ABSTRACT
Objective:
to analyze the knowledge of the elderly assisted by the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) about HIV/AIDS infection in a health unit, before and after an educational intervention.
Method:
a quasi-experimental study analyzing the changes related to the knowledge about HIV/AIDS of 60 elderly individuals divided into two groups, who participated in an educational intervention, in an outpatient clinic of a SUS rehabilitation center in the second half of 2016. To evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching/learning process, a semi-structured questionnaire called QHIV3I was applied before and after the intervention. For data analysis, the generalized version of McNemar's chi-square test was used.
Results:
comparing the knowledge of the elderly before and after the educational intervention showed a higher number of correct answers, with a minimum percentage of 3.34% and a maximum of 75%. Significant statistical differences were found in one of the questions in the concept, transmission and treatment domains; and in the two vulnerability questions.
Conclusion:
it was found that the educational intervention contributed to the improvement of knowledge about HIV/AIDS in the elderly population. Thus, it is reasserted that the health promotion policy finds its essential foundation in health education strategies.
DESCRIPTORS:
HIV; AIDS; Health education; Elderly Health; Nursing