Daily Experience of HIV Positive: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Syndrome  Immune Deficiency Acquired  is still a disorder linked to death and of great social paradigm. The HIV-positive tend to have psychological and emotional distress. Being a HIV positive even in today's times is still difficult to accept, because of the negative way in which the disease has been exposed since its discovery.

Objective: To investigate the daily life of HIV positive, according to its insertion in the family and in society.

Method: This is a qualitative study with two 02 people with HIV, who are attended by the Social Aceve NGO in Patos county, Paraíba, Brazil. Techniques Used: ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews.

Results: One of the respondents, to be diagnosed positive for HIV reacted so angry even thinking about suicide, however he had the full support of family and close friends, thus contributing to the overcoming of new HIV status. The other respondent joined the silence as a form of protection, believed that in this way is shielded against discrimination but that attitude acts negatively for the individual and for others, this is a major barrier in control and in combating the epidemic.

Conclusion: The study allowed us to understand in a more embracing way some problems that arise in the Syndrome  Immune Deficiency Acquired  disease. Especially, those relating to the prospects of life and disease coping alternatives. It was noticed that the HIV infection more than a problem to be faced by health services, should be considered a social and cultural phenomenon quite complex, where there is a very large discrimination holders and a lot of lack of knowledge on the part the population of this infection, meriting the use of new methodological approaches.