DETERMINANTES SOCIALES DE LA INFECCIÓN POR VIH/SIDA EN PERSONAS MAYORES: UNA REVISIÓN INTEGRADORA

Abstract

This article aimed to discuss the aging of the Brazilian population, marked by a significant increase in people aged 60 or older, which has revealed new challenges for public health, including the rise in HIV/AIDS cases in this age group. This study, conducted through an integrative literature review, sought to understand how political, social, and economic factors contribute to this growing vulnerability. The analyzed publications show that the invisibility of sexuality in old age, misinformation, and the absence of educational campaigns aimed at the elderly favor late diagnosis and low risk perception. Furthermore, the stigma still associated with HIV and the difficulty healthcare professionals face in addressing the topic reinforce gaps in care. Aspects such as low education levels, limitations in access to health services, regional inequalities, and unfavorable socioeconomic conditions also stand out as determinants that increase exposure to infection. The results show that these factors are intertwined, revealing that infection is not only the result of individual behaviors, but of a social structure that historically marginalizes old age and gives little consideration to its specific needs. Thus, the study concludes that addressing the rise in HIV among the elderly requires more comprehensive public policies, adequate training for healthcare professionals, and educational strategies that clearly and accessibly include this population in prevention, diagnosis, and care initiatives.