Dificuldades do viver com HIV/Aids: Entraves na qualidade de vida

Clínica Psicológica Ampliada em IST/HIV-Aids: Sentidos Produzidos por Psicólogas no SUS

Resumo Este estudo buscou compreender as práticas discursivas de psicólogas(os) sobre a atuação psicológica na abordagem às IST/HIV-Aids em serviços especializados em uma cidade da Bahia. Para tanto, foram realizadas nove entrevistas semiestruturadas com profissionais ligadas(os) a serviços da rede pública de saúde. A perspectiva teórico-metodológica da psicologia social construcionista inspirou o processo de produção e análise das informações. Os resultados apontaram para importantes rupturas e ressignificações dos repertórios linguísticos gestados no cotidiano das práticas em saúde (tempo vivido e tempo curto), em atenção às necessidades dos contextos de atuação, ainda que elementos da formação clássica da psicologia também sejam utilizados para caracterizar a atuação nesses espaços. Nos serviços pesquisados, as(os) psicólogas(os) têm conseguido enxergar e reconhecer demandas de ordens biológica e social, que indicam aspectos objetivos da vivência dos(as) usuários(as) (menos afeitos ao ideário individualista), apontando para uma contextualização da clínica psicológica no campo da saúde pública, embora nem todas(os) admitam que essas demandas devam ser cuidadas também pela(o) profissional de psicologia. Do ponto de vista teórico, partimos de reflexões sobre as noções de clínica ampliada e de atuação psicológica coletiva até alcançarmos a noção de clínica psicológica ampliada, situada em relação às especificidades da atuação psicológica no campo do HIV-Aids. Nessa direção, a clínica psicológica ampliada apresenta-se em potencial construção, situando-se entre aproximações e recuos do que seria uma prática desenvolvida de modo contextualizado e comprometido com os processos subjetivos de pessoas vivendo com HIV-Aids ou tentando se proteger em situações concretas de vulnerabilidade, que geram sofrimento psicossocial.

Differences in quality of life and food insecurity between men and women living with HIV/AIDS in the state of Paraíba, Brazil

A prevalence study was conducted to compare quality of life and food insecurity in men and women living with HIV/AIDS. The sample comprised 481 HIV-infected individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy at a referral hospital in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. Food insecurity and quality of life were assessed using the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Scale and WHOQOL-HIV Bref, respectively. The results were presented as absolute and relative frequencies and gender differences were tested using the chi-squared test adopting a significance level of 0.05. The findings showed that 40.1% of the sample were women. A higher percentage of women than men had a low income and low education level (65.8% and 72.5%, respectively). Prevalence of food security was lower in women than in men (29.0% compared to 42.7%), and a higher percentage of women than men reported below average quality of life (54.9% compared to 44.4%). The findings reveal that, besides the usual difficulties faced by HIV-infected patients, this group showed a significant level of gender inequality. The management of HIV patient care should consider these important findings, promoting access to care and support services and gender equality so that women can live fairer and more equal lives.

Tuberculosis/HIV coinfection from the perspective of quality of life: scope review

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze evidence on the quality of life of people with tuberculosis/HIV coinfection. Methods: review that followed steps of the Cochrane Collaboration, with the search of publications in the bases Embase, LILACS, PubMed, and Cochrane, through the descriptors “HIV,” “Tuberculosis,” and “Quality of Life,” without a temporal cut. Results: the results include 15 studies, published between 2009 and 2019, with the level of evidence V, in its majority. It was observed that there is no uniformity in the instrument used. Psychological support to this group and strengthening of actions to manage both infections are necessary. This segment’s quality of life is associated with social factors and scientific production on the subject concentrated in underdeveloped countries. Conclusions: the articles found have a low level of scientific evidence and indicate that people who experience coinfection have a more compromised quality of life when compared to those who experience tuberculosis or HIV separately.

Women of different generations living with HIV: social representations about sexuality

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the social representations of women diagnosed with HIV about their sexuality considering generational characteristics.

METHOD

Qualitative study, carried out with women who participated through interviews. The constituted corpus was processed by the Iramuteq software. The analysis was based on the Theory of Social Representations.

RESULTS

A total of 39 women participated in the study, aged between 18-76 years old and most of them had high school education, evoked the terms 'people' (301), 'partner' (277), 'children' (249), 'virus' (275) and 'want' (216). The younger ones accept to reveal and/or 'tell' about their condition to their partner(s) and family members, an aspect that is not revealed in the statements of women of other ages. For women aged 45 and over, children occupy a prominent place and for the older adults, the centrality of representation referred to self-censorship and maintaining the victim/guilty game.

