Social representations of HIV/AIDS among seropositive pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the representational contents of pregnant women living with HIV. METHOD: Exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study, conducted with pregnant women with HIV from August 2017 to January 2018. Semi-structured interview was opted for. The IRAMUTEQ software was used for analysis, organizing the data into 2 blocks: a) moment of discovery, impacts, representational contents of HIV; and b) representational contents in living with the disease. RESULTS: The participating pregnant women amounted to 25. Initially, the social representation of HIV translated the representation of death; however, this construction changes as women understand information of the pathology, which starts to be seen as a disease which demands more care. CONCLUSION: The conception of HIV as frightful is mainly due to concern about transmission to the fetus. The resignification of HIV was perceived among pregnant women, which favors new behaviors and attitudes towards the representational contents related to a deeper knowledge about the virus, demystifying the idea that this is a deadly disease.

Social representations of HIV/AIDS among seropositive pregnant women / Representaciones sociales del VIH/SIDA entre mujeres embarazadas seropositivas / Representações sociais do HIV/AIDS entre gestantes soropositivas

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the representational contents of pregnant women living with HIV. Method: Exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study, conducted with pregnant women with HIV from August 2017 to January 2018. Semi-structured interview was opted for. The IRAMUTEQ software was used for analysis, organizing the data into 2 blocks: a) moment of discovery, impacts, representational contents of HIV; and b) representational contents in living with the disease. Results: The participating pregnant women amounted to 25. Initially, the social representation of HIV translated the representation of death; however, this construction changes as women understand information of the pathology, which starts to be seen as a disease which demands more care. Conclusion: The conception of HIV as frightful is mainly due to concern about transmission to the fetus. The resignification of HIV was perceived among pregnant women, which favors new behaviors and attitudes towards the representational contents related to a deeper knowledge about the virus, demystifying the idea that this is a deadly disease.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar los contenidos representacionales de mujeres embarazadas que viven con el VIH. Método: Investigación exploratoria, descriptiva y cualitativa realizada con mujeres embarazadas con VIH entre agosto de 2017 y enero de 2018. Se optó por entrevistas semiestructuradas. Para el análisis, se utilizó el software IRAMUTEQ, organizando los datos en dos bloques: a) momento del descubrimiento, impactos y contenidos representacionales del VIH; y b) contenidos representacionales de la convivencia con la enfermedad. Resultados: Participaron 25 mujeres embarazadas. Inicialmente, se observó que la representación social del VIH traduce la representación de la muerte; sin embargo, la construcción cambia a medida que las mujeres comprenden la información sobre la patología, que comienza a ser vista como una enfermedad que requiere mayores cuidados. Conclusión: El VIH aún se concibe como algo digno de miedo, principalmente debido al temor de transmitirlo al feto. Se constata la resignificación del VIH entre las mujeres embarazadas, algo que favorece nuevos comportamientos y actitudes a partir de contenidos representacionales relativos al conocimiento más profundo sobre el virus y desmitifica la idea de que se trata de una enfermedad mortal.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar os conteúdos representacionais de gestantes vivendo com o HIV. Método: Pesquisa exploratória, descritiva, com abordagem qualitativa, realizada com gestantes com HIV entre agosto de 2017 e janeiro de 2018. Optou-se por entrevista semiestruturada. Para a análise se utilizou o software IRAMUTEQ, organizando os dados em 2 blocos: a) momento da descoberta, impactos e conteúdos representacionais do HIV; e b) conteúdos representacionais no viver com a doença. Resultados: Participaram 25 gestantes. Inicialmente, observou-se que a representação social do HIV traduz a representação da morte; porém, essa construção se altera à medida que as mulheres compreendem as informações sobre a patologia e esta passa a ser vista como uma doença que requer maiores cuidados. Conclusão: Ainda se concebe o HIV como algo digno de temor, principalmente devido ao receio de transmiti-lo ao feto. Constatou-se a ressignificação do HIV entre as gestantes, algo que favorece novos comportamentos e atitudes diante de conteúdos representacionais relativos ao conhecimento mais aprofundado sobre o vírus e desmistifica a ideia de que se trata de uma doença mortal.

