Atividades educativas na prevenção da aids na rede básica municipal de saúde: participação do enfermeiro

TORRES, Gilson de Vasconcelos; ENDERS, Bertha Cruz. Atividades educativas na prevencao da AIDS em uma rede basica municipal de saude: participacao do enfermeiro. Rev.latino-am.enfermagem, Ribeirao Preto, v.7, n.2, p.71-77, abril 1999. Disponivel em: . Acesso em: 04 set. 2010.

Avaliação da atenção à saúde de portadores de HIV no centro de referência para o tratamento da Aids em Natal/RN por profissionais e usuários do serviço

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the health care of HIV/AIDS Reference Center for treatment of AIDS in Natal/RN for professionals and service users. Methods: This is an evaluative study with a quantitative approach, performed in the outpatient Giselda Trigueiro Hospital, in Natal (RN). The target population consisted of 313 patients with HIV and 34 professionals of the center. Data collection occurred from august 2007 to july 2008, with a structured form of interview, validated through a pilot study. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The evaluation of the service was considered unsatisfactory by 85.6% users. However, 58.8% of professionals considered it satisfactory. There was difference in the evaluation of the following indicators: the relationship professional users, offering support, timeliness of professional guidelines on the treatment. There was similarity in the following indicators: physical structure, respect for privacy, opportunity to make complaints, hospitality, convenience of schedules, availability of ARVs and laboratory tests, and ease of access. Conclusion: The results point to dissatisfaction of the users and professional satisfaction with the health care of people with HIV / AIDS in the service searched. It was found that the indicators used in this study may be considered relevant to evaluate the service in question, as well as monitoringparameters provide acceptable quality of health care by the National STD/AIDS

HIV/AIDS e estilo de vida: parâmetros imunológicos, virológicos, síndrome lipodistrófica e sua relação com a prática de exercícios

This descriptive study aimed to investigate the relationship between expression of immunological (TCD4 +) and virological (viral load) parameters, lipodystrophy syndrome and lifestyle variables of people living with HIV who underwent a program of physicalexercise. Initially, the sample was composed by 17 persons, recorded at the Department of Giselda Trigueiro Hospital Care (GTH), Natal-RN . With the passing of the stages of intervention (physical training program- PTP) the number of participants has changed (17, 9, 8 and 7) as the training phases (I, II, III and IV). Data collected were on total cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides. The % fat (% F), body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), lean mass (LM), central fat (BF), total (TF) and peripheral (PF), weight and height were used to measure the morphological parameters. For control of variables (TCD4 +, viral load, Triglycerides, Cholesterol, HDL), the information contained in the blood tests every four months were investigated. After Phase I and II, it was used a structured interview. Then sampling was carried out considering the pre-and post-tests 1, 2, 3 and 4 (after 16, 32, 48 and 64 weeks of training, respectively). Daily, the intensity of the work was checked by the scale of perceived exertion for exercises adapted to resistance34. Procedures used were descriptive statistics (dispersion, absolute and relative frequencies, means, standard deviations and minimum and maximum values) as well as Spearman linear correlation adopting a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Positive changes were observed for TCD4 + and viral load in all phases of the PTP. For the morphological components, the loss of central subcutaneous fat (CSF) and total subcutaneous fat (TSF) for both sexes and the decrease in % BF among women were the most dramatic results after the training phase I. For men, results were more significant to % F and LM in Phases I and II and peripheral subcutaneous fat (PSF) declined in all phases of the exercise. As for women, results were more expressive for % F and TM in the phases I and II and the PSF decreased in all phases of the exercise. Whereas for women, the waist/hip ratio (WCQ) and 0% F decreased and showed a positive association with triglycerides (WHR r * 0.82, p 0.042, r 0.88 TSF *, p 0.019 and r 1.00 ** CSF, p <0.001) and among men with limb subcutaneous fat (LSF)* r 0.65, p 0.029). The PTP provided improvement in the health, self-esteem and quality of life, proving to be a possible strategy to positively influence the expression of immunological parameters (TCD4 +) and virological (viral load) and morphological components of people living with HIV causing no deleterious effects in these parameters

Exercícios anaeróbicos, padrão morfofuncional e os marcadores hematológicos em pessoas vivendo com hiv e aids

