PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY IN SYPHILIS-DISCORDANT COUPLES

Abstract

This exploratory study sought the perceptions of users of the Combat on Syphilis And Other Sexually-Transmitted Diseases group of the Clinical Hospital of the University of São Paulo on issues of confidentiality and privacy in a hypothetical situation involving a heterosexual couple one of whom has syphilis, and compared them with the findings of studies carried out by health professionals from the Family Health Strategy and ‘potential users of the Public Health System’. The data collection, carried out via semi-structured interview, asked how the health professional should act in a situation where a partner with syphilis does not want to reveal the fact to his wife, and who wishes to be tested and treated without his wife’s knowledge. 32 service users were interviewed, and data analysis showed that there is acceptance of the participance of the health professional in the process of revealing the truth and that there are similarities among the different groups studied.

Keywords

• Bioethics
• Privacy
• Secret communication
• Syphilis