Siqueira, Egberto Lima; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0867-4600; https://lattes.cnpq.br/4993396757884543
Abstract:
Over the past decades, Brazil has implemented pioneering policies and actions to prevent, treat, and promote the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, receiving international recognition for these strategies. However, the rise of Bolsonarism has brought significant changes to the political and social landscape, raising concerns about the continuity and effectiveness of these policies. This study examines the characteristics of Bolsonarist discourse on HIV/AIDS between 2018 and 2022 and analyzes how conservative and discriminatory positions contributed to the setback in policies to combat the virus. The study analyzed 15 public statements by Jair Bolsonaro, his supporters, and fake news related to HIV/AIDS. The results show that the categories "dissimulation words", "vague strategy", and "condition of dramatization" were identified in 100% of the statements. Furthermore, the “strategy of supreme reason,” the “simplicity condition,” and the “credibility condition” appeared in 66.7% of the statements. The results point to a deliberate pattern in the construction of narratives that obscure the clarity and veracity of information, with the clear objective of manipulating public perception and avoiding criticism and responsibilities. The study also highlights actions that have undermined the National STD/AIDS Policy, including the elimination of information in communication channels, reduction of resources, and the emphasis on sexual abstinence as a prevention strategy, all of which are aggravated in a context marked by fake news and harmful conservatism.