Estudos que relacionam a atividade física e HIV/AIDS enfatizam a perspectiva biológica, demonstrando a sua relevância, apontam a preocupação em estabelecer um tipo de atividade e intensidade que não comprometa o sistema imunológico, enfatizando as melhorias do exercício sobre os parâmetros antropométricos, na aptidão física bem como um grande aumento da capacidade funcional para o grupo testado. Objetivo: O presente estudo se caracteriza como quase-experimental e objetivou analisar o padrão morfofuncional, marcadores hematológicos em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS, através da oferta intervenção com exercícios anaérobicos (exercícios resistidos em sala de musculação) para pacientes portadores de HIV/AIDS. Métodos: A amostra foi composta por 11 indivíduos do gênero masculino, com média de idade de 43,2 anos, participantes do Programa Pro-Saúde e Atividade Física da Universidade Federal do Rio grande do Norte e atendimento clínico no Hospital Giselda Trigueiro da Secretaria de Estado de Saúde Pública/RN. A coleta de dados foi composta de exames laboratoriais para medir TCD4 e Carga Viral, medidas antropométricas: Índice de Massa Corporal - IMC, Relação Cintura Quadril- RCQ, e uma annamenese sociodemográfica. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se no presente estudo a estatistica descritiva com os valores de tendecia central e seus derivados. Para as variáveis de cunho discreto utilizou-se a análise de frequencia atavés de valores percentuais de aparecimento. Resultados: Os resultados entre os Pré e o Pós teste das variáveis estudadas foram assim apresentadas: para o IMC (pré média de 24,0 Kg/m2 e pós 24,2 Kg/m2), RCQ (pré média de 0,97cm e pós 0,95 cm), Somatório de Dobras cutâneas (Pré 117,1 e Pós 102,0), Somatório da Perimetria(Pré 310,5 e Pós 313,3), Força Escapular(Pré 30,9 Kgf e Pós 30,3 Kgf), Força Pressão Manual Direita(Pre 41,2 e Pós 42,1), Força Pressão Manual esquerda(Pré 39,4 e Pos 39,9), TCD4( Pré 579 e Pós 509 céls/mm3) e Carga Viral(pré e pós <50 cópias). Esses resultados apontam para uma melhora importante das variáveis antropométricas estudadas, principalmente em relação a RCQ, na contagem dos linfócitos TCD4 e manutenção da Carga Viral em níveis abaixo do limite mínimo(<50 cópias/ml) Conclusão:O Programa de Exercícios resistidos com características anaeróbicas promove melhorias no padrão morfofuncional, manutenção das células TCD4 em níveis considerados seguros para esta população e estabilização da carga viral, não apresentando riscos à saúde dos participantes

Avaliação da autopercepção estética e qualidade de vida em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS com síndrome lipodistrófica (SLD) em uso de antirretrovirais

Em 1996 com a introdução no Brasil da Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) melhorando a sobrevida e diminuindo o número de óbitos entre os portadores do HIV/Aids, surgem relatos de alterações metabólicas e morfológicas - Síndrome Lipodistrófica (SLD). Portanto, este estudo busca avaliar a partir da autopercepção estética de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) em uso de terapia antirretroviral (TARV) o impacto da SLD na qualidade de vida. Pesquisa exploratória observacional com dados quantitativos e qualitativos, que contou com a multidisciplinaridade, a partir dos critérios de inclusão os voluntários eram captados pelo médico infectologista assistente. Foi realizada com base nos princípios da Resolução 196/96-CNP. A amostra foi composta por 48 PVHA, com idade entre 32 a 66 anos. 89,6% demonstraram interesse em mudar partes do corpo que perceberam enquanto alteradas ou comprometidas pela SLD, dado reforçado quando estes afirmam que se percebem (35,4%) e sentem (35,4%) que as outras pessoas os vêem de forma diferente. Quanto a qualidade de vida o domínio da espiritualidade, religião e crenças pessoais alcançou maior média (14,7) com DP 4,0 neste estudo. A pesquisa permitiu uma publicação internacional (Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology-JPHE) e várias participações com publicação em eventos (nacionais e internacionais). O estudo sugere que a infecção por HIV e a presença da SLD a partir da autopercepção dos sujeitos entrevistados pode afetar a qualidade de vida. E destaca a importância de ações que ressaltem o suporte social como motivador para o autocuidado

Exercício físico, saúde e qualidade de vida em pessoas com HIV/AIDS em Natal/Rio Grande do Norte