Time perspective and associated factors in Brazilians living with HIV.

BACKGROUND: a person's time perspective can be an important variable for the understanding of behaviours that interfere with the quality of life of people living with HIV. AIMS: to analyse the relationships between socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioural variables and the time perspective in Brazilians living with HIV. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 281 people living with HIV in Brazil. The time perspective was evaluated using the Zimbardo Temporal Perspective Inventory (ZTPI-25). RESULTS: the main findings indicate that people living with HIV are more oriented towards a future and positive past perspective, and that socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioural factors may influence the different temporal perspective constructs in people living with HIV. CONCLUSION: health professionals can use the results of the present study to support strategies that encourage individuals living with HIV to self-care and lead healthier lives.

Atuação do profissional de saúde junto à família com HIV/AIDS / Trabajo del profesional de la salud y la familia portadora de HIV/AIDS / The work of the health professional and the family carrying of HIV/AIDS

Introdução: Mediante a complexidade inerente à AIDS é importanteque o cuidado dos profissionais de saúde seja estendido aos familiares das pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS, pois eles são esses os principais cuidadores dos pacientes em questão. Objetivo: analisar as perspectivas do cuidado de profissionais de saúde junto à família do portador de HIV/AIDS no contexto atual da epidemia. Métodos: estudo descritivo qualitativo com respaldo na teoria das representações sociais. Foi utilizada a entrevista semiestruturada para coleta de dados com 28 profissionais de saúde, em sete ambulatórios de atendimento à pessoa com HIV/AIDS. Resultados: a partir da análise de conteúdo, emergiram tais categorias: a família com HIV/AIDS; desafios no cuidado à família da pessoa vivendo com o vírus HIV; estratégias de atuação junto à família com HIV/AIDS. Conclusões: a partir do estudo realizado, nota-se a importância do cuidado do profissional de saúde, tanto à pessoa vivendo com HIV/AIDS, quanto à sua família, emergindo, dessa forma, a necessidade destes profissionais estarem preparados para tal atuação(AU)

Introducción: delante de la complejidad relacionada al SIDA, es importante que los cuidados de los profesionales de la salud estén al alcance de los familiares de personas portadoras del HIV/AIDS, puesto que son ellos los más importantes cuidadores en este caso. Objetivo: analizar las perspectivas del cuidado de los profesionales de la salud junto con la familia del portador de HIV/AIDS dentro del contexto actual de la epidemia. Métodos: estudio descriptivo cualitativo aportado en la teoría de las representaciones sociales. Ha sido utilizada la entrevista semiestructurada para recolección de datos de 28 profesionales de la salud, en siete puestos de atención a la persona portadora del HIV/AIDS. Resultados: luego del análisis del contenido han surgido las siguientes categorías: la familia portadora del HIV/AIDS; desafíos en el cuidado de la familia del portador del HIV/AIDS y estrategias de trabajo junto a la familia portadora del HIV/AIDS. Conclusiones: a partir del estudio realizado es posible percibir la importancia del cuidado del profesional de salud para con el portador del HIV/AIDS y para su familia, emergiendo así la necesidad de la preparación para que estos profesionales desarrollen su trabajo(AU)

Introduction: Before the complexity related with AIDS, it is important for the cares of the health professional to be reachable by the relatives of people carrying HIV/AIDS, since they are the most important caregivers in this case. Objective: Analyze the perspectives on caring of the health professionals together with those of the family of the HIV/AIDS carrier within the current context of the epidemics. Methods: Descriptive, qualitative study supported by the social representation theory. The semi-structured survey has been used to collect the data about 28 health professionals, at seven sites to attend the HIV-carrier. Results: After analyzing the contents the following categories have appeared: HIV-carrying family, the family's challenges regarding the caregiving for the HIV-carrier, working strategies with the HIV-carrying family. Conclusions: The study carried out permitted to perceive the importance of the health professional giving care to the HIV/-carried and the family, which outstands the need for capacity building in order for these professionals to do their job(AU)

