Methodological issues in qualitative research on HIV prevention: an integrative review

In view of the growing concern about the use of qualitative approach in health research, this article aims to analyze how the qualitative theoretical -method-ological framework of HIV prevention is presented in empirical research. We conducted an integrative literature review with the following guiding ques-tions: "How is the qualitative theoretical-methodological framework expressed in empirical research on HIV prevention?"; "What are the limits and poten-tials of the qualitative methodological designs employed?". In the qualitative methodological discussion, five dimensions guided the methodological course and the presentation of findings, from the analysis of the characterization of qualitative studies to the contextualization of the studies and the methodologi-cal approaches used, highlighting the use of semi-structured interviews with thematic content analysis. We also examined social categories and analytical references, drawing attention to the plurality of these theoretical-conceptual references and to the authors' polyphony, and identified the limits and po-tentials of qualitative research. This study focuses on a scientific topic that is related to a wide variety of social groups and analyzes how they are af-fected by it, examining issues related to social inequality and other analytical possibilities surrounding HIV prevention, and providing resources for a com-prehensive methodological discussion. Hence, avoiding the risk of conducting qualitative research based on checklists that limit inventiveness and openness to different designs and forms of execution and analysis is as pivotal as ensur-ing that the research is consistent and detailed in publications.