A sobrevida das pessoas com AIDS tem aumentado com o uso das terapias com antiretrovirais (TARV), esses, entretanto, possuem efeitos colaterais que interferem no padrão morfofuncional e hematológico, o que pode levar a alterações na qualidade de vida (QV). Este estudo quase-experimental objetivou avaliar parâmetros antropométricos, funcionais, hematológicos e de QV em pessoas com HIV/AIDS submetidas a um programa de exercícios de 16 semanas. Os participantes tinham idade entre 35 e 51 anos (n=15), eram registrados no Núcleo de atendimento do Hospital Giselda Trigueiro em Natal/Rio Grande do Norte e apresentaram CD4350cel/mm3, lipodistrofia e estavam em TARV. Foram avaliados o índice de massa corpórea (IMC), a relação cintura-quadril (RCQ), o percentual de gordura (%G), a força escapular e manual, a contagem de CD4, carga viral e QV, antes e após a intervenção. Essa foi realizada com exercícios de aquecimento e utilizou como base os exercícios resistidos, realizados 3x/semana, com 1h e intensidade de 60 a 75% de 1RM. Observaram-se modificações significativas no %G (p=0,031), força escapular (p=0,007) e preensão manual (p=0,039). Houve aumento no CD4 e a carga viral manteve-se indetectável. Nos domínios da QV, houve mudança significativa no do meio ambiente (p=0,021), espiritualidade, religiosidade e crenças pessoais (p=0,032) e na percepção da qualidade de vida e saúde geral (p=0,005). Os resultados sugerem que os exercícios resistidos para essa população constituem agente terapêutico coadjuvante no controle dos efeitos colaterais advindos da TARV, promovendo modificações na composição corporal, aumento da capacidade funcional e dos níveis de CD4, mantendo estável a carga viral e melhorando a QV. Sugerimos novos estudos com maior tempo de intervenção e com o acompanhamento de equipes multidisciplinares, o que poderá promover melhorias mais significativas na qualidade de vida e efetuar maior controle nas variáveis intervenientes

Projeto Prevenir: uma pesquisa acerca das mudanças no perfil das infecções por DST/AIDS, com a perspectiva de detectar pontos vulneráveis da prevenção

Rio Grande do Norte is among the Brazilian States where the tourism and sexual violence increasingly grow in the country, occupying 4th place in 2004. Associated to this fact, it comes the problematic one of the contamination of the women by Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). Studies in Brazil have presented a considerable increase of the STDs, caused through lack of suitable protection in the sexual relationships. Due to the biological and psychosocial vulnerability, besides failures or inconsistencies in the condom use associated to the raised taxes of sexual activity with different partners, the STDs constitute the main risk of health. Many difficulties are found by the confrontation of this problem. In this context, this project had as aim to evaluate the vulnerability of this population of sexually active women in Natal-RN Ponta Negra neighbourhood to the infections by STDs, such as, Candida sp., Vaginoses Bacterial, Trichomonas Vaginalis and Chlamydia sp., arisen with the explosion of the sex market, showing a current statistical panorama. It was possible to detect vulnerable points in prevention through patient anamnesis, where the study it showed: high number of partners (8,3% with more than five), low age of first relationship and not the use of condoms (31,8% sometimes use and 45,8% had not used in the first relationship). Already consolidated by the preventive cytopathologic examination, these data were strengthened by high incidence of causing agents of STDs (58,6%). In this way, it is clear that the sexuality must to be thought on the context of the deep economic and socio-cultural transformations in which pass societies, and mainly the ones concerning to the sexuality exercise and to the sex market. With the profile change of the infections, new demands are placed in relation to the risk factors. Therefore, it can be concluded that the prevention vulnerable points detected as more important had been the deficiency in self-perception and wareness of the risk existence among the studied women

Atenção ao usuário em um centro de referência HIV/Aids: perspectiva de profissionais e usuários

