Integration of Peacemaking Circles and public policies in prenatal counseling for pregnant women with HIV/AIDS: a case study of the Acalanto Project in Ponta Grossa/PR

Abstract

This article presents a study on the integration of public health policies aimed at preventing and eliminating vertical HIV transmission with Peacemaking Circles, focusing on technical counseling. By selecting the Acalanto Project, carried out in Ponta Grossa/PR from 2017 to 2023, as a case study, we analyze how the mentioned circle process, centered on dialogue and the restoration of social relations, can strengthen the trust between healthcare professionals and patients. This trust is identified as an essential factor for adherence to antiretroviral treatment and the effective implementation of preventive strategies. Through an analysis based on documentary and bibliographic review, we find that the collaborative approach of the Peacemaking Circles not only intensifies the technical counseling process but also promotes autonomy, care, and trust, crucial elements for reducing inequalities in vertical HIV transmission. The article details the operational context of the Acalanto Project —the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the lessons learned—, demonstrating a significant correlation between the adoption of the circle process in question and the absence of vertical HIV transmission notification, according to data from the notifiable diseases information system, since the implementation of the Acalanto Project.