Santos LAD, Couto MT, Mathias A, Grangeiro A. [Heterosexually active men, masculinities, HIV prevention, and the search for post-exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure].
Salud Colect 2019;
15:e2144. [PMID:
32022125 DOI:
10.18294/sc.2019.2144]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hegemonic masculinity has distanced heterosexually active men from the responses to the HIV epidemic. However, with the combined prevention paradigm, post-exposure prophylaxis offers new ways to manage the risks of HIV infection, while at the same time bringing about new challenges. The aim of this paper is to discuss - through the lens of gender and masculinities - how heterosexually active men perceive their HIV risk and how they manage prevention methods and strategies, including post-exposure prophylaxis. Employing qualitative methods, 16 heterosexually active men in five health services from different Brazilian cities were interviewed. The analysis indicates that condom use - the main prevention method - was conditioned by subjective and contextual factors, and its failure stands out as the primary reason for seeking out post-exposure prophylaxis. We argue that ideals of hegemonic masculinity permeate perceptions and risk management discourses in the current context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
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