Experiências de mulheres usuárias de profilaxia pós-exposição sexual ao HIV (PEP sexual): cenários pessoais e programáticos para a prevenção da aids

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, more than 13,700 new cases of AIDS are registered among women annually, due mainly to sexual transmission. In the last decade, the availability of HIV prevention methods based on the prophylactic use of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) by people exposed to the virus have increased in the country. Questions are raised regarding how psychosocial, cultural and programmatic dimensions of HIV prevention will interfere in the use of these technologies. This thesis aims to understand the decision making process and the experience of using post-exposure prophylaxis after sexual exposure to HIV (nPEP) by women who sought this preventive method in the Brazilian Health System (SUS). METHODS: Data were collected as part of a pragmatic clinical trial entitled Combina! Study, conducted in HIV/AIDS specialized health facilities located in Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, Ribeirao Preto and Curitiba. Direct observations of nPEP services and semi-structured interviews with women seeking the prophylaxis in the facilities were performed. Data analysis was guided by hermeneutic-dialectical principles, oriented by social constructionism theories of sexuality, articulated to the conceptual framework of vulnerability and human rights (V&DH). The units of analysis were the sexual scenes and the dynamics of Care in the health services. RESULTS: Seventeen women voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Interviewees had previous experience with condoms, and only two had not protected themselves in the sexual scenes that led them to nPEP. For the others, the search resulted from condom failure during sexual intercourses that happened in scenarios of casual sex, sex work or serodifferent relationships. In the first two scenarios, the lack of intimacy with the partners and their indifference to the accident contributed to the women's decision to seek nPEP, contrasting with the intimacy and solidarity that characterized the interactions in the serodifference scenarios. Four interviewees were aware of the prophylaxis prior to the accident, mainly informed by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), health services, sex workers and the Internet. Knowing and using nPEP did not result in the intention to replace condom use with the prophylaxis. The interviewees valued the possibility of accessing an effective prevention method in public health services, where they felt welcomed and respected. Adhering to nPEP required overcoming adverse effects and psychosocial consequences of taking ARVs, especially the fear of being discriminated against as a PLWHA, which made the interviewees keep the use of nPEP in secret. CONCLUSIONS: In the different scenarios, the sexual scenes that led to the nPEP were crossed by gender scripts and stigmas of sexuality, which structured the sexual negotiation dynamics and the reactions of the interviewees and of their partners towards the accidents with the condom. The stigma of AIDS is expressive in these scenarios that structure the experiences of using nPEP, contributing to keep it little known and making its use difficult in daily life. We suggest investments to be made in publicizing the availability of nPEP in the SUS, in improving qualification of nPEP services based on the framework of Care and in structural interventions to mitigate AIDS stigma and gender inequality in order to promote and protect women's human rights, which violation produces scenarios of higher vulnerability to HIV.