Fernanda Torres de Carvalho

Fatores de proteção relacionados à promoção de resiliência em pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS

The aim of this theoretical review was to articulate the resilience concept with key aspects in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. We emphasize the analysis of protective factors traditionally related to resilience (personal characteristics and social and affective support networks). The reviewed studies show important protective factors that contribute to the health and well-being of people with HIV/AIDS, such as cognitive coping and acceptance of their HIV status, family participation in treatment and family support, the role of governmental and nongovernmental institutions, and religious beliefs. The concept of resilience defined as a dynamic process that allows human beings to overcome adversities is essential for understanding HIV infection and treatment of AIDS patients. It helps decrease stigmatization and prejudice towards the disease and patients. It also helps alter the notion that living with AIDS is incompatible with well-being and quality of life and fosters the creation of new HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment perspectives.

Sexual and Drug Use Risk Behaviors among Children and Youth in Street Circumstances in Porto Alegre, Brazil

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess sexual and drug use risk in 161 children and youth in street circumstances in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Median age was 14 and 79% were male. Overall, 59% reported ever having had sex; a significantly higher proportion of males (66%) compared to females (30%). Overall, 39% reported illicit drug use in the last year, and only 1.2% reported injection drug use. In multivariate analyses, correlates of unsafe sex included younger age of sexual debut, and having a steady sex partner. Independent correlates of illicit drug use included lack of family contact, increased hours in the street daily, having had an HIV test, and older age. A high proportion of children and youth in street circumstances reported high risk sex and drug exposures, confirming their vulnerability to HIV/STD. Services Centers, such as where this research was carried out, offer an opportunity for interventions.

Uma investigação antropológica na terceira idade: concepções sobre a hipertensão arterial

Anthropology and sociology are joining epidemiology, clinical investigation, and pathophysiology in studies on the aging process of the Brazilian population. The objectives of the present study were: a) to identify the concepts of the elderly population of the municipality of Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil, towards the etiology of arterial hypertension (AH) and the relevance of the different signs and symptoms that accompany the disease; b) to improve elderly peoples concepts towards the relevance and utilization of different treatment categories for AH. Structured interviews were conducted with 29 individuals, the majority aged 60 years or over, who were being treated for hypertension at the Araraquara municipal gerontology outpatient clinic in August 1996. Patients were properly informed by the health team about problems related to AH, as clearly perceived in the discourse of the elderly. Folkloric concepts pertaining to etiology also appeared in the interviews and should be taken into consideration in the implementation of health education activities. Care provided by an interdisciplinary team was valued by the elderly. The most frequent complaint was the lack of free distribution of prescription medication for AH at the clinic.

Aspectos históricos do feminino e do maternal e a infecção pelo HIV em mulheres

The aim of this article was to examine historical aspects related to the feminine and to being a mother for deepening the comprehension of motherhood in the context of HIV/Aids infection. We reviewed the traditional role of the woman in society, showing the historical division between the mother, deserving respect and consideration, and the prostitute, marginalized and not worth of respect. In this context, we discuss the sexually transmitted diseases and the social reactions toward these infections in women, especially as refers to motherhood in the context of HIV/Aids infection. The paper emphasizes the presence of socially constructed beliefs about womens behaviors as a factor hampering an effective prevention of STD/HIV/AIDS in women and the great need for reflecting about the strategies for prevention and care.

Sentimentos de mães portadoras de HIV/Aids em relação ao tratamento preventivo do bebê

Abstract The infant’s treatment, directed to prevention of the mother-to- infant transmission of the HIV/Aids, occurs at a momen t when anxiety related to motherhood and seropositivity condition are present. The study goal was to understand the feelings of seropositive mothers concerning the preventive treatment of the baby. Six seropositive mothers wereinterviewed, aged between 22 and 42 years old. They were selected from healthcare centers. Qualitative content analysisidentified four thematic categories related to the feelings of mothers about: the baby’s diagnosis, the impossibility o fsuckle, the infant’s health, the preventive treatment of the baby. Maternal feelings of fear and anxiety were present, as wellas confidence in a positive outcome of the baby’s treatment. The presence of ambivalent feelings suggests the importanceof psychological interventions for these mothers. Keywords: HIV; Aids; Motherhood; Treatment; Mother-to-infant transmission. Introducao A infeccao pelo virus da imunodeficiencia humana (HIV), causador da sindrome da imunodeficiencia adquirida (Aids), e considerada pela Organizacao Mundial da Saude (OMS) a epidemia de maior gravidade dos ultimos 50 anos. Estima-se que, em 2005, havia 38,6 milhoes de pessoas vivendo com HIV/Aids no mundo e que 2,8 milhoes de pessoas morreram em decorrencia da doenca (UNAIDS, 2006). No Brasil, embora se tenha observado uma desaceleracao da taxa de incidencia de casos de HIV/Aids, estimativas de 2004 (Szwarcwald & Souza Jr., 2006) indicavam prevalencia de, aproximadamente, 600 mil casos de infeccao pelo HIV/Aids na populacao de 15 a 49 anos. Diferentemente do momento inicial da epidemia, no qual os casos de HIV/Aids prevaleciam entre populacoes especificas, hoje se observa a presenca da infeccao na populacao geral. A epidemia tem apresentado mudancas em seu perfil, entre as quais se destacam o aumento de casos entre mulheres e o seu

