Desafios e percursos de idosos vivendo com HIV/AIDS: uma revisão integrativa da literatura brasileira

Abstract

Introduction/Justification: Population aging and changes in the profile of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Brazil pose a challenge to the health system, marked by the invisibility of older adults and the prejudices experienced by this population. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze, through an integrative literature review, the Brazilian scientific production on social stigma affecting older people living with HIV/AIDS. Methodology: The search was conducted in October 2025 in the SciELO and LILACS databases, using specific descriptors combined with Boolean operators. In SciELO, the following terms were used: Idosos AND HIV AND (Estigma OR Preconceito OR AIDS OR “Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida”). In LILACS, the terms employed were: (Aged OR Aging) AND (HIV OR Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome OR AIDS) AND (Social Stigma OR Prejudice). Original Brazilian studies involving adults aged 60 years or older, published between 2015 and 2025 in Portuguese, Spanish, or English, were included. Twelve studies comprised the final sample after applying eligibility criteria. Qualitative analysis was conducted using Content Analysis. Results: Data synthesis identified that stigma manifests in three interrelated dimensions: (1) psychosocial impacts, such as emotional distress, diagnostic secrecy, and social isolation; (2) gender inequalities that intensify female vulnerability and reinforce the invisibility of sexuality in old age; and (3) institutional challenges, including late diagnosis, limited testing in primary care, and insufficient preparation of health professionals to address the group’s specific needs. Conclusions: The findings indicate that older adults remain on the margins of prevention and care efforts, underscoring the urgency of improving health services and implementing public policies that are sensitive to the specificities of aging individuals.