Representational structure of health professionals about care delivery to people living with HIV/Aids / Estructura de representación de profesionales de la salud sobre el cuidado de las personas que viven con VIH/SIDA / Estrutura representacional de profissionais de saúde sobre cuidar de pessoas que vivem com HIV/Aids

Abstract Objective. To analyze the social representation structure of health professionals about care delivery to people living with HIV/AIDS and to reflect on that structure in the light of the National Humanization Policy. Methods. Exploratory study based on the Social Representations Theory, with emphasis on the structural focus. In total, 114 health professionals from Belém, Pará/Brazil participated in the development of the study, working at four services specialized in HIV/AIDS care, between August 2011 and April 2013. The data were collected through free evocations of the inducing term "Taking care of HIV/AIDS patient" and analyzed using the software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant L'analyse des Évocations-EVOC2003. Results. The group of subjects has a positive representation structure, organized around the categories: sensitive care, technical care and educative care. When reflecting on the representations structure, four out of five principles of the National Humanization Policy are observed (principle 1 - valuation of the subjective and social dimensions, principle 2 - stimulus for the production of health and subjects, principle 3 - teamwork and principle 5 - construction of autonomy and empowerment). Conclusion. The social representation structure of the health professionals about care for people living with HIV/AIDS signals the affective, conceptual and informative dimensions, converging with most principles of the Brazilian humanization policy.

Resumen Objetivo. Analizar la estructura de la representación social de los profesionales de la salud sobre el cuidado de las personas que viven con el VIH/SIDA y reflexionar sobre dicha estructura a la luz de la Política Nacional de Humanización. Métodos. Estudio exploratorio que tuvo el apoyo de la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales, con énfasis en el enfoque estructural. Fue desarrollado con la participación de 114 profesionales de la salud de Belém, Pará/Brasil en cuatro unidades de atención especializada en VIH/SIDA, desde agosto de 2011 hasta abril de 2013. Los datos se recolectaron a partir de evocaciones libres del término inductor" Cuidando a la persona con VIH/SIDA " y se analizaron con el software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant L'analyse des Évocations-EVOC2003. Resultados. El grupo de profesionales tiene una estructura de representación positiva, organizada en torno a las categorías de: cuidado sensible, cuidado técnico y cuidado educativo. Al reflexionar sobre la estructura de las representaciones se observan cuatro de los cinco principios de la Política Nacional de Humanización (principio 1-valorización de la dimensión subjetiva y social, principio 2- estímulo a la producción de salud y de sujetos, principio 3- trabajo en equipo y, principio 5- construcción de autonomía y protagonismo). Conclusión. La estructura de la representación social de los profesionales de la salud sobre el cuidado de las personas que viven con VIH/SIDA señala las dimensiones afectiva, conceptual e informativa, siendo convergente con la mayoría de los principios de la política humanización del país.

Resumo Objetivo . Analisar a estrutura da representação social de profissionais de saúde sobre cuidar de pessoas vivendo com HIV/aids e refletir sobre tal estrutura à luz da Política Nacional de Humanização. Métodos . Estudo exploratório que teve suporte na Teoria das Representações Sociais, com ênfase na abordagem estrutural. Foi desenvolvido com a participação de 114 profissionais de saúde de Belém-Pará/Brasil, em quatro unidades de atendimento especializado em HIV/aids, no período de agosto de 2011 a abril de 2013. Os dados foram coletados por meio de evocações livres ao termo indutor "Cuidar da pessoa com HIV/aids" e analisados pelo software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant L'analyse des Évocations-EVOC2003. Resultados O conjunto de sujeitos apresenta uma estrutura representacional positiva, organizada em torno das categorias cuidar sensível, cuidar técnico e cuidar educativo. Refletindo sobre a estrutura das representações observam-se quatro dos cinco princípios da Política Nacional de Humanização (principio 1- valorização da dimensão subjetiva e social, principio 2- estímulo a produção de saúde e de sujeitos, principio 3- trabalho em equipe e, principio 5-construção de autonomia e protagonismo). Conclusão. A estrutura da representação social dos profissionais de saúde sobre o cuidado de pessoas que vivem com HIV/aids aponta dimensões afetiva, conceitual e informacional, bem como é convergente com a maioria dos princípios da política de humanização do país