We study the health care focused on care in an intercessor and dialogical relationship with the User, which involves the construction of therapeutic projects essential to the quality of the treatment of the user in health services, and it is necessary individual and collective actions. It is intended to acknowledge and analyze the perception of social subjects, users and professionals on the treatment given to a user of a Specialized Outpatient Service (Serviço Ambulatorial Especializado SAE) in STD/HIV/AIDS state reference in Natal, RN. The study is structured in a transdisciplinary vision of science and knowledge, theoretical and methodological principles that give meaning to the expression of the institutional features of care and health care reconnecting them to the social context. As a research strategy we seek the expressions of 56 subjects of social research, which agreed to participate in the sample, from a symbolic map of the attention, coupled with the techniques of observation and semi-structured interview. For the analysis of the results, five categories of analysis were established: the meaning of the service, care perception, process of communication and interaction, treatment perception and organization and evaluation of the service. It is argued that the attention and care are developed in a technical health care assistance to the disease, focusing on attention based on treatment, on diagnostic and drug therapy of antiretroviral drugs, reflecting the traditional biomedical paradigm of attention to the disease. This is also the mode of organization of practical actions in daily SAE: the therapy proves to be fragmented in several specialties, vertical and feeds the same model, generating tension and overload for professionals; showing impersonal care focused on structured and informative technology, unrelated to an interactive dialogic. From the speech of the subjects, the SAE is understood as the place of confrontation with the disease, but also enables greater elaboration of the illness by meeting their peers. Living with HIV and AIDS is living with concern, apprehension and fear, but mainly with the stigma, prejudice and exclusion, which require that the disease is kept in secret. There is a movement of forces and power, expressed in the knowledge-power of those who dominate the technical and administrative capabilities, devices that concentrate the maintenance of the medicalization of care, rapid consultations and with little attention, making it difficult to interact with and listen to, combined with structural failures, organizational and inadequate management of the service. We conclude that there are dimensions that are not considered in the internal dynamics of the care service multiple forms, characterized by care conflicting models, marked by individual interventions related to the disease. The subject is not considered together with his speech as technical discourse is imposed and care production based on material technology is observed

OBALUAIÊ: um estudo sobre o estigma no convívio com o HIV/Aids em terreiros de Umbanda na cidade de Fortaleza-Ceará

The tradition and living in African-Brazilian religious spaces, called yards, reveal how dynamic the reproduction and exchange of knowledge are, and that through their worldview, reveal ways of dealing with health and disease. The yards are culturally rich territories, in which people shape concepts, practices, and beliefs about health, disease and forms of healing, passed on from generation to generation through oral tradition. With the advent of HIV/AIDS from the 80s, a new challenge is established in the community of the yards and in the individual trajectories of people affected by the disease, who since an early age participate in this religious practice. The objective of this research is the analysis on the stigma in living with HIV/AIDS in yards of Umbanda in Fortaleza-Ceará, considering the (re)production of social dramas experienced by the community in question. During the investigation we adopted two basic parameters: the first one considers the understanding of the reproduction of stigma (or deteriorated identity) in relation to HIV/AIDS in its socio-historical dimension and its effects in the investigated context (Goffman, 1988). And the second one refers to the creation and reproduction of social dramas as a social experience carried through learning, handling and symbolic performance, which is reproduced in four stages: rupture, crisis, corrective action and reintegration (Turner, 1971)

Efeito do treinamento resistido na função autônomica cardíaca, nos parâmetros bioquímicos e antropométricos de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS

Introduction: The emergence of High Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) increase the life expectancy of the persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), therefore the prolonged use cause metabolic implications and influences on body fat distribution and increase the cardiovascular diseases prevalence. Aims: Evaluate the effect of resistance training on heart rate variability, biochemical parameters and somatotype on PLHIV. Methods: Participated this study seven sedentary men, with age above 25 years old, living with HIV/AIDS, under HAART use. Were submitted a 16 week intervention with resistance training. Evaluated the heart rate variability, biochemical parameters and somatotype, before, after 8 weeks and 16 weeks, all in paired form. It was found the data normality by Shapiro-Wilk test and conducted the Anova one way combined with Tukey post hoc to samples in each evaluate moment, adopting significance level p<0,05. Also were calculated percentage change deltas. For somatotype was used the somatotype spatial distance (DES), obeying the significance value DES≥1. Results: Was found significance differences only in variable final heart rate delta 60s (p=0,01), however, is not showed changes on heart rate variability, biochemical parameters and somatotype components. Conclusion: 16 weeks of resistance training showed improvement on heart rate recovery after submaximal effort and, despite is not enough to produce significance differences on biochemical parameters and somatotype components, could be realize improvement on average value of fasting glucose and lipid profile, as well as reducing the endomorphic component

Aconselhamento em HIV/AIDS: ações e reflexões dos profissionais do Centro de Testagem e Aconselhamento (CTA)

