"ALL FOR LIFE": A CAMPAIGN PROMOTED BY MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM IFMSA BRAZIL - LOCAL COMMITTEE PUCPR

Introduction and Objectives: According to Brazilian Ministry of Health the number of infected with HIV in Brazil is about 530.000 people. 25,4% of them don’t know that are infected and about 30% still reach health services only in late stage of the disease. The objective was to aware the population about the importance of AIDS, to evaluate the level of understanding of different ages about HIV/AIDS and also overcome taboos approaching the theme. Methodology: A questionnaire which contained some of the following questions was applied: identification of gender, age and education, "Do you know someone who has AIDS?", "Do you know if you have HIV or have wanted to know?", "Do you know the difference between HIV and AIDS?”, “Would you be friend / boyfriend (girl) to a person with HIV / AIDS?". Results and Conclusions: The campaign reached 260 individuals of various age groups. It was noted that most of those interviewed did not know the difference between HIV and AIDS and when questioned, the most answered negatively about a relationship with those people. In addition, 154 people reported that have never conducted tests to detect the virus, but they know where could carry out the rapid tests for diagnosis. There is still a lot of stigma involving HIV/AIDS for the population and prejudice is generated by the lack of knowledge about transmission and prevention. The existing taboo around the theme also confirms the lack of knowledge that individuals have on important aspects of the disease as its definition and unfortunately is still related to promiscuity or homosexuality.