Abstract:
The increase in cases of HIV and AIDS among women demonstrates that the
propagation has provoked changes in the profile of the epidemic. The religious
dimension is important in the existence of the human being and the religious space
with regards to HIV and AIDS can be a place of welcome and support for the women
and of encouragement of preventive behaviors, but it can also be a place where
there can exist isolation and prejudice, encouraging behaviors which make them
more vulnerable. The goal of this paper was to analyze the influence of religiosity on
women s self care with regard to HIV and AIDS. In the first chapter a bibliographic
review is presented on the relation between religion/religiosity and self care, women
and HIV/AIDS. In the second chapter a field research is presented with its
methodological paths, results and discussion of the latter. 100 women between the
ages of 18 and 49 who were attended by the Reference Center of Women s Health
were interviewed. This center is localized in the Municipality of Santarém Pará. This
is an explorative study, using various methods, dealing with quantitative as well as
qualitative data. The collection of data occurred between the months of August and
September of 2014. To reach the goals, a questionnaire with open and closed
questions was used relating to the socio-demographic profile, the DUREL - Duke
Religiosity Scale, the relation between religiosity and health and about risk behaviors,
prevention practices, self perception and knowledge with regard to HIV and to AIDS.
It was observed that the majority of the women of the research presented a high level
of religiosity, affirming that they take care of their health, and that the religious belief
helps them face the processes of health/sickness, however there is not a consensus
that religious belief influences in the protection and care against HIV. Even knowing
the forms of prevention and contamination of HIV these women do not customarily
make use of condoms and have a low perception of the risk of being infected. The
conclusion is that religious practices are not helping in practicing healthy behaviors
and in overcoming situations of vulnerability.
