Sexually transmitted diseases and the vulnerability of the population in the Alto Solimões region, in Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

People who present symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases in the Alto Solimões region (Amazonas, Brazil) can seek treatment at the pharmacies nearest to their homes. This article has the purpose of showing how people who seek assistance in pharmacies, instead of in the health care services, which are less accessible in the region, are treated and oriented. For this, we made a research of qualitative nature and used a convenience sample. Field research was performed in three of the nine municipalities of the region. The “Mystery Client Method” validated by the Situational Analysis of Sexual Health in India (Sashi) Protocol developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, already used in India, Africa, and in the Alto Solimões region, was used, followed by semi-structured interviews with the same participants of the mystery client phase. It was observed that, when using the Mystery Client Method, the respondents indicated and sold antibiotics without doctor’s prescriptions to those who sought it, and when using the semi-structured interviews, this practice was not found. In both approaches, there was no orientation to the clients on the risks of the STDs for themselves and their sexual partners. With this study, we conclude that people living in the Alto Solimões region are vulnerable to such diseases, and it is necessary to rethink the issue of the medical and pharmaceutical assistance in the context of the sexually transmitted diseases in regions of difficult access in the country.