Percepção de casais heterossexuais em relação à suscetibilidade de infecção por HIV/AIDS

Difficulties in the practice of safe sexual intercourse by stable heterosexual couples pointed out the need for studies that change the focus from the individual to the relationship itself. The present study interviewed 15 heterosexual couples that presented themselves voluntary for HIV testing, at a public health service, between the years of 2001 and 2002. The interview asked about couple’s negotiation on using safe methods for sexual intercourse. The qualitative description showed that the couples presented three different levels of understanding on risk of susceptibility to acquiring AIDS: 1) denying the risk, 2) admitting the risk, and 3) ambivalence about the risk. Subsequent inductive analysis concentrated upon two implications of ambivalence: suspicion of contamination from previous or remaining habits, and a lack of directness in talking about means of prevention. The critical analysis concluded that there was a relational pattern between the sexes. A crucial point for women, in avoiding the use of preventive means, was the need acquiesce to the man’s preference in to keep a relationship. In contrast, men increased their susceptibility to AIDS by assuming avoidance was a sign of their virility. Keywords: HIV/AIDS; marital relationships.