title: [Late diagnosis and vulnerabilities of the elderly living with HIV/AIDS].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify vulnerabilities of elderly people with HIV/AIDS and the trajectory that they follow until reaching the diagnosis of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative research conducted in specialized clinics in the state of São Paulo, from January to June 2011. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 elderly people who were found to be infected with the virus at the age of 60 years or older. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this process four categories emerged, then analyzed with reference to the theoretical framework of vulnerability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS among the elderly happens in the secondary or tertiary service. Issues related to sexual life of the elderly are only questioned by health professionals after the diagnosis, also the time that condom use becomes absolute. It is believed that the investigation of the vulnerability of the elderly to HIV/AIDS allows for carrying out appropriate interventions for this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Botucatu Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rúbia Aguiar
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.affiliation: Department of Collective Health Nursing, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suely Itsuko
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ciosak
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D035862:Vulnerable Populations