14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11140)

Padron EL
AIDS prevention group, Pinar del Rio, Cuba

BACKGROUND: The objective of this work is to know about the social representation of a people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAS) group on AIDS. The given information should be considered as a diagnose to orient the prevention actions over vulnerable groups, reinforcing the elements which the sample coincide has priority and are the most important for this PLWAS group.

METHODS: The sample is the determined by 15 PLWAS who belong to the provincial AIDS Hospital of Pinar del Rio. The group is reduced in number because the objective is to study the depth of the fenomena already menctioned andno its dimension 12 belong to the male sex and 3 are women 10 of them are included in the MSM group and 1 is an exprostitute. The ages goes from 16 to 24 years old.

RESULTS: The word AIDS was analized in its content through a free association. We joined the prefered words by the subjects taking into account the order of evocation. Every answer to the interview questions were processed through an analysis of content the two firsts questions were caterized as a free association and for the rest we took into consideration the dominant criteria. As a result of the application of both techniques the categories consequence and concept were the most commonly found.

CONCLUSIONS: The Social Representation of AIDS of this PLWAS has, as turning point: the AIDS consequencies, and as representational field: The AIDS concept.

020707
D11140

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