Abstract:
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is responsible for the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), has been prominent among the most feared pathologies in current times and represents a serious public health problem, considered a global epidemic, with rapid spread and aggravation. Surveys indicate that the quality of life of people with HIV is mainly affected in the field of sexual activity, which may be related to several difficulties, such as sharing the diagnosis, fear of losing the partner, conflicts, hurt and resentment that may be involved in the acquisition of the virus. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the main difficulties in the love and/or sexual relationships of HIV positive subjects and the coping mechanisms that are used the most by them. It was a descriptive research, based on the experience of a Psychology resident of a referral hospital in the treatment of people living with HIV. The phenomenological method was used to perform and analyze semi-structured, recorded and transcribed interviews that focused on the experience of the phenomena and experiences. The results confirmed the existence of a negative impact of HIV diagnosis on sexual and/or love relationships as described in the literature. They also pointed to several forms of coping used by HIV positive subjects.
Keywords:
HIV/AIDS; Sexuality; Affectivity