Analysis of resilience and sexual behavior in persons with HIV infection

Abstract The main objective of this study was to evaluate ex post facto resilience in persons with HIV infection and its relationship to socio-demographic and sexual behavior variables. Participants included 159 persons with HIV infection, of both sexes, aged between 19 and 55 years. Fifty-one percent of patients were infected through homosexual means. Sixty-seven percent were in the asymptomatic phase of infection. Assessment instruments used were the following: a questionnaire on socio-demographic data and sexual behavior and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The evaluation was individual, voluntary, and anonymous. The results showed that 49.05% of patients had average resilience, 27.68% had high resilience, and 23.37% had low resilience. They found that heterosexual patients infected with HIV, diagnosed between 1985 and 1990 (23 and 28 years of diagnosis) and those who had disclosed their HIV status to more than 30 people, had greater resilience than homosexual patients, diagnosed between 1996 and 2000 (13 and 17 years of diagnosis) and those who had disclosed their HIV status to 1–5 people. Finally, resilience was not a predictor of sexual risk factor. It is suggested that health interventions take into account the resilience and psychological variables that may be beneficial to improve coping with the disease

Fatores de proteção relacionados à promoção de resiliência em pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS Protective factors and resilience in people living with HIV/AIDS

Este artigo busca, com base na revisão da literatura, articular o conceito de resiliência com questões da realidade de vida de pessoas portadoras de HIV/AIDS. Em especial, será enfatizada a análise dos fatores de proteção tradicionalmente descritos como promotores de resiliência (características individuais e rede de apoio social e afetiva). Os estudos revisados revelam que existem importantes fatores de proteção, que contribuem para a saúde e bem-estar dos portadores de HIV/AIDS, entre eles o enfrentamento cognitivo e a aceitação da infecção; a participação da família no tratamento e como fonte de apoio afetivo; o papel das organizações governamentais e não-governamentais e a religiosidade. Acredita-se que a compreensão da resiliência como uma "capacidade do ser humano de superar adversidades" é essencial ao entendimento da infecção e tratamento de pacientes com HIV/AIDS. Isso contribui para acabar com o estigma e preconceito em relação à doença e aos seus portadores. Essa perspectiva desmistifica a questão de que bem-estar e qualidade de vida são estados contraditórios à vida das pessoas infectadas, além de contribuir para a elaboração de novas perspectivas de prevenção e tratamento da infecção por HIV/AIDS.<br>The aim of this theoretical review was to articulate the resilience concept with key aspects in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. We emphasize the analysis of protective factors traditionally related to resilience (personal characteristics and social and affective support networks). The reviewed studies show important protective factors that contribute to the health and well-being of people with HIV/AIDS, such as cognitive coping and acceptance of their HIV status, family participation in treatment and family support, the role of governmental and nongovernmental institutions, and religious beliefs. The concept of resilience defined as a dynamic process that allows human beings to overcome adversities is essential for understanding HIV infection and treatment of AIDS patients. It helps decrease stigmatization and prejudice towards the disease and patients. It also helps alter the notion that living with AIDS is incompatible with well-being and quality of life and fosters the creation of new HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment perspectives