The opinion of elders who attend third age groups about sexually-communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS

ABSTRACT STD and HIV/AIDS are affections that affect a huge part of population. This study tried to identify the knowledge of elder, who attend third age groups, have about STDs and HIV/AIDS. It is a quantitative, transversal research. Data was collected through interviews. The study was carried out in 2006, and 52 elderly people, living in Ijuí City, Brazil, took part in it. After codification, data were descriptively analyzed. Information shows predominance of females (61,54%), ages ranging from 60 to 69 years-old (73,08%), with no completion of elementary school (59,61%), and married (40,38%). Most of them have already heard about these affections, and the major information sources are: television (88,46%) and health professionals (51,92%). When the subject is HIV, known preventive methods are: the use of condom (73,07%) and having only one sexual partner (46,15%). It is interesting that 25% of the elderly ones do not know that a person with a healthy appearance can be an HIV bearer, and 34,62% say that they know people who bear this morbid disease. When they were asked about the STD they knew, they mentioned: Aids (63,46%), gonorrhea (38,46%), syphilis (28,84%), chancroid (3,46%), genital wart (11,53%); 71,15% informed that they did not do the test to detect HIV; 73,07% do not consider themselves as people in risk to contract these diseases, and 38,48% say they never use preservatives during intercourse. Data show that the prevention campaigns do not reach this part of population, what should be a concern, since many elders have active sexual life.

【摘要】性传播疾病（STD）与人类免疫缺陷病毒/获得性免疫缺陷综合征（HIV/AIDS）是累及大量人群的公共卫生问题。本研究旨在了解参与老年群体活动的老年人对性传播疾病及艾滋病的认知水平。本研究为定量横断面研究，通过访谈法收集数据，于2006年在巴西伊尤伊市开展，共有52名居住于该市的老年人参与研究。数据经编码后采用描述性统计方法进行分析。结果显示，研究对象以女性为主（61.54%），年龄集中在60~69岁区间（73.08%），未完成小学教育者占比59.61%，已婚者占比40.38%。多数受访者曾听闻过此类疾病，主要信息来源为电视（88.46%）与医疗卫生专业人员（51.92%）。针对HIV的已知预防措施包括使用安全套（73.07%）与保持单一性伴侣（46.15%）。值得关注的是，25%的老年人并不知晓外观健康的个体也可成为HIV携带者；另有34.62%的受访者表示认识HIV感染者。当被问及知晓的性传播疾病类型时，受访者提及的疾病包括：艾滋病（63.46%）、淋病（38.46%）、梅毒（28.84%）、软下疳（3.46%）、生殖器疣（11.53%）。71.15%的受访者表示未接受过HIV检测；73.07%的受访者认为自身不存在感染此类疾病的风险；38.48%的受访者表示性交时从未使用安全套。研究数据表明，相关预防宣传活动并未覆盖该老年群体，这一现状值得警惕——尽管众多老年人仍保有活跃的性生活。