Document 2389
 DOCN  M94A2389
 TI    The psychic mechanisms in HIV-positive women that favored contamination.
 DT    9412
 AU    Verissimo J; Pucheu D; Morais De Sa CA; Gaffree and Guinle University
       Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):315 (abstract no. PC0192). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370186
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Unveiling some of the psychic mechanisms of HIV-positive
       women that played a role in their contamination. METHOD: 25 low-income,
       HIV-positive women, within the age bracket 27 to 55, were followed
       during a period of at least six months, while undergoing group or
       individual psychotherapeutic treatment at the Immunology Division of
       Clinica Medica B at Hospital Universitario Gafree e Guinle. The data
       extracted from the interviews were qualitatively analysed under the
       conceptual framework of psychoanalysis, within a psychosomatic
       perspective as to the ways of contamination. RESULTS: 100% of the women
       interviewed declared to have contracted HIV through sexual relationship
       with their partners. 100% of the women started their interviews claiming
       to have strictly heterosexual partners. None reported to have used IV
       drugs or to have undergone blood transfusion. 88% declared to have
       acquired HIV through sexual contact with their steady partners and
       affirmed to have had no extra-marital relationships. From the 16 women
       who have had a steady relationship with male partners. 90.9% came to
       think about the idea that their partners could have had homosexual
       relationships only during therapy. Before that, they put the blame on
       other heterosexual relationships. 15 women (86.4%) thought about this
       possibility after reanalyzing give-away facts that happened before
       contamination, but that they repressed then 3 women (17%) got to know
       about their partner's homosexual relationships through other people. 2
       women (11%) still remain in doubt about the ultimate cause of their
       contamination. CONCLUSION: This research evidences what seems to be
       women's greatest risk of HIV contamination--the secretive homosexual
       practices kept by their sexual partners, without the use of condoms. It
       was also relevant that although the subjects in steady relationships had
       had several hints of homosexual practice from the part of their male
       spouses, they took these hints for granted, since the awareness of their
       spouses' homosexuality would represent a great source of humiliation and
       pain to them. Thus, denying the evidences, these women were put in the
       very vulnerable position of practicing unsafe sex and being
       contaminated.
 DE    Adult  Bisexuality  Female  Homosexuality  Human  HIV
       Infections/PSYCHOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  Male  Marriage  Middle Age  Risk
       Factors  *Sex Behavior  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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