Vida reprodutiva de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS: revisando a literatura

Considering the current context of the HIV epidemic, issues like reproduction and mother-to-child HIV transmission became frequent. They have led to different opinions from infected people and healthcare pro- fessionals. the present study aimed to identify the impact of the HIV infection on the reproductive life of those affected, considering motherhood and fatherhood rights. an extensive literature review on biological, psycholo- gical and social aspects that are part of the reproductive health assistance was conducted. We identified that the predominance of a biological logic and the social impact of the epidemic restrict the reproductive experiences of motherhood and fatherhood of people infected with HIV. We believe that health policies should be oriented by principles of integrality and individual autonomy, in a context of a psychosocial support and orientation.

Coping Strategies Among Brazilian Pregnant Women Living With HIV

Embarazadas VIH-positivo experimentan desafios en la prevencion de la infeccion del bebes, y las estrategias del enfrentamiento son facilitadores de este proceso. El objetivo del estudio transversal es describir las estrategias de enfrentamiento del 77 embarazadas VIH-positivo en un servicio de salud Brasileno. Se evaluo las estrategias centradas en lo Problema, en la Emocion, y en la Busqueda del Apoyo Social. Analisis multivariado identificaron predictores de estas estrategias. Empleo, practica religiosa y mejor CD4/imunidade se asocian con estrategias centradas en lo problema, y menos educacion, con estrategias centradas en la emocion. Busqueda del apoyo social se asocio con disponibilidad del apoyo, revelacion del VIH para el padre del bebe y conocimiento del diagnostico antes del embarazo. Intervenciones dirigidas para el apoyo social y la participacion del padre del bebe al cuidado de estas madres se hacen necesarias, con especial atencion a las embarazadas con diagnostico reciente y en desvantaja economica.

Apego materno fetal em gestantes que vivem com HIV/Aids

Maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant mothers living with HIV/Aids. Pregnancy in the context of HIV/ AIDS is usually accompanied by intense anxiety due to the possibility of mother-to-child HIV transmission. This study investigated the maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant mothers living with HIV/AIDS (n = 88), compared to pregnant mothers without HIV (n = 79), considering their answers to the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. The results showed no differences on maternal-fetal attachment among the participants. However, findings show a peculiar way of maternal-fetal attachment among pregnant mothers living with HIV/AIDS. Mother-baby interactions seem to focus more on the present moment, and the baby health care in pregnancy is linked to the mother HIV treatment. The scale might not be sensitive enough to find differences associated with the context of HIV/AIDS. Further studies are important to review the scale items in order to get closer to the peculiarities related to HIV and maternal-fetal attachment.

Intervenções psicológicas para crianças que vivem ou convivem com HIV/Aids

Com o avanco no tratamento antirretroviral, a infeccao pelo HIV/Aids em criancas passou de um quadro agudo para uma doenca cronica, tendo implicacoes medicas, psicologicas e sociais. Aspectos da convivencia com o HIV/Aids, como revelacao do diagnostico, adesao ao tratamento e enfrentamento de diversos lutos, sao especialmente desafiadores entre as criancas. Assim, este estudo buscou identificar, na literatura, intervencoes psicologicas desenvolvidas nos ultimos anos para criancas que vivem ou convivem com o HIV/Aids. Foram revisadas as bases de dados Medline, PsycInfo, Indexpsi, PEPSIC, SciELO e LILACS, encontrando-se 17 estudos sobre o tema. Foram descritos objetivos, publico-alvo, pais de origem, contextualizacao teorica, tecnicas utilizadas e resultados dessas intervencoes. A revisao apontou que sao raros estudos descrevendo intervencoes psicologicas para essas criancas. Alem disso, muitos dos estudos encontrados nao apresentaram uma clara descricao do metodo utilizado e avaliacao de seus resultados, o que prejudica a utilizacao dessas intervencoes em outros contextos.

Maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant mothers living with HIV/Aids

Maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant mothers living with HIV/Aids. Pregnancy in the context of HIV/ AIDS is usually accompanied by intense anxiety due to the possibility of mother-to-child HIV transmission. This study investigated the maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant mothers living with HIV/AIDS (n = 88), compared to pregnant mothers without HIV (n = 79), considering their answers to the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. The results showed no differences on maternal-fetal attachment among the participants. However, findings show a peculiar way of maternal-fetal attachment among pregnant mothers living with HIV/AIDS. Mother-baby interactions seem to focus more on the present moment, and the baby health care in pregnancy is linked to the mother HIV treatment. The scale might not be sensitive enough to find differences associated with the context of HIV/AIDS. Further studies are important to review the scale items in order to get closer to the peculiarities related to HIV and maternal-fetal attachment.