Conceptions of Elderly People About the Vulnerability To HIV/AIDS

Objective: To describe elderly people’s conceptions about the vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Methods: This is qualitative exploratory research which was developed in a Health Unit of João Pessoa, Brazil. Three elderly people participated and, then, signed the consent form. We used semi-structured interviews with Free Word Association (HIV/AIDS and elderly people) and questions about access to information, conceptions, and ways of transmission, prevention and sexual behavior. The thematic content analysis was used. Results: The elderly people’s conceptions were represented by the following categories: Social conditions - information about HIV/AIDS – the elderly people’s knowledge based on negative ideas with information sources in lectures, television and experiences; Cognitive conditions – the elderly people’s knowledge about transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS - vulnerability perception focuses on the idea of risk groups; Behavioral conditions – the elderly peoples’ attitudes about HIV/AIDS - the non-use of condoms is justified by sexual practice with one partner, and from a historical time of little concern with AIDS. Conclusions: The conceptions have expressed negative thoughts about HIV/AIDS. There is a lack in their knowledge which is based on prejudices regarding the transmission of the disease, inferring that there is a need for health education to this population segment