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

Tu.D.2726 - Tu.D.2732

Tuesday July 9, 1996

Tu.D.2726
PEER EDUCATION AMONG WOMEN IN BOTSWANA
TLS.D. - University of Botswana, Norr Kathy -University of Illinois Tlemna C.I. Botswana
Council Of Women.
Issue: Women in Botswana lack initiative and assertive skills in negotiating for afer sc a':nd
other issues related to sex with their partners.
Project:A pilot project started in 199 1, to study the behaviour of women a,,ed I i 49ys
before and after being trained on HIV/AIDS issues, safer sex negotiation,etc. AWormen would
be in groups of 15 20 people, attendirng seven (7) sessions each lasting I 1/2 hrs being led
by peer educators. Other teaching (participatory) methods are engaged.
Results: At the end of the training sessions, women are very open to talk about sex and
AIDS matters, very positive, confident and willing to continue in participating in HIV/Aids
activities.
Lessons Learned: Peer education was found to be a very effective approach in educating
women on any issue pertairning to AIDS.
Chawada Iris Temrna, Botswana Council of Women, PO. Box 339, Gaborone, Botswana,
Southern Africa.Tel: [phone] Fax:[phone]
Tu.D.2727
WOMEN PARTNERS OF HIV POSITIVE: PSYCHO-SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN BELO HORIZONTE-BRAZIL
Campos Regina C, Anturies, CMF, Greco, M., Jer6nimo. M., Greco, DB., Aforsso, ML. Federal
University of Minas Gerais, BRAZIL.
Objectives:To identify the conceptions of women with HIV positive partner about AIDS,
sexual roles, sexuality and their sexual life with their partners. It was studied their reaction
to the disclosure of their partner's HIV status and the impact on their sexual arid emotional
life and on their firmily relations.
Methods: Using case study methodology, through semi-structured interviews, taped after
consent, eighteen women, 22 -50 years, 12 HIV positive and 6 HIV negative were interviewed at the University STD Clinic.
Results: None of the women reported they had been using condoms before knowing the
partner's IV infection. Condom use was restricted to the initial period of the relationship,
in sonme cases many years ago, with contraceptive (10) or ST-D prevention (02) purposes.
Half of the interviewed group declared that their partners never told their about the way
they have been infected.-The rnain psycho reactions identified among the women were:
(a)feelings as surprise, sadness, depression and anger: anrid (b) mnecharnisms of defense such
as denegation and projection It was also detected anr emotional ambivalence among those
participants (09) whose par tners had deceased: they do nriot feel able to blame a dead man.
Their rarital relationship presented substantial changes: the sexual life stopped whereas the
emotional linkage with partner was maintained.
Conclusions: In this study group, condonr was still perceived as a contraceptive device and
it was not used in AIDS prevention.The women would rather finish their sexual life than
using condom.This fact rindicates the need of sexual educational programs, targeted to populations who main tains stable relationships in order to inform there of the expairsion of the
epidemic. It also should be included in the womren's health programs informations about
AIDS airming to give to married women the choice of choosing condom as a preventive
device.
Regina C.Camnpos, Rua Humberto Camnpos 856 Leblon - 31540-490 Belo Horizon
te/MG/Brasil Telephone:[phone] Fax: [phone]
Tu.D.2728
WOMEN FIGHTING AGAINST AIDS
Silva, Cistirla LC, Agra, D M, Esher, A F S C, Marinho, N. Grupo Pela Vidda, Rio de Janeiro,
RJ, Brazil
Issue: Presentatiorn of the interventiorn works with women, focusing information on HIV
and other St fD infection risks, as well as contraception forms, according to the Grupo Pela
Vidda's exper iernce.
Project: The inter ventiori takes place at the Catete's Public Health Center, in Rio de Janeiro,
while womern are waiting for medical assistance. These are basically low ircorne rwomen,
isinformed about AIDS, but they show interest in the subject during the conser vation.
According to their statements, the greatest problem is to talk about this therne with their
partners.The use of condonms became an alternative among contraceptives, specially the
pill, dissociated from the idea of HIV and other STD's infection. These worner are invited to
visit the Wormens Group, which gets together at the Grupo Pela Vidda's seat in Rio de
Janeiro.
Results: Based on the intervention works at the Health Center and on the discussions at
the Women's Group, three materials have been pr oduced: a folder with basic information, a
VT with declarations by wormern who belong to the Grupo Pela Vidda anrid a bookiet about
reproduction health and AIDS. Always considering the women living with HIV/AIDS, these
works broaches, armong other therres, the risks of recontamination and vertical transrnission.This project has stimulated the particpation of many wonmen.
Lessons Learned: The ir fornation about AIDS is better accepted when identifred with the
risks of contamination in the daily life. In this connection, the statements by wornen with
AIDS is fundamental.The fear of rejection, emotional or financial dependence keep many
woren in silence.
Cristina F. I da Silva, Av. R o Branco 52/14 andan Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20090 002, Brazil Tel:
(0055 21I) 518 3)93 Fix: (0055 21t) 518-1997
Tu.D.2729
SETTING UP OF LOCAL BRANCHES OF THE PHIV ASSOCIATION IN 3 PROVINCES
IN CAMEROON
Loudlome [,,Tita, I.,* Mbarga, E.,* Tchupe, P,** Chuba,* Abemba, M.e* United Brothers
and Sisters (UBS+) **G.TZ. Provincial AIDS Coordinators
Introduction: After havng recorded great success with the Yaounde Pilot Group, we have
decided to extend our project to 3 provinces with a high rate of HIV prevalence.This will
be done with technica! and financial support from G.TZ.
Objective:To enable PHIVs to take care of themselves and to encourage mutual assistance
amongst thern.

