MAIN FACTORS OF HIV GROWTH IN THE THIRD AGE

Abstract

In Brazil and in the world today, the number of HIV diagnoses in the elderly has increased. From 2007 to 2017, diagnoses grew seven times. In women aged 60 or over, an increase of 21.2% was observed when compared to the same period. The present article has as general objective to verify the causes of the increase of HIV cases in the Third Age. Integrative review has been used as a methodology in virtual databases Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO) and Virtual Health Library (VHL). As a criterion for the inclusion of scientific articles from reliable sources on the topic, published in the period from 2008 to 2019. Results point out that the main factors of the growth of HIV in the Third Age are related to changes in behavior and in the dissemination of information, accompanied by the lack of prevention information, through the focus of Organs responsible bodies to be limited to the young population, also because the active sex life of the elderly has increased due to pharmacological resources. This paper concludes the need for the implementation of educational practices focusing on the elderly and HIV in order to have greater attention by health professionals in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease, ensuring the improvement of quality of life of the elderly.