This text discusses the need to politicize psycho-educational arenas and presents the idea of a "psycho-social emancipation" as one of the references for improved operationalization of the notion of vulnerability in the field of prevention of new HIV infections and of the organization of care for those who are AIDs carriers. Reflecting on actions designed to encourage patients to take their medication and use condoms, it suggests that the prevention of HIV should overcome models devised for "HIV negative" people and that the prevent-assist continuum should be radicalized. To this end, it is pressing to: take into account the facts accumulated in the field of cultural analyses and of psychosocial research in the planning and organization of preventive actions and of providing assistance to HIV carriers, including, for instance, the ideas of oppressive social construction of two genders, masculine and feminine; overcome the notion of "individuals as consumers" (of services, educational programs, condoms and prescribed medication, of behaviors and safe practices to be practiced); foster the innovation of prevention and care actions. Working with the idea of a "subject-citizen individual", co-participant in the psycho-educational arenas whose horizon consists of psychosocial emancipation, can enhance the quality of preventive actions and of integrated care of HIV and AIDS patients, so as to include "all" Brazilians, according to the socio-cultural context of "each one", both men and women, testing positive or negative.
HIV; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; social support; health education