sob a perspectiva de mulheres infectadas: uma questão de gênero

Abstract

Since its discovery in 1981, the epidemic infection by the Human Immunodeficiency vírus (HIV) and AIDS presentes itself as a continuous, dynamic, and unstable global phenomenon. In a short space of time, this epidemic became a serious worldwide public health problem due to the high rates of morbidity and mortality. This epidemic that was heavily male with most victims both heterosexual and homosexual men is increasingly female: according to data from UNAIDS, in the world, young women represent over 60% of all young people living with HIV in Africa and this rate reaches 72%. Given these data, raised to the following question: Does the vulnerability of women related to gender has contributed to the process of feminization of HIV / AIDS in the city of Salvador in Bahia? From then drew up the general objective of this research: to describe values, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and contexts historico-socio-cultural factors that may have vulnerabilized women to HIV infection / AIDS in Salvador, state of Bahia. And, as specific objectives: to identify with women already infected, in the city of Salvador, values, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and socio-historical contexts cultural that may have vulnerabilized women to the process of infection with HIV / AIDS; seeking women already infected with their perception against contamination by HIV / AIDS in relation to men, age, income and neighborhood; examine women infected health actions that could be undertaken in an attempt to minimize the process of feminization of HIV / AIDS. The methodology was qualitative, with exploratory, focusing on the feminization of AIDS, adopting gender as analytical approach. This research was developed in ancient Reference Center for STD / AIDS State of Bahia (CREAIDS), a public institution of the Unified Health System (SUS). The population was composed of a minimum quantity of 14 women enrolled in the service, from 2004 (the time of initial operation of the unit) to August 2011.