Knowledge about the human immunodeficiency syndrome among elders in a unit for the care of the elderly

Descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study, with 457 elders from the Unit for the Care of Elders in Uberaba – Minas Gerais, lasting 3 months. The instruments used were the Mental State Mini-exam and a questionnaire on the human immunodeficiency virus for elders, together with frequency measures for their analysis.

Results

Most participants were female (74%), between 60 and 69 y/o (51%). The question with the most correct answers was about syringe/needle transmission (96.2%) and the ones with the least (45.3% and 49.6%, respectively) were regarding AIDS transmission through mosquito bites and whether a person with the human immunodeficiency virus always presents symptoms (49.6%). 88.2% of participants never use condoms.

Conclusion

The general level of knowledge can be considered good, responding to our goal. However, gaps in knowledge were identified due to the lack of campaigns aimed exclusively at such public, as well as to the lack of awareness of professionals.

HIV; Aged; Health vulnerability; Nursing

Variables	N	%
Gender
Male	119	26
Female	338	74
Age group
60 to 69 years old	233	51
70 to 79 years old	185	40.5
Over 80 years old	39	8.5
Educational level
None	51	11.1
1 to 3 years of study	124	27.2
4 to 7 years of study	156	34.2
8 to 11 years of study	94	20.5
12 years of study or more	27	6
No response	5	1
Income
Up to 1 MW	233	51
1 to 3 MW	176	38.5
4 to 6 MW	33	7.2
7 to 8 MW	4	0.9
More than 10 MW	4	0.9
No response	7	1.5
Total	457	100.0

Variables	Male		Female		Rate of right answers

	N	%	N	%	%
1. HIV virus as the cause of AIDS					88.7
True	105	88.2	302	89.3
False	5	4.2	10	3
I don’t know.	8	6.7	25	7.4
2. A person with the virus always presents symptoms					41.5
True	59	49.6	146	43.2
False	45	37.8	153	45.3
I don’t know.	14	11.8	38	11.3
3. Laboratory tests					88.8
True	104	87.4	305	90.2
False	3	2.5	18	5.3
I don’t know.	11	9.2	12	3.6
4. Transmission through soap...					75.8
True	22	18.5	67	19.8
False	90	75.6	256	76
I don’t know.	6	5	14	3.9
5. Transmission through hugs, kisses...					78.6
True	24	20.2	53	15.7
False	90	75.6	276	81.7
I don’t know.	4	3.4	6	1.8
6. Transmission via mosquito					45.7
True	56	47.1	122	36.1
False	55	46.2	153	45.3
I don’t know.	7	5.9	60	17.8
7. Condom prevents transmission					89.4
True	111	93.3	289	85.5
False	6	5	38	11.2
I don’t know.	1	0.8	9	2.7
8. Condoms for women					86
True	103	86.6	289	85.5
False	7	5.9	12	3.6
I don’t know.	8	6.7	35	10.4
9. Syringe and needle transmission					96.4
True	115	96.6	325	96.2
False	1	0.8	8	2.4
I don’t know.	2	1.7	3	0.9
10. Only in homosexuals...					86.3
True	18	15.1	23	6.8
False	97	81.5	308	91.1
I don’t know.	3	2.5	5	1.5
11. Seniors should not worry about AIDS					88.1
True	13	10.9	32	9.5
False	103	86.6	303	89.6
I don’t know.	2	1.7	1	0.3
12. AIDS has a treatment					90
True	109	91.6	299	88.5
False	7	5.9	30	8.9
I don’t know.	2	1.7	7	2.1
13. There is a cure for AIDS					74.6
True	24	20.2	41	12.1
False	86	72.3	260	76.9
I don’t know.	8	6.7	35	10.4
14. AIDS is a punishment from God’s					80.4
True	23	19.3	38	11.2
False	91	76.5	285	84.3
I don’t know.	4	3.4	13	3.8
15. Do you know any AIDS carriers					-
Yes	80	67.2	204	60.4
No	38	31.9	131	38.8
16. Do you use condoms					-
Always	25	21	16	4.7
Sometimes	18	15.1	10	3
Rarely	3	2.5	0	0
Never	62	52.1	298	88.2
17. Have you ever undergone the AIDS test					-
Yes	59	49.6	124	36.7
No	59	49.6	211	62.4

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[1] Corresponding author: Giovanna Gaudenci Nardelli. E-mail: giovanna.gnardelli@gmail.com