Rede social da puérpera e perspectivas para o cuidado à saúde no contexto social da epidemia do HIV

Abstract

The HIV epidemic among women in the pregnancy-puerperal period is strongly associated with the meaning of moral and social devaluation. Some puerperal women choose to hide their HIV status, which may restrict their social network and be an obstacle to maintaining their health care. Social support has the function of reducing the impact of situations that negatively affect health, being a protective factor in the condition of an illness. Objectives: to analyze the social network of postpartum women in the social context of the HIV epidemic and the implications of this network for health care. Qualitative and analytical research developed in the municipality of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The study participants were six postpartum women and for data collection, a semi-structured instrument was used for the in-depth interview and joint elaboration of the participant's social network map from the making of a drawing, representing people and institutions that helped to maintain the care for your health. The information from the interviews was analyzed using the thematic analysis method that resulted in the construction of the category: Prejudice and discrimination in the social context of the HIV epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic as potentiators of weaknesses in relationships and dynamics of the social network of postpartum women. Sanicola's theoretical approach allowed the understanding of the relational dynamics in which the puerperal woman is inserted, considering the social context of the HIV epidemic. Social networks were classified as medium density (three) and low density (two) and the primary social network presented medium amplitude. In the primary network, the partner and mother-in-law were identified as natural operators in the network and received emotional and financial support and assistance in daily tasks and child care, which contributed to the puerperal woman maintaining health care. In the secondary network, pharmacists, nurses and doctors stood out and the type of support provided was informative. Regarding physical proximity, it was found that the COVID-19 pandemic potentiated the distance of the puerperal woman with her primary and secondary network. Thus, when the puerperal woman has support from her partner, mother, other members of the network, this determines a protective effect for health care. And, when there is a rupture due to prejudice, discrimination and the enhancement of social isolation by the pandemic, the vulnerability of the puerperal woman occurs.