Methods: Two per'on:.,n ife ed with the HIV/AIDS from the Yaounde Pilot Group went out
to the field to meet nred'l.r'! authorities and HIV patients.Together with them, they discussed the setin c aup.self- reliant groups to make it possible for the infected persons, to
take care of tier i'vs They held senstization meetings, visited homes, distributed educative material ind,,r,,,sential drugs. Permanent contacts were created between the
Pilot Group i I( the ct1cr b anchles over a period of three months through telephone calls,
mails, inforr al Vit,.
Results: After six mot.,:. groups were created in the Littoral and South West
Provinces. The> re iar y'ing out the following activities:
a) Monthly meetingsr
b) Health 'alks;
c) Setting up of a first- aid phiarrnacy in the Littoral Province for PHIVs.
Conclusion: After several unsuccessful attempts, the setting up of Associations of PHIVs
became effective.
Loudjom Euphrrsie P.o Box 25057 Yaounde-Cameroon
Tu.D.2730
FRENCH-SPEAKING WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN QUEBEC: SEARCH FOR
AN ORIGINAL MODEL OF ORGANIZATION
Desbiens Suzanne. Meber of the Steering Commnittee, National Women and HIV Project
(Canadian AIDS Society), Quebec region representative, Montreal, Quebec. Canada
Issue: How the involvement of Querbec French-speaking women living with HIV/Aids in the
National Women and HIV Pro eject (NWHIVP) has provoked an empowerment process and
how this empowerment has permitted them to become aware of their distinct identity and
needs.
Project: Found here and there since the beginning of the epidemic, women living with
HIV/Aids (VWWHIV) in Quebec, representing 48% of all Canadian cases in women, have
started coming together in October 1994. It's by their involvement in the NVVHIVP that a
dozen of themn wished to start their own group of VVVVWWHIV in Quebec. Most of them did
not have any practical experience in participating in community groups; some came from
varied socio econornicral conditions, but they all had an enormous enthusiasm that canme
frorm their first experiences with other woeren living the same situation as they were. So,
they started a group: Posrmtivemrent Femmes (PF), and held meetings twice a month to take
decisions in the greatest confusion, and under the pressure of their supporters very anxious
to see the PF estalished and having a voice on the public place. In April 1995, these
women participated in skill development workshops for VWWHIV, held in Edmnonton.These
workshops helped for their awareness: the male model of the PF that they adopted, in their
inexperience, could not fit with a group of women without causing discomfort, and the
anglo-saxon commnnunity model could not really be adjusted to their individualistic cultural
reality Following this awareness and numerous difficulties occuring inside the PF, a majority
of the women members decided to shut down the group PF and to adopt a new model of
organization.The "dispersal model" was born: the WWHIV decided to disperse themselves
in different HIV/Aids groups already existing, one by one. In the same time, they continued
the wornen group in an informal way and their actions as individuals (workshops, testimnonials in schools, cafe rencontres, artidles for newsletters, etc.)
Lessons learned: A new network of WWHIV has been created based on a more feminine
model, respecting their latin specificity
Suzanne Desbiens, 5290, rue Berri, app. 301, Montreal, Qc. H2J 2S8 Canada
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Tu.D.273 I
PHYSICIAN EDUCATION PROJECT
KeenrTerrah*. *Positive Women's Network,Vancouver, BC, Canada
Issue: Women in Canada are at high risk for HIV infection and are being n is-diagnosed by
their primary care givenr. Resulting in poor quality of life anid early onset of illness.
Project: The goal af the Physician Education Project, PER was to create an educational
forum that targets family physicians and other primary health care providers to prom ote a
better understanding of the health issues facing HIV positive women, and to establish a
more informed response to women living with HIV by primary health care providers.The
trainings, in the fo-rn of grand rounds, were delivered at 19 hospitals throughout the lower
mainland in Vancouver in fall of 1995 and winter of 1996. PEP is a national demonstrationr
project.
The presentations were delivered by a trained team conmprised of a fanmily physician reand an
HIV positive woan.-The pr esentation focused on the medical rneeds of women and the
mnany complex psychosocial issues facing women living with HIV/AIDS. Resource packages
containing currentl medical and treatment information, community resources, and additional
support for both physician and patient, were available for all workshop participants.
Presentation objectives: I.) Health care practitioners will gain knowledge and skills to provide responsive, aapropriate and informed health care to wornen living with HIV. 2.)
Improve access to relevanit, accurate, arid current information for primary health care
providers.
Results: Response has been positive, Project ends 3/30/96. An evaluation will be conducted
and be available fiar conference participants.
Lessons Learned: Family phusicians are often the prinar y care giver for woren living with
HIV/AIDS. Positive women want a "good" working relationship with thenr phsicians. Positive
women ard physicans haie rnowledged thatn physicrans, are often not prepared to treat
DIV positive wonuen arid an-c un need of additional support amid resources.
Terrah Keenen I 1107 Seymour Street,Vancouver, BCV6B 5S8 Canada Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone], email: [email protected]
Tu.D.2732
THE USE OF HARM REDUCTION PHILOSOPHY IN TRANSMISSION PREVENTION
INFORMATION FOR WOMEN.
Tolson, Margreth, Stanboruough, M. AIDS Vancouvei, Vancouve, B.C. Canada
Issue: Women's risk of HIV infection is increased when they experience abuse in intimate
relationships or live with drug and alcohol addiction issues.
Project: Prevention-oriented outreach materials were developed targeting women living in
abusive relationsh ips and women living with drug and alcohol addiction. Based in ham

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