Feelings and conflicts ofwomen living with HIV/AIDS: a literature research

Abstract

This is a literature review with the purpose to identify how the conflicts and feelings of women living with HIV/AIDS are addressed in the national literature, and the proposed pathways for an integral care approach. Data were collected in November, 2006, in the LILACS database, using the following keywords: women, feelings, HIV, AIDS, suffering, depression and fear. The inclusion criterion was that these studies should have been published in the past five years. The sample was made up of 14 studies (four dissertations, two theses and eight articles). The content analysis method allowed for the identification of three thematic categories: the researcher's perspective, what their perspective identifies and their perspective beyond the physical body - which reveal the necessity of addressing women considering their whole context as human beings, including issues of vulnerability, social gender ideology and the promotion of self-esteem and citizenship.