Gender, women's vulnerability to HIV/Aids and preventive actions at a neighborhood on the periphery of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

Abstract

With the change that started to occur in the course of the Aids epidemic from the 90s onwards, marked by an increasing incidence among segments outside the "risk group", including the women, the concept of individual risk was replaced by the notion of social vulnerability, encompassing questions related to collective behavior, such as gender relations, and also the actions taken by the government concerning these matters. This article reports the findings of a qualitative research conducted with adult women who had stable marital relationships and lived on the poor periphery of the city of Teresina, state of Piauí. This paper identified the group's vulnerability to HIV based on the use of condoms, as well as the relations of this aspect to the gender relations experienced by the partners and the role of the Family Health Program in this context. It was verified that most of the women do not continuously use condoms because they are living a stable relationship with a single partner; nevertheless, they consider themselves vulnerable since they do not trust their partners' sexual behavior. The negotiation with the partner about the use of condoms is nearly always difficult, and at times, it is necessary to mention the need to avoid unwanted pregnancy. It is important to highlight that the Family Health Program does not approach the discussion about sexuality and gender relations in the health education of the woman, for it focuses on prenatal care and on the reduction of gynecologic cancer.