The number of notified cases of women with AIDS is increasing in Brazil. Based on this, the authors developed this qualitative study theoretically based on Cultural Anthropology. The ethnographic methodology was used to collect and to analyze data. The investigation had the purpose to identify the perception about the risk for HIV infection of the women living in a slum located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, through interviews and participant observation of the context. Results showed that the women have some knowledge about AIDS, about the transmission of HIV and its preventive measures through sexual intercourse. The cultural data also showed that the women do not feel susceptible to the disease, although most of them are dependent on their partners' income to maintain themselves healthy as well as their families. This way of thinking and acting may be contributing to increase the cases of women with AIDS in Brazil.
women's health; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; nursing care