Experiencing pregnancy jointly with HIV positivity. / Vivenciando a gravidez e experienciando a soropositividade para o HIV.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2000

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to identify and interpret the conceptions concerning AIDS revealed by the social representations of HIV-positive pregnant woman and their partners. The conceptual basis was oriented by the Theory of Social Representations and Gender. The choice of a qualitative approach was made to reveal values, symbols and representations, to valorize and deal with subjectivities. Eight pregnant women and two of their partners were interviewed. The joint occurrence of pregnancy with HIV positivity was studied along three dimensions: the process of social inclusion/exclusion in reproductive health, the feminine vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and the process of experiencing pregnancy (represented socially as life) concomitantly with HIV positivity (represented socially as death). The results revealed the subordinate role of the female gender as a determinate of vulnerability to infection by HIV; the experience of pregnancy reinforcing the idealized conception of maternity, outweighing their HIV positivity to the point of surmounting it by attaching a new meaning to the disease and its consequences, and through knowledge of AIDS as one form of facing up to it. HIV positivity contributed to adherence with the treatment and the adoption of preventative measures in regard to their states of sickness/health and that of their unborn children.

ASSUNTO(S)

mulher e aids social representations gender gênero saúde reprodutiva sexualidade women and aids sexuality reproductive health representação social

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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