Programmatic vulnerability to STI/AIDS in primary health care: A habitus permeated by symbolic violence

Abstract

Objective: to identify programmatic vulnerability to Sexually Transmitted Infections/AIDS in Primary Health Care. Method: descriptive study, conducted in 2018, in 52 Basic Health Units of a municipality in northeastern Brazil. A questionnaire was applied to the unit’s technical manager, identifying the vulnerability markers which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and in the light of Bourdieu`s sociology of Symbolic Power. Results: the units stood out with average programmatic vulnerability to infrastructure (55.3%), prevention actions (67.8%) and treatment (60.4%). And with low vulnerability the units with regard to prenatal and postpartum actions in relation to STI/AIDS (93.2%) and the integration of actions (61.5%). Conclusion: despite the potentiality of prenatal and postpartum markers and the integration of actions, the most frequent weaknesses indicate that Primary Health Care is still permeated by symbolic violence in STI/AIDS care.