Luís Felipe Rios

Towards adulthood: chances and barriers in the sexual health of young Brazilians

In this paper we present the results of a recent contextual dynamic analysis about the chances and barriers in the sexual and reproductive health of Brazilian youth. For this research, we reviewed the most recent academic literature, identified the main governmental and non-governmental actions on this theme, and interviewed experts in the area. In this work, we present the main themes, conceptions and actions regarding the sexual health of youth and identify some of the gaps in the research and intervention of non formal education until the insertion of Sexual Education in the Brazilian Curriculum Parameters in the second half of 90´s. In our conclusion, we present an agenda for research and action aimed at stimulating more effective strategies to promote the sexual and reproductive health of Brazilian youth.

Religious communities and HIV prevention: An intervention study using a human rights-based approach

Abstract Religious communities have been a challenge to HIV prevention globally. Focusing on the acceptability component of the right to health, this intervention study examined how local Catholic, Evangelical and Afro-Brazilian religious communities can collaborate to foster young peoples sexual health and ensure their access to comprehensive HIV prevention in their communities in Brazil. This article describes the process of a three-stage sexual health promotion and HIV prevention initiative that used a multicultural human rights approach to intervention. Methods included 27 in-depth interviews with religious authorities on sexuality, AIDS prevention and human rights training of 18 young people as research-agents, who surveyed 177 youth on the same issues using self-administered questionnaires. The results, analysed using a rights-based perspective on health and the vulnerability framework, were discussed in daylong interfaith workshops. Emblematic of the collaborative process, workshops are the focus of the analysis. Our findings suggest that this human rights framework is effective in increasing inter-religious tolerance and in providing a collective understanding of the sexuality and prevention needs of youth from different religious communities, and also serves as a platform for the expansion of state AIDS programmes based on laical principles.

Os cuidados com a "carne" na socialização sexual dos jovens

The positions of Christian leaders on the “manageme nt” of young people’s sexuality, as contextualized within the sexual politics of the state, are discussed. Th ey are the result of an ethnographic study undertak n through archival work, participating observation and interviews with 47 reli gious leaders in Recife PE Brazil. Analysis shows the space of religion as a disciplinary site, operating through transcendent r asoning (“responsibility”). The person is expect ed o incorporate such reasoning and make the appropriate differentiations between “right” and “wrong”. AIDS and adolescent pregn ancy appear as a result of “temptations of the erotic flesh”. From the perspective of human rights and health, the ar ticle deconstructs the idea of the “flesh” as dominated by “temptation,” and as an “essential force” which leads the person to stra y/sin/”risk”. It resituates sexuality as a positive instance for the s ubjects (with rights) and a condition for social fer tility.

Respostas religiosas à AIDS no Brasil: impressões de pesquisa acerca da pastoral de DST/AIDS da Igreja Católica

O texto encontra-se estruturado em quatro partes. Na primeira delas, apresentamos um conjunto de considerações e informações acerca da situação da aids no Brasil, das relações entre religião, sexualidade, aids e estado laico, bem como uma descrição mais clara do Projeto Respostas Religiosas ao HIV/Aids no Brasil, do qual este texto apresenta algumas impressões de pesquisa preliminares. A seguir, dedicamos um item a apresentação da Pastoral de DST/Aids, sua história, estrutura e objetivos. No item seguinte problematizamos diversas questões em particular no âmbito das relações Estado e Igreja, relações entre agentes de pastoral e hierarquia da Igreja, e questões ligadas mais diretamente à sexualidade e aids, todas referenciadas ao trabalho da Pastoral de DST/Aids. Ao final, apresentamos a bibliografia e fontes consultadas.

