Abstract
Objective outline the profile of women living with the human immunodeficiency virus/aids in interior cities in São Paulo State, in the attempt to identify characteristics related to individual, social and programmatic vulnerability and to analyze the conditions in which they discovered their serological status. Method between October 2008 and December 2010, a cross-sectional study was undertaken with 184 women attended at a specialized service. The data were collected through an interview and gynecological test, including the collection of samples for the etiological diagnosis of sexually transmissible conditions. Results the women were predominantly white, between 30 and 49 years of age, lived with a partner, had a low education level, multiple sexual partners across the lifetime and unsafe sexual practices. The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases corresponded to 87.0%. Conclusion the study suggests the need to offer gynecological care in specialized services and the accomplishment of multiprofessional actions to reinforce the female autonomy in protective decision making.
Highlights
The aids epidemic is a global public health problem
Data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ aids (UNAIDS) indicate that 34 million people had been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) up to December 2011, with women corresponding to more than half of the cases(1)
The institution is a referral service for care delivery to HIV/aids patients in the interior of the State of São Paulo, especially for 30 cities in the microregion of Botucatu
Summary
The aids epidemic is a global public health problem. Data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ aids (UNAIDS) indicate that 34 million people had been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) up to December 2011, with women corresponding to more than half of the cases(1). In Brazil, 656,701 aids cases(2) were notified between 1980 and June 2012, 34% (217,367 cases) in the State of São Paulo, 1,401 of which referred to the 30 cities in the Epidemiological Surveillance Group of the microregion Botucatu(3). 230,161 cases were identified across the country in the same period(2), 67,522 of which in the State of São Paulo(3). Women and girls’ greater vulnerability to the HIV infection derives from biological aspects and social, economic, legal and cultural factors, highlighting gender roles, unbalanced power relations and the acceptance of violence against women by society(5). The economic and cultural factors play an important role in situations of poverty: a study in two African countries detected greater vulnerability to HIV/ aids among women who had been married, had a job and were richer as, despite better conditions, the gender inequality continued(6)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
