Author:

• Vera Silvia Facciolla Paiva - Paiva, V. - São Paulo, SP - Insituto de Psicologia /Universidade de São Paulo - <veroca@usp.br>

Thematic Area:

Não Categorizado

Abstract:

Sexuality and reproductive health are relevant issues for comprehensive care of people living with HIV. Public policies and health services, though, may not give these issues enough attention. The aims of this article is to understand how young people and teenagers living with HIV cope with their sexuality, projects of dating, and desire to have children and to build their own families. In a qualitative study, 21 seropositive teenagers (who believed to have acquired HIV infection by sexual, intravenous and vertical transmission), as well as 13 home caretakers living in Sao Paulo and Santos were in-depth interviewed. Narratives highligthed different modes teenagers used to cope with their sexuality and with the anxiety of HIV disclosure in this context. Lack of information about HIV prevention, lack of support and skills to cope with their sexuality were recognized in their reports. Furthermore, stigma and discrimination seemed to articulate most reported obstacles. This article discusses some of the challenges to be faced in Brazil in regard to this issue, particularly the need to consider seropositive youth as sexual rights holders. It also provides recommendations for incorporating the issue into a humanized and comprehensive care approach for children and young people living with HIV.

Key-words: HIV/AIDS; young people; adolescents; vulnerability; comprehensive care; sexuality; reproductive rights.

Content:

Access Issue in Scielo

Other languages: