Aim:

To describe the meaning and perception towards HIV/AIDS in rural women, couples of migrants, of the municipality of Cuautla, Jalisco, Mexico, from 2012 to 2013.

Materials and methods:

Qualitative study, phenomenological type. Identification of first informants was performed through theoretical sampling, using an in-depth interview. Considering the theoretical saturation approach, researchers resorted to the snowball technique, working the focus group and projective image techniques. The interviews and images, were analyzed under the actancial semiotic model.

Results:

A total of 18 respondents, 32 years mean age, 66,6 % with a primary education or less; and 83,3 % is devoted to the home. For the couple of migrant women, the phenomenon of migration means the satisfaction of economic needs family and community, experiencing feelings of loneliness and abandonment. HIV/AIDS is represented as a non-curable disease that creates fear, pointing out social discrimination of the sick. Perceived risk of contracting this disease with their partner upon their return, but requesting the use of a condom or testing for the disease, implies for them the risk that their partner doesn't return, a situation of greater relevance than the risk of contagion.

Conclusions:

The meaning and perception towards HIV/AIDS in women, couples of migrants, in Jalisco, Mexico, is set within the economic benefits of the phenomenon of migration and sociocultural aspects of gender, elements to be considered in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to improve knowledge, attitudes and the emancipation of women, to take action before the risk of transmission of HIV/AIDS.