The counseling on HIV/Aids consists in a prevention strategy that contributes to increase the diagnosis of HIV and start earlier the treatment. The counseling has as pillars the emotional and educational support, risks evaluation that aim at the adoption of safe practices and the individual s responsibility for his own health. To accomplish these results, it is necessary that health workers understand counseling as a unique educational moment that stimulates the user s critical-reflection when it comes to his role as an active subject in this process. This study aimed to analyze the counseling on HIV/Aids conducted by the professionals of the Testing and Counseling Center (CTA), based on the educational perspective of Paulo Freire . This is a descriptive qualitative study with a critical reflexive design based on the principles of Action-Science. All the professionals acting as counselors in the Joao Pessoa, PB CTA, eight in total, took part in the study. Data were collected during the month of March, 2011, through non participative observation and semi-structured interviews with a critical-reflexive focus, analyzed according to the tenets of the critical-reflexive methodology, and discussed taking into consideration the Paulo Freire s pedagogy and pertinent literature. It was observed that most of the professionals expressed the work philosophy of CTA as the diagnosis and prevention of the disease, associated with the utilization and demonstration of condoms. However, upon observation of their counseling sessions, these ideas were not converted in actions. Educational themes were not covered and the condom wasn t offered at any time. The counseling actions focused on the provision of information and filling out the paper forms which are necessary for attendance. The sessions were conducted with brief dialogues and little opportunity for the users to expose or complement their thoughts and needs. The professionals mentioned as facilitating conditions for counseling, the team interaction and physical structure. The difficulties focused on the users low cognition, the large demand for attendance, aspects related to the service organization, and the counselors absences and delays. After reflecting about the actions observed in the counseling, the majority of professionals admitted the need to modify their practice in the incorporation of educational principles for the achievement of a broader prevention, and seemed to be willing to work in this perspective. In conclusion, although the counselors show ideas consistent with the purposes of CTA, these ideas are limited when it comes to the understanding of the meaning of prevention in HIV/Aids. Taking into consideration that they express a certain comprehension and act differently during the counseling, they demonstrate a lack of bond between the theories in use and the proposed ones, in accordance with the contribution of the action-science theory. The counseling, as an educative practice, doesn t materialize in the counseling itself and the orientation for reflection is not given during the attendance. These findings suggest the need to include the process of reflection in the execution of the actions of counseling, so that these practices are guided by reflexive practice, aiming at transforming the way of thinking and acting into a more educational perspective toward a more democratic and holistic assistance.

Estratégias midiáticas na aprendizagem do tema DST/AIDS: ações em rede para reduzir vulnerabilidades de adolescentes e jovens da comunidade de Mãe Luiza, Natal-RN

Youngsters and teenagers are still a very vulnerable group of DST/AIDS. In order to combat this vulnerability the community intervention project being developed in Mãe Luiza neighborhood in the city of Natal-RN, entitled Strengthening Community Action Network for Prevention in HIV/AIDS: knowledge and Intervene emerged, popularly known as Project Viva Mãe Luiza. The project develops workshops of educomunication whose approach involves the DST/AIDS subject with the following media: video, photography, and theater playbook. This research integrates the activities of the project and has as main objective to investigate how strategies and practices of media communication developed in Project Viva Mãe Luiza through workshops of educomunication, assisted learning for the prevention of DST/AIDS and contributed to the reduction of vulnerability to DST/AIDS among adolescents and young participants of the project residents of Mãe Luiza community. The methodological basis was based on intervention research, with the technique of gathering daily field data, literature and documentary, in-depth interviews and ethnographic observation. The qualitative analysis was based on the monitoring of video workshops, photography, theater and primer, respectively, crossed by transverse to the prevention of DST/AIDS, conducted between June 2012 and December 2013 issues. Interviews with eight multipliers, aiming to understand their perceptions of vulnerability, prevention, multiplication and use of media that were part of the project were conducted. The analyzes show that learning workshops educomunication community health repercussions both in the development of individual skills in communication as changing perceptions about the vulnerabilities to which they are exposed, the awareness about prevention at the individual and differentiated actions multiplication in the community

