GENDER RISK PERCEPTION OF HIV INFECTION BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH SEXUAL TRANSMISSIBLE INFECTION (STI)

Abstract

Objective: To know the AIDS risk perception among men and women with sexually transmittable infections (STI). Methodology: It’s a kind of transversal research, made up with 140 patients, who have STI, attending the Health Mixed Unit of Distrito Federal (Brazil). Demographics and social data, sexual orientation, partners’s number, any STI before, prevention AIDS knowledge, kind of sexual relationship, AIDS risk perception and infection status were analyzed. When the research was admitted by the ethics committee of Distrito Federal’s health secretary (judgement 071/04), data’s bank and analysis were analyzed by softwares Access and SPSS. Results: Most people who were interviewed were men, heterosexuals, singles, with age between 20 and 34 years old (67,9%) and with a good instruction level. Women were younger (between 20 and 29 years old), heterosexuals, married/living with a partner consensually and with not good instruction level. The men had related a major number of partners (IC 95%:73,1-85,7), in sexual relationship “always” had chosen the preventive method (IC
95%:74,1-86,5), and their economic conditions were very good, particularly between 4 and 10 minimum salaries (with a statistic difference). The most frequently STIs was HPV and UNG’s (IC 95%: 32,0-45,4 e IC 95%: 36,1-49,8), respectively. Only 42,1% of the patients, perceived the risk of contract the HIV and the men were classified how the most vulnerable to AIDS than the women, 60,0% and 36,8%, respectively. About 2,4% of men showed HIV infection. Conclusion: Men perceived and exposed themselves more to HIV infection than women, however, even though the vulnerability of both, women were more exposed because they don’t use the protection as they could and don’t have serious beliefs about the risk of HIV infection, what make bigger the chances to be infected with HIV.