[Between the fear of HIV contamination and the symbolic representations of AIDS: the specter of contemporary despair]

Homophobia or sexism? A systematic review of prejudice against nonheterosexual orientation in Brazil

Since it was coined in the 1970s, in the United States, the term "homophobia" has been invoked to define the prejudice against nonheterosexual orientation. Besides the US, the phenomenon has been detected in many contemporary societies, including Brazil. Prejudice against nonheterosexual orientation is strongly associated with the historical and social contexts in which it is embedded, which means that the term should not be used without a clear definition of its local specificities. This applies to the recent debate around homophobia in the Brazilian context. In an attempt to identify existing studies of prejudice against nonheterosexual orientations in Brazil, a systematic review was conducted in SciELO indexes, PubMed, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. The articles were collected using the keyword "homophobia" and related terms, and "Brazil", in the languages of the databases. The search returned 355 articles. Of these, 247 were removed because they were duplicates. The abstracts of 109 studies published between 1973 and 2011were analyzed. Thirty-one articles were identified as relevant. The reviewed studies indicate that prejudice against nonheterosexual orientations is an evident and widespread phenomenon that is prevalent in various populations and contexts. Nevertheless, prejudice in Brazil is not homogeneous, and particular attention is necessary to the inequality of gender relations (sexism) and prejudice against gender nonconformity, which seem to explain, if not cause, most of the prejudice against nonheterosexual orientations. Although theoretically there is a clear distinction between sexual orientation and gender expression, from the standpoint of manifestation of prejudice that distinction seems to be more tenuous.

Psicologia e Políticas Públicas em HIV/AIDS: algumas reflexões

A epidemia da aids é considerada um fenômeno de largas proporções e, por seu caráter pandêmico e gravidade, representa um grande problema de saúde pública, carecendo de políticas públicas mais humanizadas e eficientes. A Psicologia, ao considerar a subjetividade e os princípios éticos relacionados aos direitos humanos, configura-se como agente fundamental na elaboração de políticas públicas efetivas no contexto da aids. Este estudo intenta levantar uma discussão sobre a inserção da Psicologia neste campo e o que pode ser feito no sentido de promover uma reflexão por parte dos(as) psicólogos(as) sobre suas práticas, viabilizando novos olhares e intervenções. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão teórica não-sistemática sobre a temática. A partir disso, concluiu-se que a Psicologia pode desempenhar relevante papel na elaboração e execução de políticas públicas em HIV/aids e atuar para além de uma prática assistencial, que colabore para a promoção dos direitos humanos e o exercício da cidadania.

[Beliefs that influence adolescents in organ donations]

This study was aimed at investigating knowledge, behavior and normative beliefs of students concerning transplant and organs donations, based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), in two public schools of the city of São Paulo. The sample was comprised of 94 students who answered a questionnaire, whose answers were submitted to statistical analysis. The results showed that the group had little knowledge about organ donation because 45.8% were not familiar with the concept of encephalic death, 37.2% do not know when death occurs and 70.3% do not know when a person becomes a potential organ donor. Eight positive and five negative beliefs about organ donations were detected. The conclusion is that it is necessary to develop studies and to implement education programs to clarify the population about this topic.

Health care workers and AIDS: a differential study of beliefs and affects associated with accidental exposure to blood

This study aimed to analyze affective and cognitive determinants of the professional work of individuals caring for patients with HIV/AIDS, in view of the risk and/or experience of accidental exposure to blood. We drew on the theoretical-methodological references of Fishbein & Ajzen and Maslow's theory. Fifty health care workers were evaluated using an attitudes questionnaire and a needs and motivations instrument. The research verified differences between answers by health care workers who had never suffered accidents and those who had already experienced accidental exposure to blood. Health care workers did their work activities motivated by the need for self-fulfillment and valued their own performance when they were able to meet the patients' emotional needs. Among health professionals who had never experienced accidental exposure to blood, the predominant beliefs was that patients feel remorse over having expose themselves to HIV. Accidental exposure to blood raises difficulties in personal life. Technical aspects are also associated with the possibility of accidental exposure to blood.

[AIDS in pregnant women: potential to reduce vertical transmission]

This study is an attempt to investigate the knowledge that pregnant women have about vertical transmission, the risk of the fetus, and the significance of the seropositive result that identifies her as infected by HIV. The exploratory research of a qualitative nature was carried out in Health Units in the city of São Leopoldo/RS. The analysis captured the perception of 63 pregnant women between the ages of 16 and 40 about the reasons and the significance of the test, their knowledge and everyday experiences, and the perspectives and care with the baby. The results raise an alert for medical professionals in the pre-natal area as to their need to meet a complexity of situations that emerge when pregnancy occurs with an AIDS patient.

[Profile of HIV-positive women hospitalized in a public maternity ward in Rio de Janeiro]

AIDS has been scaring the world population for the last decades. The writers of this article decided to investigate and research into the high incidente of women HIV+ hospitalized in a public maternity in the district of Rio de Janeiro, showing the profile of pregnant women from 1987 to 1996. After a thorough analysis of a total of 102 cases this number was eventually broken down showing that the majority of the female population are single, between the ages of 19 and 33 years, have low schooling, mainly housewives and were sexually contaminated. The results show that the affected groups lack the knowledge as to how they could protect themselves against contamination. It is, therefore, of vital importance to take the necessary measures to help prevent contamination and to focus on health education.