Terceiro setor em HIV/AIDS: mapeando o ativismo social na contemporaneidade

The struggle against AIDS is a kind of action in favor of life and the organized Brazilian civil society incorporated it in a meaningful dimension. This struggle matured the creation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and advanced with the discoveries about the disease. Since the very early 90 s, the consolidation of the partnership involving the movement anti-aids with State came up with a dilemma for the entities of civil society: are they just executors of governmental policies or do they take up the role of effective demands concerning public policies? Since then, activism against aids started to stand for execution of projects and one considers that the institutional way of anti-aids work has problems because it constructs a basic strategy to take off the political aspect of the third sector. The NGOs/aids consolidate the reconfiguration of capital and get far from street activities. This is important to be studied because the relationship between society and aids, contemporarily, can prevent them from accomplishing their agenda referring to political mobilization and collective resistance. This research started to be carried after some visits, previously arranged, to an institutional life support group called Grupo de Apoio à Vida-GAV, in Campina Grande. A semi-structured interview was applied to 31 users and to 6 technicians of the entity mentioned. One aimed at investigating the activist anti-aids practice, identifying the conceptions of activism and knowing how social actors assess those practices. Preliminary results indicate that one of the conceptions on activism among the interviewees refers to the execution of projects through partnership of NGOs and supporting institutions, governmental or non-governmental. Although this new conception on activism consolidates a non-political aspect, there are other ways of executing projects and participating actively, according to some users, such as: meetings, lectures and other sorts of events promoted by the group, which are also legitimate actions representing anti-aids activism at the present context

Cartografia de uma intervenção comunitária para prevenção de DST/HIV/AIDS

Community-based interventions have been presented as a proposal of operationalization of the concept of vulnerability to STD/Aids prevention. This study aimed to analyze the Community intervention developed through the project Strengthening of Community action networks for STD/Aids prevention: know and intervenein, at Mãe Luiza neighborhood, in the city of Natal, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The study was conducted in the same location where intervention occurs and took as time reference the first 30 months of construction and deployment process, from April 2010 until December 2012. This is research with qualitative approach, participatory character, developed from the immersion of the researcher in the field, being this community intervention itself. In this perspective, the study approximates to the Cartographic method in which the researcher-researched is engendered in the acts and effects research. The data-generating sources were the memories of the researcher from the field notes, written narratives of subjects involved in the intervention and documents pertaining to the project. In the methodological path of cartography, the image of the rhizome by Deleuze and Guattari (1995) has accompanied the immersion in the field given the nature of research-intervention which approach to the concept of object-Rhizome. The presentation of results was composed for the attempted rhizomatic and a hypertext representation, based on the descriptive narrative taken from the documentary analysis and the multi-faceted narratives with the voices, the looks and the affections narrated by the subject involved, respectively. On the path taken, three lanes were drawn as synthesis of learning produced by experience-that can contribute to understanding the process under study, in his singular character, and reflections on other experiences of community intervention: track 1- Community intervention as active-reflective space and a cause; track 2 Inclusion as power and challenge of community involvement; track 3 Sustainability as A challenge of Community intervention. The study indicates that community intervention is presented as a potential producer of health as also produces practical and creative skills, subjects and inventive in the daily life of the community with a view to reinventing knowledge and practices for the prevention of STD/HIV/Aids

O Serviço Social e a exclusão/inclusão social dos portadores de HIV/AIDS :demandas e desafios nos hospitais públicos

This research presents the labors developed by the Social Service unto socially excluded HIV/Aids positives at public hospitals in Rio Grande do Norte (RN). It purposes to identify and to analyze the demands brought by the holder onto the Social Service professional as well as the challenges the latter face to minister to the former. It privileges, from the methodological viewpoint, the qualitative and quantitative analysis with the application of questionnaires, direct observation, semi-structured interviews and bibliographic references. Data were collected from 12 (twelve) social assistants who work at Giselda Trigueiro Hospital in Natal (7) and Rafael Fernandes Hospital in Mossoró (5). The central hypothesis that guided this study is that the social inclusion/exclusion process experienced by the HIV/Aids positive on society implies a demand for the Social Service that is inserted in the public health context (specially in HIV-referred public hospitals), whose agents, however, when attempting to answer those demands, meet obstacles due to both the precariousness of public health services and the social complexity that concerns the HIV/Aids epidemic. Results point out that, de facto, the HIV/Aids epidemic, because of the social exclusion/inclusion process to which the holder is subject results a demand for the social agents at hospitals. Demands rise principally from the patient s life condition, considering the increasing pauperization in the epidemic context. As to what it is concerned, social assistants, responding to the needs, come across concrete twofold challenges: the illness in itself, for all social, negative aspects that make part of quotidian life of holders; and the precarious state of the public health service in RN State, since that working conditions are unsatisfactory