Fatores associados ao uso dos antirretrovirais em mulheres com HIV/Aids

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: HIV/AIDS infection impacts women unequally, exposing them to a complex network of vulnerabilities that manifest themselves at individual, social and programmatic levels. This reality reflects not only public health challenges, but also the profound structural and cultural inequalities in which women are inserted. Adherence to ART is a dynamic and multifactorial process that requires shared and co-responsible decisions among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). METHODOLOGY: This is an observational, exploratory, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Data collection was carried out in the two main specialized care services that assist women with HIV/AIDS, in Maceió, Alagoas, a northeastern region of Brazil, from June to October 2024. To obtain the sociodemographic and clinical data of the women participating in the research, the questionnaire was applied to assess adherence to antiretroviral treatment. For the descriptive statistical analysis of the sample, the calculation of absolute frequency (n) and relative frequency for qualitative variables was performed using calculations of mean, median, standard deviation and confidence interval. This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of UFAL. RESULTS: 81 women participated in the study and it was possible to observe that the highest prevalence of them is in the age group of 40-49 years (28.4%), self-declared brown race/color (71.6%), single women (50.62%), with incomplete elementary education (38.27%), with a family income of 1 minimum wage (6049%) and who lived in the Metropolitan Region of Maceió (71.6%). Regarding the degree of adherence to treatment, 38.27% (n= 31) had low adherence, 19.75% (n= 16) had good adherence, and 41.9% (n= 34) had strict adherence. Regarding women who abandon medication during their treatment, the age group with the highest incidence was 30-39 years (25.93%), associating race, brown represented 31.03% of women. The marital status that was most related to abandonment was single (36.59%). Of the participants who dropped out, 48.15% had incomplete elementary school. The barriers that influence adherence to antiretrovirals were the variable lack of family support (29.17%), followed by embarrassment to go to the health unit (25%) and prejudice on the part of people (21%). CONCLUSÃO: The result of this study showed that a significant portion of women have low adherence to antiretroviral therapy, while a smaller percentage maintains good adherence or strict adherence. Understanding the main barriers and factors that hinder adherence to ART is essential to improve public policies and health services in the State aimed at this public.