The family of HIV-positive children: a study of the social representations of nurses

Abstract

Seropositivity and the development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome – AIDS – in a child can cause serious damage to the family structure. This study aimed at analyzing the social representations of nurses regarding the family of the HIV-positive child. This qualitative study was performed founded on the Theory of Social Representations. Data collection occurred between January and May of 2008 in two public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, through semi-structured interviews with twenty nurses. The thematic content analysis revealed six categories. This article addresses the fifth category: "The family of the child with HIV/AIDS". The identified contents referred to the presence or absence of family support, its importance in treatment adherence and success, the family’s socioeconomic condition, family breakdown, lack of knowledge, stress, and others. In conclusion, the social representations regarding the child’s family have multiple facets and affect the care given to the child, as well as the human relationships.

Descriptors: Child; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Nursing Care; Nurses; Professional-Family Relations.