TEMÁTICAS PRODUZIDAS POR PORTADORES DE HIV/AIDS

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT: study aimed to identify subjects raised in a self-help group by patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). A quantitative and qualitative study was made of the records of 71 groups held between 2007 and 2009 at a specialized outpatient clinic in Fortaleza, Ceara, in which 330 HIV patients participated. The subjects raised and discussed were analyzed and divided into four categories: learning to live with HIV; acknowledging the rights of HIV patients; getting to know HIV infection and opportunistic manifestations; and therapeutic possibilities and collateral effects of antiretrovirals. It was concluded that, despite the time that HIV has circulated in the population and the intense information efforts, doubts form part of patients' everyday reality. This highlights the need for guidance for these people to improve their survival and quality of life. Thus, group-mediated health education permits clarifications and motivates clients to live more healthily.