Social Representations of Living with HIV/AIDS among Adult Women: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

Introduction: Understanding the social representations of HIV/AIDS among women is important for the nursing team, as it allows them to provide quality care, respect patients’ needs, and facilitate the adoption of best healthcare practices. Objective: To understand the main scientific evidence available on the social representations of living with HIV/AIDS among adult women. Materials and Methods: This is a systematic review with meta-synthesis. Qualitative and mixed-methods studies were selected that evaluated, based on the social representations theory, the statements of adult women living with HIV/AIDS in journals published in the Scopus, Embase, VHL, and SciELO databases between 2013 and 2023. Results: 2295 articles were found. After duplicate removal, 65 articles were reviewed, with 42 being excluded as they failed to meet the specific criteria, which resulted in 16 articles for the final analysis. The findings were grouped into two categories subdivided into the following themes: Sexuality, gender, stigmas, vulnerabilities, preventive methods, and adherence to antiretroviral therapies. Concluding remarks: Social representations of HIV/AIDS improve nursing care considerably, reducing stigmas, improving communication, and providing psychological support, which also results in more welcoming and humanized care. In addition, they contribute to new health education strategies, individualized care planning, empowerment in social spaces, and effective promotion of treatment adherence.