Atuação do profissional de saúde junto à família com HIV/AIDS / Trabajo del profesional de la salud y la familia portadora de HIV/AIDS / The work of the health professional and the family carrying of HIV/AIDS

Introdução: Mediante a complexidade inerente à AIDS é importanteque o cuidado dos profissionais de saúde seja estendido aos familiares das pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS, pois eles são esses os principais cuidadores dos pacientes em questão. Objetivo: analisar as perspectivas do cuidado de profissionais de saúde junto à família do portador de HIV/AIDS no contexto atual da epidemia. Métodos: estudo descritivo qualitativo com respaldo na teoria das representações sociais. Foi utilizada a entrevista semiestruturada para coleta de dados com 28 profissionais de saúde, em sete ambulatórios de atendimento à pessoa com HIV/AIDS. Resultados: a partir da análise de conteúdo, emergiram tais categorias: a família com HIV/AIDS; desafios no cuidado à família da pessoa vivendo com o vírus HIV; estratégias de atuação junto à família com HIV/AIDS. Conclusões: a partir do estudo realizado, nota-se a importância do cuidado do profissional de saúde, tanto à pessoa vivendo com HIV/AIDS, quanto à sua família, emergindo, dessa forma, a necessidade destes profissionais estarem preparados para tal atuação(AU)

Introducción: delante de la complejidad relacionada al SIDA, es importante que los cuidados de los profesionales de la salud estén al alcance de los familiares de personas portadoras del HIV/AIDS, puesto que son ellos los más importantes cuidadores en este caso. Objetivo: analizar las perspectivas del cuidado de los profesionales de la salud junto con la familia del portador de HIV/AIDS dentro del contexto actual de la epidemia. Métodos: estudio descriptivo cualitativo aportado en la teoría de las representaciones sociales. Ha sido utilizada la entrevista semiestructurada para recolección de datos de 28 profesionales de la salud, en siete puestos de atención a la persona portadora del HIV/AIDS. Resultados: luego del análisis del contenido han surgido las siguientes categorías: la familia portadora del HIV/AIDS; desafíos en el cuidado de la familia del portador del HIV/AIDS y estrategias de trabajo junto a la familia portadora del HIV/AIDS. Conclusiones: a partir del estudio realizado es posible percibir la importancia del cuidado del profesional de salud para con el portador del HIV/AIDS y para su familia, emergiendo así la necesidad de la preparación para que estos profesionales desarrollen su trabajo(AU)

Introduction: Before the complexity related with AIDS, it is important for the cares of the health professional to be reachable by the relatives of people carrying HIV/AIDS, since they are the most important caregivers in this case. Objective: Analyze the perspectives on caring of the health professionals together with those of the family of the HIV/AIDS carrier within the current context of the epidemics. Methods: Descriptive, qualitative study supported by the social representation theory. The semi-structured survey has been used to collect the data about 28 health professionals, at seven sites to attend the HIV-carrier. Results: After analyzing the contents the following categories have appeared: HIV-carrying family, the family's challenges regarding the caregiving for the HIV-carrier, working strategies with the HIV-carrying family. Conclusions: The study carried out permitted to perceive the importance of the health professional giving care to the HIV/-carried and the family, which outstands the need for capacity building in order for these professionals to do their job(AU)

Access the Unified Health System actions and services from the perspective of judicialization.

OBJECTIVE: the judicialization of health is incorporated into the daily work of health institutions in Brazil through the court orders for access. In this study, the objective was to describe the contents of the social representations of access, through judicialization, for the health professionals. METHOD: qualitative study based on Social Representations Theory, involving 40 professionals, at a teaching hospital and at the center for the regulation of beds and procedures in Rio de Janeiro. Forty semistructured interviews were held, to which the thematic-categorical content analysis technique was applied. RESULTS: the health professionals' attitude towards the reality the judicialization imposes is negative, but they acknowledge this resource as necessary in view of the public health crisis. Judicialization is considered a strategy to exercise citizenship that superimposes individual on collective law, increases social inequalities in access and compromises the efficacy of health policies. CONCLUSION: considering social representation as a determinant of practices, the representations that emerged can contribute to the change of the professionals' practices. Improvements in user care should be promoted, characterized as one of the main challenges to advance in universal access to health.