CONCLUSION

This study made it possible to identify processes of anchoring sexualities in terms of what 'cannot be revealed' beyond the family context. It should be noted that the elements 'sex', intercourse' conceived by common sense as a synonym for sexuality, regardless of generation, had low frequency.

CHALLENGES IN TUBERCULOSIS COINFECTION TREATMENT IN PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS IN ANGOLA

ABSTRACT Objective: to know the challenges faced during tuberculosis coinfection treatment in people with HIV/AIDS (HIV/TB) in Huambo, Angola. Method: this is a qualitative convergent-care investigation carried out in the antituberculosis dispensary of the sanatorium hospital of Huambo, Angola. It included 18 people co-infected with HIV/TB and 11 health professionals. Data were collected from January to July 2016 through conversation interviews, participatory observation and a convergence group. In data analysis, conventional content analysis of Hsieh and Shannon was used. Results: the data originated two categories: challenges of HIV/TB coinfected people when facing the diseases and treatment adherence, and challenges due to intervening factors upon HIV/TB treatment adherence. Conclusions: people’s conception about living with HIV/TB, associated with the intervening factors upon HIV/TB treatment adherence, results in late search for health services, non-adherence to treatment and worsening of diseases, thus posing as challenges to be overcome for better control of this double epidemic.

VIH/SIDA: una mirada a las percepciones de quien vive con el diagnóstico

Introducción: Recibir el diagnóstico de una condición crónica se considera un momento significativo y crítico en la vida de la persona. Objetivo: Conocer el impacto que causa el diagnóstico del Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana en la vida de las personas afectadas. Materiales y Métodos: Investigación cualitativa desarrollada en un Servicio de Atención Especializada de un municipio al sur de Brasil, realizada con 10 pacientes. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de una entrevista y se interpretaron con base en un análisis temático. Resultados: Se observó que el impacto inicial del diagnóstico del Virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana se percibe como una sentencia de muerte para quien lo recibe. Por otro lado, cuando las personas pasan a convivir con el virus necesitan adaptar sus rutinas y también adoptan nuevas perspectivas frente a sus relaciones con los otros. Discusión: El impacto del virus va más allá del diagnóstico, pues está relacionado con las vivencias de estigma, prejuicios y aislamiento social de la persona. Entonces, es imprescindible que los profesionales de la salud estén preparados para comunicar y ayudar en el diagnóstico y en la vivencia de la persona portadora del virus. Conclusiones: Los cuidados que se le ofrecen a las personas portadoras del virus se deben proporcionar de forma integral, enfocándose en mejorar su calidad de vida, por lo que la atención multiprofesional resulta imprescindible para alcanzar la integralidad y efectividad de las acciones de la salud. Como citar este artículo: Maciel k, Milbrath V, Gabatz R, Freitag V, Silva M, Santos B. HIV/AIDS: um olhar sobre as percepções de quem vive com o diagnóstico. Rev Cuid. 2019; 10(3): e638. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.v10i3.638  

Challenges with seeking HIV care services: perspectives of older adults infected with HIV in western Kenya

Background

While younger adults (15–49 years) form the majority of the population living with HIV, older adults (≥50 years) infected with HIV face multiple challenges related to the aging process and HIV. We explored the experiences of older persons infected with HIV at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) program in western Kenya to understand the challenges faced when seeking HIV care services.

Methods

Between November 2016 and April 2017, a total of 57 adults aged 50 years and above were recruited from two AMPATH facilities – one rural and one urban facility. A total of 25 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed and thematic analysis performed.

Results

Study participants raised unique challenges with seeking HIV care that include visits to multiple healthcare providers to manage HIV and comorbidities and as a result impact on their adherence to medication and clinical visits. Challenges with inadequate quality of facilities and poor patient-provider communication were also raised. Participants’ preference for matched gender and older age for care providers that serve older patients were identified.

Conclusion

Results indicate multiple challenges faced by older adults that need attention in ensuring continuous engagement in HIV care. Targeted HIV care for older adults would, therefore, significantly improve their access to and experience of HIV care. Of key importance is the integration of other chronic diseases into HIV care and employing staff that matches the needs of older adults.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7283-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.