OBJECTIVE:
to describe sociodemographic, behavioral and treatment profiling of women in antiretroviral therapy for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
METHODS:
this was a descriptive study conducted from July to December 2011 at a university hospital in southern Brazil with women aged over 20 living with HIV; a questionnaire composed of closed and open questions was used for data collection.
RESULTS:
81 women participated. 30 were aged 30-39, 51 had incomplete primary education and 49 had low socio-economic conditions. 66 women acquired HIV through sexual intercourse. With regard to treatment, 77 women knew they needed to take antiretrovirals, 66 didn't depend on anybody to remember to take them and 41 women thought that treatment was easy.
CONCLUSION:
we suggest that health services seek to leverage adherence to treatment by taking into consideration women's sociodemographic, behavioral, and treatment profile.
Women's Health; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Epidemiology, Descriptive