Representational structure of health professionals about care delivery to people living with HIV/Aids.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the social representation structure of health professionals about care delivery to people living with HIV/AIDS and to reflect on that structure in the light of the National Humanization Policy. METHODS: Exploratory study based on the Social Representations Theory, with emphasis on the structural focus. In total, 114 health professionals from Belém, Pará/Brazil participated in the development of the study, working at four services specialized in HIV/AIDS care, between August 2011 and April 2013. The data were collected through free evocations of the inducing term "Taking care of HIV/AIDS patient" and analyzed using the software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant L'analyse des évocations-EVOC2003. RESULTS: The group of subjects has a positive representation structure, organized around the categories: sensitive care, technical care and educative care. When reflecting on the representations structure, four out of five principles of the National Humanization Policy are observed (principle 1 - valuation of the subjective and social dimensions, principle 2 - stimulus for the production of health and subjects, principle 3 - teamwork and principle 5 - construction of autonomy and empowerment). CONCLUSIONS: The social representation structure of the health professionals about care for people living with HIV/AIDS signals the affective, conceptual and informative dimensions, converging with most principles of the Brazilian humanization policy.

Domestic violence against women: representations of health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the representations about domestic violence against women, among health professionals of Family Health Units. METHOD: qualitative study based on the Theory of Social Representations. Data were collected by means of evocations and interviews, treating them in the Ensemble de Programmes Pemettant L'Analyse des Evocations software - EVOC and content analysis. RESULTS: nurses, physicians, nursing technicians and community health agents participated. The evocations were answered by 201 professionals and, of these, 64 were interviewed. The central core of this representation, comprised by the terms "aggression", "physical-aggression", "cowardice" and "lack of respect", which have negative connotations and were cited by interviewees. In the contrast zone, comprised by the terms "abuse", "abuse-power", "pain", "humiliation", "impunity", "suffering", "sadness" and "violence", two subgroups were identified. The first periphery contains the terms "fear", evoked most often, followed by "revolt", "low self-esteem" and "submission", and in the second periphery "acceptance" and "professional support". CONCLUSION: this is a structured representation since it contains conceptual, imagetic and attitudinal elements. The subgroups were comprised by professionals working in the rural area and by those who had completed their professional training course in or after 2004. These presented a representation of violence different from the representation of the general group, although all demonstrated a negative connotation of this phenomenon.

The discursive production of professionals about humanizing health: singularity, rights and ethics.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the discursive production of professionals about the humanization of health. METHOD: qualitative study of descriptive approach, inspired by the social representation theory, with 24 professionals in the healthcare field, working in a university hospital with the established humanization policy. The selection of participants was conducted according to criteria of adequacy and diversity for an intentional sample. Data collection was conducted by semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: through content analysis, three categories emerged, around which the analyses were conducted: "humanizing health as an act of accepting the other as unique", "humanizing health as a matter of right" and "humanizing health as an ethical issue". The discursive production of professionals is based on a perspective which is based on the humanist prospect with socio-historical bias. CONCLUSION: healthcare professionals must know the National Humanization Policy in order to provide quality care, promoting the meeting, welcoming and recognition of oneself, others and their profession in the political and socio-historical scenario of their country as a citizen, not only of rights, but also of obligations.

Social representations of adolescents on quality of life: structurally-based study.