Proposições para a formação de aconselhadores em HIV/Aids

Problematiza-se a formacao de aconselhadores em HIV/Aids, exigencia do Ministerio da Saude, para que profissionais de saude desenvolvam essa pratica junto ao usuario que busca testagem anti-HIV. Abordar a formacao e estrategico para qualificar sua pratica na direcao de construcao de respostas mais eficazes e efetivas a Aids. Analises de manuais do ministerio e de entrevistas com aconselhadores, realizadas em pesquisa de tese (em andamento), subsidiam a discussao. Destacam-se das analises dos manuais uma concepcao de subjetividade-identidade, como uma marca inexoravel definida pelas praticas sexuais do usuario, e tendencia prescritiva e diretiva nas recomendacoes aos profissionais. Das analises de entrevistas, destacam-se os modos de aconselhar identificados - instrucao e relacao. Esses achados se somam as reflexoes em torno do aconselhamento - tratado como dispositivo em saude e como producao nao material no contexto das reflexoes sobre o mundo do trabalho nas sociedades capitalistas. Sugere-se que o aconselhamento tende a ser capturado por uma perspectiva mercadologica, pela intima associacao entre racionalidade cientifica e economica, no campo da saude. Esse arranjo e sustentado pela ainda hegemonica ideologia biomedica nas praticas em saude. Para escapar dessa direcao, sugere-se posicionamento critico do aconselhador na execucao de seu trabalho, evitando postura diretiva e protocolar. O aconselhamento-relacao apresenta-se como modo de aconselhar alternativo, pelo uso de tecnologias leves, relacoes horizontalizadas, respeito as singularidades e o protagonismo do usuario nos cuidados de si. Sao apresentadas, finalmente, proposicoes (principios e conteudos) para a realizacao de processos formativos na direcao do aconselhamento-relacao.

The Catholic Church, moral doctrine, and HIV prevention in Recife, Brazil: Negotiating the contradictions between religious belief and the realities of everyday life

Religious beliefs have had a key role in shaping local responses to HIV and AIDS. As the worlds largest Catholic country, Brazil is no exception. Yet little research has been conducted to document how religious doctrine is enacted in practice among its lay leaders and followers. In this article, we present ethnographic research from Recife, Brazil, conducted to understand the way in which religious doctrines are interpreted at a local level. Contextualised within the sociology of contemporary Brazilian Catholicism, we draw on interviews with clergy members, lay leaders, and parishioners to discuss how the Catholic Churchs vision of sexuality translates into everyday lives of its followers. We explore the disjuncture between the Catholic ideals of fidelity and delaying sex until marriage with the everyday reality of the Churchs followers, highlighting the role that gender plays in defining sexual roles and expectations. We conclude by posing questions for future research and HIV prevention strategies considering the formal institutional response of the Brazilian Catholic Church to AIDS on the one hand, and the social and cultural contexts in which Catholics live their daily lives on the other.

Blood, sweat and semen: The economy of axé and the response of Afro-Brazilian religions to HIV and AIDS in Recife

Abstract This article provides an ethnographic analysis of Afro-Brazilian religious responses to the HIV epidemic in Recife. Drawing on participant observation and in-depth interviews conducted with Afro-Brazilian religious leaders and public health officials, it highlights the importance of the axé – a mystical energy manipulated in religious rituals that is symbolically associated with blood, sweat and semen. In an analysis of the relationship formed between the state AIDS programme and Afro-Brazilian religious centres, we conclude that the recognition of native categories and their meanings is one of the key elements to a fruitful dialogue between public health programmes and religious leaders that in the case studied, resulted in the re-signification of cultural practices to prevent HIV. Although the Afro-Brazilian religious leaders interviewed tended to be more open about sexuality and condom promotion, stigma towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) was still present within the religious temples, yet appeared to be more centred upon the perception of HIV as negatively affecting followers’ axé than judgement related to how one may have contracted the virus. We discuss the tensions between taking a more liberal and open stance on prevention, while also fostering attitudes that may stigmatise PLHIV, and make suggestions for improving the current Afro-Brazilian response to the epidemic.

