ESTIGMA CONTRA PESSOAS VIVENDO COM HIV/AIDS: Análise qualitativa do stigma index brasil

Abstract

Stigma negatively impacts the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS, but there are few national studies dedicated to understanding the subjective dimension of this experience. Based on an unfolding of the Stigma Index 2.0 in Brazil, we aimed to qualitatively analyze the experiences of stigma narrated from the perspective of people living with HIV/AIDS. Of the 618 respondents from seven Brazilian capitals, 538 described in detail situations of stigma suffered by people with HIV/AIDS. A thematic analysis was performed, identifying that 76.4% of the reports had a negative content and 13.4% had an ambivalent content. The main characteristics of the stigma suffered were taboos, myths, ignorance or misinformation (22.4%); breach of confidentiality/exposure of serology (21.5%); the withdrawal or rupture of affective relationships/refusal of relationships (18.2%); and discrimination, neglect or violence by health professionals (16.6%). The context of health services was the main place of exposure (28.4%), with 13.9% of the reports verbalizing demands for public policies and support services. We discussed the implications of the results based on national and international studies, highlighting stigma as a creator of barriers in facing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.