ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: High prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and occurrence of drug-resistant strains have been recorded in northern Brazil. Abandonment of treatment and insufficient and inadequate adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have been recorded in the metropolitan area of Belém, the capital of the state of Pará. OBJECTIVES: To identify the sociodemographic profile and level of adherence to ART among women seen at a referral unit in the interior of Pará, northern Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at a referral unit for care for PLWHA. METHODS: We included 86 women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA) in the Rio Caeté integrated region, northeastern Pará. Social, demographic and behavioral information, as well as the ART level, were obtained using forms that have been described in the scientific literature. Logistic regression models were used to assess associations of variables with ART. RESULTS: Most WLWHA were single (52.4%), young (47.7%) and heterosexual (97.7%), had low levels of education (63.0%), were unemployed (69.8%), had one sexual partner (75.7%), used condoms (46.7%) and were not using either licit drugs (68.7%) or illicit drugs (89.6%). Their adherence level was classified as insufficient , and only their viral load showed an association with ART. CONCLUSIONS: The participants’ low level of education and poor socioeconomic conditions may have been interfering with their adherence to ART. Such influences can be minimized through multiprofessional interventions that take the individuality of women served by the healthcare service into consideration.

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender a percepção de mães de crianças com microcefalia sobre o aleitamento materno. Método: estudo descritivo, qualitativo, realizado no ambulatório de acompanhamento do Hospital Regional Materno Infantil de Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brasil, entre março e maio de 2019, com 12 mulheres. Incluíram-se mães que tiveram a síndrome do Zika no surto ocorrido entre 2015 e 2016 e conceberam crianças com microcefalia, e os depoimentos foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Resultados: com as falas, emergiram as categorias: sentimentos maternos diante da microcefalia; conhecimento das mães sobre microcefalia; microcefalia e amamentação; desafios no cuidado de um filho com microcefalia; perspectivas futuras de cuidados. Considerações finais: amamentar no contexto do Zika contribui para a qualidade de vida das crianças com microcefalia. Este estudo contribui para a promoção do aleitamento materno às crianças com microcefalia visando à promoção e apoio dessa prática.

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the perceptions of breastfeeding of mothers of children with microcephaly. Method: Descriptive, qualitative study with 12 women conducted at the outpatient clinic of Hospital Regional Materno Infantil de Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil, between March and May 2019. The participants were mothers affected by the Zika syndrome in the 2015-2016 outbreak who conceived children with microcephaly. The statements were submitted to content analysis. Results: The following categories emerged from the women’s statements: maternal feelings towards microcephaly; mothers’ knowledge about microcephaly; microcephaly and breastfeeding; challenges in caring for a child with microcephaly; future care perspectives. Final considerations: Breastfeeding in the context of Zika contributes to improving the quality of life of children with microcephaly. This study contributes to the promotion of breastfeeding children with microcephaly, aiming to promote and support this practice.

RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender la percepción de madres de niños con microcefalia sobre la lactancia materna. Método: estudio descriptivo, cualitativo, realizado en un ambulatorio de seguimiento del Hospital Regional Materno Infantil de Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brasil, entre marzo y mayo de 2019, con 12 mujeres. Se incluyeron las madres que tuvieron el síndrome de Zika en el brote ocurrido entre 2015 y 2016 y concibieron niños con microcefalia, y los testimonios fueron sometidos a un análisis de contenido. Resultados: con los discursos, surgieron las categorías: sentimientos maternos frente a la microcefalia; conocimiento de la microcefalia por parte de las madres; microcefalia y la lactancia materna; desafíos en el cuidado de un hijo con microcefalia; perspectivas futuras de cuidados. Consideraciones finales: e lacto de amamantar en el contexto del virus de Zika contribuye a la calidad de vida de los niños con microcefalia. Este estudio contribuye a la promoción de la lactancia materna a los niños con microcefalia visando fomentar y apoyar esta práctica.