From setbacks to progress: Brazilian faculty perspectives on teaching sexually transmitted infections to undergraduate nursing students – A qualitative study

Advances in antiretroviral therapy have enabled near-normal life expectancy for people living with HIV, increasing the global need for a well-prepared nursing workforce to deliver comprehensive prevention, treatment, and long-term care. Because quality of care is closely linked to undergraduate preparation, persistent curricular gaps in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS, are concerning. This qualitative historical-social study explored faculty members' perceptions on teaching STIs/HIV/AIDS to undergraduate nursing students at Brazil's federal universities. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for content and meaning. The perspectives of 23 faculty members were analyzed due to their strategic position. Three categories emerged: advances (technological progress in treatment and greater person-centered care), setbacks (loss of prevention momentum, dismantling of specialized public health structures, and superficial student knowledge), and pervasive stigmas and taboos surrounding sexuality. Conservative political climates were viewed as amplifying setbacks and resistance to gender and sexuality content. Faculty emphasized that political opposition and entrenched stigma remain major barriers to comprehensive, standardized education aligned with international nursing core competencies. Addressing these barriers is essential to strengthening global nursing education and to preparing graduates to provide non-discriminatory, high-quality care across the HIV/AIDS continuum.Key considerationsNursing education must integrate essential STIs/HIV competencies across biomedical, psychosocial, ethical, and professional domains.Curricula should be standardized and updated with evidence-based content on STIs/HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.Confronting stigma and political resistance is essential to advance equitable and inclusive STIs/HIV education.Empowering nurses to advocate for human rights and social justice strengthens care for people living with STIs/HIV and supports global progress toward ending the epidemic.