Between living and aging: perceptions of women with HIV.

OBJECTIVES

to analyze the perceptions of living and aging among women with HIV.

METHODS

qualitative research with 30 women aged 50 or older in Recife, PE, Brazil. The Social Representation Theory was used as a theoretical framework, and the lexical analysis method was employed using the Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires software.

RESULTS

the social representation of aging with HIV is viewed from the temporal perspective of a sad, painful, and revolting life trajectory, determining meanings about the diagnosis, daily life practices and activities, conflicts in human relationships, and adherence to antiretroviral therapies.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the importance of these representations lies in improving healthcare professionals' practice and promoting a broader understanding of aging with HIV, offering more humanized, comprehensive/dynamic care in healthcare services, and considering quality of life in different social contexts.