Abstracts Vol. 1 [International Conference on AIDS (11th: 1996: Vancouver, Canada)]

Tu.D.233 -Tu.D.241

Tuesday, July 9, 1996

Lessons Learned: Finally a list of recommendations was generated to assist AIDS organizations in creating a mnore welcoming environmrent for PHAs' participation within their local
comn munity based AIDS organization.
Charles M. Roy DS.W., C/O AIDS Committee ofToronto, 399 Church Street,Toronto
Ontario M5B 2J6 Email: tel [phone] ext 271 fax [phone] ACTchookup.net
Tu.D.233
WOMEN OF COLOR AND HIV/AIDS POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES DEFINING
OUR ISSUES AND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES!
Maidonado M uelina. I, National Minority AIDS CounlWashington, DC, United States
of America
Issue: Women of color are disproportiontely affected by HIV/AIDS in the United States
accounting for over 77% of the cumulative AIDS among women. Lack of economic and
political power are major factors contr buting to the inequitable social and economic condi -
tions which contribute to the escalation of HIV disease among women of colorn
Project: A multi year policy initiative was implemented to I) broaden the national policy
debate by includin g the perspectives and participation of women of colorn, and 2) organize
and empower women of color to advocate for HIV/AIDS related policies which promote
their health and welfare. Activities included: 1) 12 regional round tables with nearly 350
women of color who defined their ssues related HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care clinical trials and research and psycho social support services 2) a report on the Status of
Women of Color and HIV/AIDS, base on the round tables and research, for dissemination
to policy makers 3) a national leadership institute geared to have women draft a National
Women and Families of Color AIDS Action Agenda.The next phase of the project will 1)
provide training and technical assistance for women of color through regional workshops
on advocacy grassroots organizing and coalition building and 2) promote and support the
development of Women of Color and HIV/AIDS Advocacy Networks.
Results: This process facilitated the empowerment of women of color through participation
in policy formulation. Women of color in three different regions began to meet to form
local women of color advocacy networks.The impact of this project is best expressed by a
participant: There is an illusion of participation: the need to connect with city state and
federal voices that impact, our voices are inot being translated, our realities are being
defined for us.Who is speaking for us? Why is there a struggle about who speaks, who
impacts policy who defines the issues?..We need to allow ourselves to focus on just HIV.
We are all aware of how HIV intersects with th er issues but our- primary issue for organizing is the impact of HIV on women of color:
Lessons Learned: Grassroots organizing, advocacy and empowerment provide a vehicle for
wormen of color to define their problems, identify viable solutions and promote changes in
policies and programs to more effectively meet their needs.
Miguelina I. Malhdonado, 1931 13th Street NWWashington DC, USA 20009-4432
Tel. [phone],. 483 I 135
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TRAINING PLWHIV FOR INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESSES:
PROJECT LEAP (LEARNING, EMPOWERMENT ADVOCACY, PARTICIPATION)
Halloran, James P*, Ross, M**, Huffman, L5. *AIDS Education & Training Center, *Center for
Health Promotion R&D University ofTexas School of Public Health, Houston,Texas, USA
Objectives: To test the efficacy of a psychoeducational intervention to reduce obstacles to
and enhance participation by PLWHIV in community planning processes;
Background: Social and political pressure, a well as public health theory mandate inclusion
of PLWHIV in community planning and policy development processes.
Methods: The authors report on development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot
pro ect testing a psycho educational intervention to increase organizational participation by
PLVWHIV. Descriptive statistics reflect measures of organizational participation pre and
post-program. Qualitative techniques for data collection (individual interviews, focus groups)
and analysis (thematic analysis) were used to discern specific elements promoting and
impeding behavioral change in the desired direction.
Results: Specfic barriers were identified. Organizational participation by individual increased
from a mean of 0.5 organizations at entry to 2.3 at followup. Data indicate that increases in
self esteem, self confidence, and specific knowledge along with demystification of organizational operations, networking, and modeling by project staff contributed to the outcome.
Conclusions: Barriers to PLWHIV community planning participation may be cognitive,
instrumental, and/or affective. Quantity and quality of PLWHIV participation in community
planing processes can be enhanced through identification of specific obstacles and implementation of measures to reduce those obstacles.
James Halloran, UTSPH, AIDS Education & Training Center, 1200 Herman Pressler
(RAS E345) Houston TX 77030 Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] email: jhallora(@ana.org
Tu.D.235
PEER SUPPORT GROUP TARGETING HIV+ WOMEN WITH CHILDREN
Fecht, Shari Margoese, IV+ Mothers. Support Group, Voices of Positive Women,
Toronto, Ontar i
Issue: HIV+ Women with children have speific needs for psycosocial, peer and
practical support.
Project: A support/outreach pror im designed to address the needs of women and chi
dren living with HIV The program /peer support group targets family related issues such as
disclosure to children, guardianship, disclosure to schools, parental relationships, updated
pediatric medical issues, crin g far the fimily when one or more member is not well,
accessing practical support.The group meets once a month with members travelling fhom
as far as I00 km to attend. A mothers only retreat discusses issues of spirituality and selfcare. An annual Family farm day provides an Opportunity for spouses to connect. Childcare
and transportatir n are irarged for these events as required.
Results: The HIV Mothers support group is now in its third year of operation The results
have been overwhelmingly successful.The group has developed into a complete social network for HIV+ Mothers. Now, many members of the group meet socially and provide each
other with practical support such as child care, meal preparat on and housework.The group
now encompasses over 55 families Iving with HIV in Ontario. Although they are not all able

