Empoderamento dos enfermeiros para a prevenção do VIH/SIDA

: intervenção do enfermeiro de saúde pública

Abstract

HIV infection is an incurable and progressive infection that may lead to the onset of co-infections, the onset of the disease known as AIDS, or even death.
Although the latest national epidemiological indicators show a decrease in the number of new HIV and AIDS infections, it is important to highlight three problems that are considered major regarding this infection: the accessibility of users to screening for infection, namely in uncharacterized places, late diagnosis, and underreporting of this infection. However, the suspension of several services related to the prevention and early detection of HIV infection, including community-based services, as well as the decrease in community demand for these services during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021),
may result in a potential and even substantial increase in the number of new cases of infection in the coming years. HIV/AIDS infection has serious implications for the individual and society and is a public health problem worldwide and nationally. All the aspects mentioned above substantiate the relevance of a cohesive intervention in its prevention, namely through the implementation of strategies that increase the population's accessibility to rapid screening tests for HIV infection, in order to contribute to: breaking the transmission chains, reducing the number of associated co-infections, and
increasing the quality and average life expectancy of HIV-positive people, which ultimately translates into health gains. In this sense and given that the internship took place in a Public Health Unit, the project entitled "HIV/AIDS - Detect and prevent. Intervention of the Public Health Nurse", which aimed to empower the community group of nurses of the ACeS care unit to make decisions regarding the intervention in the prevention of HIV/AIDS infection and its early detection,
based on the theoretical model Model for Assessment, Intervention and Community Empowerment (MAIEC) and designed based on Imperatori and Giraldes' Health Planning methodology. The definition of the strategies stemmed from the needs identified through the diagnosis of the situation, aiming and contributing to the optimization of the nurses' IX community management regarding the dimensions of community leadership and community participation and, specifically, the sub-dimensions knowledge, belief, and volition.
To this end, we used the educational strategy, which was implemented through a
training session and the development and availability of several decision-making support tools, and the involvement of leaders with a view to contributing to the continuity of this project. Thus, we believe that nurses play a key role in preventing HIV/AIDS infection through interventions that may undoubtedly lead to short-, medium- and long-term health gains.

Date of Award	4 Jul 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Cândida Ferrito (Supervisor)