This study sought to conduct a comparatively analysis and describe the contents of the structure of the social representations of adolescents on quality of life. It involves descriptive, quantitative research, with the benchmark of a structural approach to social representations. The informants included 316 adolescents from three public schools in Jequié in the State of Bahia. The Spontaneous Word-Choice Eliciting Technique using the key expression "Quality of Life" was used for data collection. The responses were processed using Evoc 2003 software, which generated the Four-House Chart. The results reveal the core nucleus of the terms: healthy eating; physical activity; money; and sex. In the 1st outer circle, the words absence of disease, condoms, liberty, marijuana, housing, work and living well are featured. In the 2nd outer circle, there appeared the words difficulty, family, peace and power, and the contrasting elements of well-being and soccer. The overall consensus is that adolescents associate quality of life with sports and other healthy behavior activities, and are influenced by the desires and curiosities of adolescence.

[Social representations of health education in a time of AIDS]. / Representações sociais de educação em saúde em tempos de AIDS.

This is a qualitative and descriptive study, which aimed at identifying and analyzing social representations of health education to HIV patients among health professionals. The setting included three healthcare DST/HIV/AIDS services in Belém-PA, Brazil, and 37 health professionals participated in the study. Data collection was conducted in 2012-2013 on the basis of in-depth interviews and analysis was made on Alceste 4.0 software. Final results indicated that health education can be comprehended in light of categories: educational action; sine qua non: education and training at work, and unit structure; teaching-learning process. Conclusions show that social representations are set as guidance-information for precaution-prevention and that they come forth along continuous and emerging action flow, bringing about permanent health education to ensure healthcare services in full.

Quality of life and people living with AIDS: relationship with sociodemographic and health aspects.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the relationship of sociodemographic and health dimensions with the quality of life of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus. METHOD: descriptive and quantitative study. The subjects were 131 seropositive people treated in a specialized center of the Norte-Fluminense municipality, Brazil. A form with sociodemographic and health data was applied, as well as the World Health Organization instrument for the assessment of the quality of life of people with the human immunodeficiency virus. RESULTS: the statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the assessment of the various dimensions of quality of life by the subjects for gender, education, employment, personal income, medical condition, self-perception of sickness, history of hospitalizations, and bodily alterations due to the antiretroviral drugs. CONCLUSION: professional nursing and health care, as well as public policies in the area, should valorize the quality of life approach, considering the conditions related to its configuration.

[Social representations of HIV/AIDS among healthcare professionals in benchmark services]. / Representações sociais do HIV/AIDS por profissionais de saúde em serviços de referência.

This study was based on exploratory research and a qualitative approach within the framework of the Social Representations Theory. It aims to capture the social representations of healthcare providers in relation to HIV/AIDS by describing their structure.The Free Evocations technique was applied on 86 professionals of HIV/AIDS benchmark services in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, from 2011 to 2013. Analysis using EVOC 2005 software showed that the possible central core is prejudice in a negative attitude dimension; in the contrast zone, chronic disease translates living with the disease. In the first periphery, treatment and disease in a clinical/biometric conception; in the second periphery, death has a imagistic and negative nature. Positive and negative elements were observed, allowing healthcare personnel to construct meaning attributed to the phenomenon and reflect on their practices.

[Classification of the CNPq areas of knowledge and the nursing field: possibilities and limits]. / Classificação das áreas de conhecimento do CNPq e o campo da Enfermagem: possibilidades e limites.

Knowledge areas have been discussed by Science and Technology managers and administrators and by the scientific community searching for tools to support data systematization, mainly for management and administrative activities. The main table in use by CNPq is admittedly outdated and requires revision or reclassification. The aim of this article is to contribute to the current debate based on previous results from participation in a table review study performed in the 1990 s and on research results in the area of knowledge organization and representation in the context of Information Science. It presents a proposal to reformulate the Nursing Knowledge Area and some reflections about the possibilities of this ongoing process.

Construction and transformation of social representations of AIDS and implications for health care.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the process of the constitution and evolution of social representations and practices referent to aids, based on studies carried out in the last eleven years among health professionals. METHOD: a comparison of representational structures of aids in different decades was undertaken, accompanied by a study of the silent zone, involving health professionals. Data collection and analysis included techniques of free association, structural analysis, and study of the silent zone. RESULTS: the existence of a process of change was observed in the social representations of aids, with the introduction of the possibility of co-existence with the disease and the reduction of the importance of death. CONCLUSIONS: this process is presented as the result of a complex movement of symbolic constructions arising from human interactions, contributing to knowledge of ways of thinking associated with the syndrome and to professional practices in healthcare.

