[Invisibility of drug use and support for professionals of the AIDS services].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the influence of conceptions of health professionals on the care given to HIV/AIDS patients using drugs.


METHODS
Qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with 22 professionals of different levels from two specialized STD/AIDS public services of the city of São Paulo was conducted in 2002. The interviews were recorded and submitted to a thematic analysis.


RESULTS
Professionals reported difficulties in identifying drug users among their patients, indicating the invisibility of the issue. They find drug users more difficult to treat, because they disturb the service and do not comply with treatment. Although they acknowledge the special needs of users, and that it is important to deal with drug use, health professionals believe that these issues are not their responsibility. Professionals showed personal and technical limits in handling these cases, showing the importance of their lack of specific capacity building. Thus, they recommend the creation of specialized services for this care, recognizing their own services as inappropriate. Although they were aware of the harm reduction project, there was a little participation in it.


CONCLUSIONS
Technical, ideological and personal elements such as beliefs, values and affective/emotional dimensions were relevant to enhance or refuse to develop more specific bonds with drug user patients. The conceptions on drug use may interfere in the development of a better care and equity in health care.
Lima
Márcia de
Md
Serviço de Ambulatório Especializado DST/Aids-Santana, Secretaria Municipal da Saúde, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Costa
Janete Aparecida da
JA
Figueiredo
Wagner dos Santos
Wdos S
Schraiber
Lilia Blima
LB
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*