to attend monthly meetings, members co respond regularly and visit each other socially The
support of the group, has empowered many Women to become active in their local AIDS
organizations.
Lessons learned: Many groups have tried to organize a support group for -HlV+ Mothers, it
is only this peer initiated and facilitated group that has proven successful
Fecht, Shari Margolese, 37-2960 Headon Forest Drive, Burlington, Ontario Canada L7M 4G5,
[phone]
Tu.D.236
THE FIRST SUPPORT GROUP IN INDONESIA
lMurni, Suzana. Yayasan Pelita Ilmu, jakarta, Indonesia
Issues: Reported HIV/AIDS case in Indonesia were reaching over 350 in September 1995.
No support group were available. No PWA was involved in HIV/AIDS works.
Project: The issue was discussed by a PWA, her doctor and Yavasan Pelta Ilmu, an NGO
that have Care and Support in their programs.The plan was to form a support group for
PLWHA. Financial support and facility were to be provided by the NGO. PWA involvement
in NGO was encouraged.
Result: One PWA openly stated her willngness to be involved. She went to Asia Pacific
Network for PLWHA (APN+) meeting and the 3rd Conference on AIDS n Asia Pacific,
both in Chiang Mai, as the first Indonesian PWA to attend any international forum. In
September 1995 the first support group meeting was held, attended by 5 PWA, 3 doctors,
and 2 buddies. As the result of attending Chiang Mai meetings, contacts with support
groups from other countries were built, assistance were received, and basic knowledge
about running a. support group was brought home. Until January 1996, 3 meetings had
been held with 8 PWA attending, one -to-one contacts are continuing, a PWA newsletter
was published, and a PWA sit in NGO as a representative and also employed. Relation to
Yayasan Pelita lmu including care programs, buddy service, availability of drugs, hospice, and
financial support. PWA are starting to represent themselves in more forums.
Lesson Learned: Peer support have been proven beneficial for the PWA themselves. PWANGO cooperation enable themselves to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding about HIV. All are to improve are, support, and public readiness.
Suzana Murni,Yayasan Pelita lmu, JI.Tebet Timur DalamVIIIQ/6 Jakarta 12820, Indonesia.
Fel/Fax [phone]
Tu.D.240
EUROPEAN OUTREACH-PROGRAM: BORDER-CROSSING PROSTITUTION
AND HIV-RISK
Leopold, B, Steffan E. Sozialpidagogisches Institut Berlin, Research Un t, Berlin, FRG
Issue: In many regions in Europe, drug and prostitution scenes developed in the surrounding areas close -o international boundaries (especially to the former iron courtain) with
different grades of prosperity In these scenes, where inhabitants from different states are
involved, HIV risk behaviours are supposed to be fairly wide spread. VWith regard to a possi
ble transmission of HIV/AIDS and STDs and in order to reduce health risk, professional
standards of prostitution as well as hygienic and favourite working conditions for prostitutes
are of great importance. If prostitutes are (forced to) working within bad conditions, one
cannot exclude transmission of HIV and STD as a consequence of unprotected sex.
Project: The Pilot Program Streetwork for AIDS prevetlon in the border crossing a rea Saxony
Poland and Saxony Czech Republic in colltIbrotion with the Feerol AMinistry oIPai Heltt
along with the Sate Ministry of Health Afirs of Mecklernbury Vorpomniern andr Saxony, WHO
anrid the European Union" is a reaction to this development and ntends to improve HIV and
STD-prevention. Six binational teams of social workers were formed 'o develop HIV/AIDS
and STD preventive measures on both sides of the border in cooperat ion with local nstrtutions.This Pilot Program is evaluated by the authors.
Lessons Learned: There are tendencies perceptible that in the quite evident field of street
prostitution in border regions (e.g. the Czech border region to Saxony) sex work is going
to shift toward brothels and other non-improvised working sites. Knowledge standards concerning HIV and STD as well as those how to prevent infection are scarcely to find especially among prostitutes walking the streets. One can recognise that the projects of the Pilot
Program will assume an important role regarding HIV/AIDS and STD prevention in the field
of prostitution-scenes along European international boundaries. Especially the binational
border- crossing work approach helps to establish medical and social care and support sys
tems and to reduce stigmatization and prejudices of prostitutes
Beate Leopold, SPI-Berlin, Research-Unit, Stresemannstrn 30, 10997 Be - n, Germany,
Tel: [phone] Fax:[phone]
Tu.D.24 I
AIDS PREVENTION AMID CHAOS:THE CASE OF RWANDAN REFUGEES IN
TANZANIA
Benjamin, Judy A*, Engel D**, DeBuysscher R**c. CARE International, Atlanta. George,
U.S.A.:; **Population Services Internateonal, Washington D[).C., U.S.A.
***AIDSCAP/FHI/AFRO, Nairobi, Kenya
Objectives: To reduce the transmssion of HIV and TDs amonmy Rwandan refugees in
camps in northwestTanzana.
Methods: A large scale collaborative intervention program was mplemerned in refugee
camps housing more than 250,000 refugees. An initial knowledge, attitudes, beefs and prac
tices (KABP) and community health survey provided a baseline for program design.The
program within the camps included distribution of free condoms and disseminaton of
HIV/AIDS prevention information by community educators, t sitment and counseling for
STDs, mass education campaigns targeting adolescents and women as well as the general
population, and creation of culturally specfic educational videos produced in the
Kinyar-wanda language to promote safer sexual behavior Focus group discussions were held
with target groups such as unmarried mothers, adolescents and youna men. Demographic
survey and time allocation studies were also conducted.
Results: AIDS/STD awareness levels among the target populations have nsen snce pro
gram inception. An effective network of condom distribution makes free condoms readily
available throuf hout the camps, with condom use increasing slightly over a 2-month per
od. Approximately 26,000 educational sessions are held monthly There was a srnifcant
decrease in reported number of sexual partners.

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