Construction of a line of care for the health care of women living with HIV^a

Abstract

Objective

To build a line of care for the health care of women living with HIV.

Method

Participatory research developed through focus groups with 11 professionals and health service managers in a city in southern Brazil. Content analysis was applied to the data collected.

Results

Professionals and managers listed difficulties and facilities to promote access to health services for women living with HIV. They identified the decentralization of care, the articulation of services in Health Care Networks and the constitution of the line of care for women living with HIV as strategies to enhance the quality of health care for this population.

Conclusion and implications for practice

It is considered that the line of care must be flexible, horizontal and take into consideration choices and autonomy of women in the access to health services. The construction of this product, mediated by the effective participation of professionals and managers in this research, indicates the potential for reorganization of network services.

Keywords:
Comprehensive Health Care; Health Services Accessibility; HIV; Women’s Health; Maternal and Child Health