Persons living with AIDS in nurses' social representations: analysis of central, contranormative and attitudinal elements.

OBJECTIVES: to describe and analyze the centrality, the mute zone and the attitudes expressed in nurses' social representations of people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. METHOD: the subjects were 30 nurses from a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro. The data was collected using a Likert scale. RESULTS: the data pointed to a process of representational change regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, with the assumption of a more positive attitude regarding living with this health issue. The hypothesis of the existence of a mute zone in the representation, comprising elements with a contranormative character, was strengthened. CONCLUSION: the influence of the dynamics of social normativity on how the social representations studied are expressed may contribute to a better understanding of its structuring process. It also helps in the analysis of possible gaps among the nurses' discourses and practices in relation to Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

[The Unified Health System in the users' social representation: an analysis of its structure]. / O Sistema Único de Saúde na representação social de usuários: uma análise de sua estrutura.

The objective of this study was to analyze the representational structure of a group of users of the Unified Health System (SUS) in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, concerning the system. A qualitative research, grounded on the theory of the central nucleus of the social representations, was developed with 104 users of five health care facilities. Data were collected through the free evocation to the inducer term SUS, and analyzed by the software EVOC 2000. The structure of the representation disclosed four dimensions: conceptual, evaluative, spatial, and finalistic. They presented, respectively, the following lexicons in their central nucleus: health, well attended, hospital and attendance. Negative elements of contrast were found amidst the positive representation of the system and the presence of all four dimensions was observed in the periphery, with predominance of the finalistic one. The conclusion is that the system presents itself to the citizens in a pragmatic way and that its implementation is still necessary.

[Hypertension in impoverished social segments in the state of São Paulo]. / Hipertensão em segmentos sociais pauperizados da região do Vale do Paraíba São Paulo.

The objective of the current study was investigating the relation between socio-economic, environmental and biological factors and hypertension according to gender, taking into consideration peculiar forms of work, leisure and life-style. The target population consisted of 677 adults of impoverished social segments of two cities in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, 274 (39.8%) men and 415 (60.2%) women. The study was conducted by applying a hierarchical logistic regression model to men and women separately. The adjusted Odds Ratio (ORaj), with a confidence interval of 95% and a = 0.05, were calculated. The risk of hypertension in men increases as a result of: living in a rural area (ORaj= 2.00; p= 0.01), alcohol use (ORaj= 1.90; p=0.03) and being over 40 years of age (ORaj=2.35; p=0.003). On the other hand, large families, i.e. families with more than six members, exercise a protective effect (ORaj= 0.45; p=0.02). Risk factors associated with hypertension in women were: lack of schooling (ORaj= 2.37; p=0.003); sedentary lifestyle (ORaj=1.71; p=0.04); obesity associated with low stature (ORaj=3.23; p=0.001) and age over 40 years (ORaj=5.29; 0.0001). Obesity alone was not associated with hypertension (stage II or greater) in this population.

Social representations of the Brazilian national health care system in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to the structural approach.

The Brazilian National Health Care System The Single Health System (SHS) [SUS-Sistema Unico de Saúde] faces difficulties for its effective implementation. This paper aims to characterize the contents and the social representation structure of the Brazilian health care system among health care professionals in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The concept of social memory and the theory of social representation were adopted as frameworks. Five health care institutions were included in this research, with 100 professionals altogether. The free-association technique was used to collect data and the EVOC 2003 software was used analyzed for data analysis. The results signal to a central nucleus, characterized by negative attitudes regarding the SUS. In the contrast area, there is a negative attitude towards the effectiveness of the system and a positive attitude towards the care provided to service users, also showing other principles. At its periphery, the implementation of new opinions about the representation could be observed. It is concluded that the professionals present social representations that recognize the SUS as a new system, eliciting negative attitudes among the professionals, and that is in a process of formation or progressive transformation, raising judgments about the pertinence of the system's principles.