Abstract
The present study had the goal of investigating the work experience of community health workers with individuals who live with HIV/Aids in areas of social risk. It is a qualitative research performed in 2015 with community health workers of medium-sized municipalities in the state of Paulo, Brazil. The narratives were produced using the focus group method, and they were interpreted and analyzed through the thematic analysis of content. Prejudice was the main cause of difficulties in the work of these professionals; however, the establishment of bonds with the users, coupled with the fact that the workers gained their trust, was the main potentiality in the actions of those professionals. Therefore, it is essential that we break the barrier generated by prejudice in order to guarantee and effective work in the territories on the part of the community health workers, so they can contribute to the embracement of these users and to the reduction in the effects of the existing vulnerability.
family health strategy; community health workers; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; user embracement