As motivações de uso da prep entre homens gays em um serviço ambulatorial especializado em hiv/aids de fortaleza.

Abstract

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication focused on preventing HIV infection that is available in the Sistema Único de Saúde. The treatment has been massively used by the male homosexual population since its launch. Given this context, the question is what are the motivations for using PrEP among gay men in an Outpatient Service Specialized in HIV/Aids in Fortaleza. The present work is a qualitative and exploratory research, with semi-structured interviews and a sociodemographic questionnaire. It was carried out at the Serviço Ambulatorial Especializado em HIV/AIDS at Policlínica Dr. José Eloy da Costa Filho, with the aim of obtaining the answer to this question. The data were obtained during the month of November 2023 with 10 cisgender gay men, over 18 years old, living in Fortaleza and who were starting PrEP or were already using the treatment. The speeches obtained in the interviews were interpreted based on the speech analysis of Orlandi (2012) and the data were discussed from the perspective of the Self-Determination Theory of Ryan and Deci (2000) and authors who reference the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its impacts on the gay community. As a result, it was identified that intrinsic motivation is marked by the desire for unprotected sexual activity, while extrinsic motivation is the internalization of the use of different prevention mechanisms (such as PrEP) as necessary for experiencing one's own sexuality. Studies like this show how discourses are permeated by the fear of HIV, which causes harm to the mental health of those interviewed and how prophylaxis has become a means to achieve a sexual performance perceived as more autonomous, satisfactory and safe. This study has the potential to be expanded to other niches (such as trans people and transvestites) and to discuss sexual practices that subvert safe sex. Keywords: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. HIV. Aids. Gays. Motivations.