A instrução e a relação como modos de aconselhamento em HIV/Aids

The paper purpose is problematize the professional relation of health-user in the counseling in HIV-Aids. For this purpose, present results from qualitative survey, based in interviews with 12 advisors acting in Centers of Tests and Counseling in DST/Aids (CTA) of Pernambuco, located in the mesoregions of the State-metropolitan areas, specifi c areas like: mata, agreste, sertao. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The treatment and analysis of the material were done from a hermeneutic pair. We identifi ed two ways of counseling. In the counseling-education the emphasis is in the transmission of information from the professional to the user, being his/her, considered responsible for his serological condition. In the counseling-relation, the professional contact goes up in value with the user, offering listening andThe paper purpose is problematize the professional relation of health-user in the counseling in HIV-Aids. For this purpose, present results from qualitative survey, based in interviews with 12 advisors acting in Centers of Tests and Counseling in DST/Aids (CTA) of Pernambuco, located in the mesoregions of the State-metropolitan areas, specifi c areas like: mata, agreste, sertao. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The treatment and analysis of the material were done from a hermeneutic pair. We identifi ed two ways of counseling. In the counseling-education the emphasis is in the transmission of information from the professional to the user, being his/her, considered responsible for his serological condition. In the counseling-relation, the professional contact goes up in value with the user, offering listening and 1 Endereco para correspondencia: Rua Sete de Setembro, 365/1002, Boa Vista, Recife, PE, Brasil 50050-030. E-mail: wedna.galindo@gmail.com Este trabalho recebeu fi nanciamento da Fundacao de Amparo ao Desenvolvimento Cientifi co do Estado de Pernambuco (Facepe), a partir de Bolsa de Doutorado. Galindo, W. C. M., Francisco, A. L., Rios, L. F. 990 refuge. The results besides contributing with the discussions on the approach and the handling of the notions of risk and sexuality, in the counseling, can help in the advisors’ formation.

Instruction and relation as ways of counseling in HIV/Aids

The paper purpose is problematize the professional relation of health-user in the counseling in HIV-Aids. For this purpose, present results from qualitative survey, based in interviews with 12 advisors acting in Centers of Tests and Counseling in DST/Aids (CTA) of Pernambuco, located in the mesoregions of the State-metropolitan areas, specifi c areas like: mata, agreste, sertao. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The treatment and analysis of the material were done from a hermeneutic pair. We identifi ed two ways of counseling. In the counseling-education the emphasis is in the transmission of information from the professional to the user, being his/her, considered responsible for his serological condition. In the counseling-relation, the professional contact goes up in value with the user, offering listening andThe paper purpose is problematize the professional relation of health-user in the counseling in HIV-Aids. For this purpose, present results from qualitative survey, based in interviews with 12 advisors acting in Centers of Tests and Counseling in DST/Aids (CTA) of Pernambuco, located in the mesoregions of the State-metropolitan areas, specifi c areas like: mata, agreste, sertao. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The treatment and analysis of the material were done from a hermeneutic pair. We identifi ed two ways of counseling. In the counseling-education the emphasis is in the transmission of information from the professional to the user, being his/her, considered responsible for his serological condition. In the counseling-relation, the professional contact goes up in value with the user, offering listening and 1 Endereco para correspondencia: Rua Sete de Setembro, 365/1002, Boa Vista, Recife, PE, Brasil 50050-030. E-mail: wedna.galindo@gmail.com Este trabalho recebeu fi nanciamento da Fundacao de Amparo ao Desenvolvimento Cientifi co do Estado de Pernambuco (Facepe), a partir de Bolsa de Doutorado. Galindo, W. C. M., Francisco, A. L., Rios, L. F. 990 refuge. The results besides contributing with the discussions on the approach and the handling of the notions of risk and sexuality, in the counseling, can help in the advisors’ formation.

Reflexões sobre o trabalho de aconselhamento em HIV/AIDS

The article analyses the Health Department’s recommendations to HIV/aids professional health counselors in Brazil. It recognizes that professional counseling as a strategy to combat HIV/aids recently came about in Brazil due to its population’s demands for improvement in the public health sector, in that access to health is seen as a citizen’s right and an obligation of the State to their citizens, such demands were especially noticed in the movement for sanitary reform. Three handbooks issued by the Health Ministry on HIV/aids counseling were analyzed with an emphasis on the performance and development