The rate of HIV infection has increased among the elderly. Likewise, the
improvement of social life and the growth of the pharmaceutical industry have
stimulated the prolongation of sexual activity in old age. However, the conception of
the elderly as an asexual person, including among health professionals, has reduced
the space for the elderly to express their sexuality or to discuss the subject in a way
that provides information, resulting in dangerous sexual practices and remoteness of
their sexual health. The objective of this study was to analyze how the knowledge
about HIV / AIDS reflects the sexuality experience of the elderly users of a Health
Center in the city of Belém-PA. For this purpose, it was opted for the evaluation
research approach, adopting the triangulation method. In compliance with the first
objective that was assessing the knowledge of the elderly about HIV / AIDS, applying
the Questionnaire about HIV to Third-Age (QHIV3I). Already to reach the second
objective, which was to explore how the elderly think and experience their sexuality, it
was adopted the focus group technique, applying for two separate groups of men
and women. The data obtained through the questionnaire were treated and analyzed
by simple descriptive statistics, resulting in the fact that the elderly people who
participate of this research have some knowledge about AIDS, mainly in relation to
the areas "concept", "transmission" and "prevention ". However, it was observed the
existence of knowledge gaps especially about the asymptomatic phase of the
disease and ways in which virus transmission does not occur. In addition, 93% of
them do not use condoms in their sexual practice and only 40% have already had the
HIV test. The data obtained through the study group were treated by the Thematic
Content Analysis, thus emerging four categories: sexuality of the elderly among the
challenges of aging and prejudice; elderly widows – the influence of marital status on
sexuality; the negotiation of condom use among couples of the elderly – between
trust and suspicion of infidelity; Nursing between the old and new: the conversation
about IST and HIV / AIDS with the elderly. It was concluded that knowing does not
always reflect positive attitudes toward HIV / AIDS prevention and other STIs. The
elderly do not use the condom because of the following reasons: trust in the partner,
relationship of power of the man to the woman, biological changes and lack of habit.
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