Living with the difference: the impact of serodiscordance on the affective and sexual life of HIV/AIDS patients

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive-exploratory qualitative study was to describe and analyze the impact of serodiscordance on the affective-sexual life of HIV/AIDS patients who have HIV seronegative heterosexual partners. Eleven HIV/AIDS carriers in outpatient clinic follow-up were interviewed, in a reference university-hospital in the state of São Paulo. Data were collected through recorded individual interviews and analyzed according to Prose analysis. Living with HIV/AIDS serodiscordance implies these couples have to deal with several intimacy-related difficulties, due to the possibility of HIV transmission to the seronegative partner. This has a negative effect on serodiscordant partners, reflecting in chan-ges in human sexual response, which could lead to sexual abstinence. Interdisciplinary care should be provided to HIV/AIDS carriers and their partners, thus providing comprehensive care regarding their sexuality and difficulties caused by serodiscordance.