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

Track D: Social Science: Research, Policy & Action
reduction philosophy, these materials acknowledge that women's risk of IlV infection
increases due to barriers in their social context, emphasizing risk environmenrt, rather than
personal failure. Materials include two pamphlets which detail practical methods of reducing
risk, using clear and simple language and format, so they can be understood and absorbed
by diverse groups of women.These materials are reinforced by educational workshops.
Results: Materials were produced and evaluated through extensive qp:.lhtative community
research with results documented. As an alternative to HIV edue.:i,i n oted in abstinence
models or limited to condom use, the risk reduction model moo i cr atiey reflects the
multiple issues women face when attempting to protect their herit I hir. ogtr the use of
these materials as workshop discussion catalysts, womren are invited ~.csrs their risk
without recrimination, and are able to identify and explore optiorn, c reducinP g the risk of
HIV infection within the context of their lived experience.These iI, en i ihave been very
well received by workshop participants and community agencies.
Lessons Learned: HIV prevention and education resources are 'e ",,is siy accepted and
discussed among women when such materials accurately reflect h e.,l imitations placed
on their ability to protect their health.
M.A.Tolson, 1107 Seymour Street,Vancouver; B.C.,V6B 5S8 Can dri'I ipone: (604) 681 -2 I 22, local 229 Fax: [phone] II Email: margreth(@parc.org
Tu.D.2733
FIGHTING THE TIDE: CREATING A COMMUNITY BASED RESPONSE TO WOMEN
AND HIV/AIDS IN THE MARITIMES
Allen, Jlane. Nova Scotia Women and AIDS Project.
Issue:The number of women testing HIIV positive in the Maritime pr c ties is rising. Most
voluntary agencies or government agencies in this poor and geogrpl"ically disperse region
do not have the skills and resources necessary to provide effective heralth promotion or
prevention programs for women.
Project: The purpose of the project is to enhance the accessibility aii id quality of HIV/AIDS
education and support programs for women. Peer support, regional retreats and skill building in the areas of self care, leadership and advocacy are helping create lupportive social
environments for positive women. In collaboration with a regional advisor y group of AIDS
organizations, the project has also developed a comprehensive resource manual and training program to help cormmunity workers and volunteers acquire the knowledge and skills
necessary to develop effective health promotion and prevention pri grams for women.
Results: The support and skill development provided to HIV positive womenr has increased
their capacity to participate in the AIDS community For example, the nunber of women
participating in AIDS programming has tripled in Nova Scotia.The resourcce 'anual and
training program is helping community organizations and interested partner s learn more
about women and AIDS, health promotion, community development and learner-centred
education; thus women's access to health promotion resources is greater: Commiunity based
AIDS organizations in the Maritimes are also increasingly integrating women's issues and
needs into their ongoing programs.
Lessons Learned: Effective HIV/AIDS programs for women should use commrunity development strategies, reflect health prorotion approach and use learner tentred principles. AIDS
organizations need to help communities acquire skills in these areas. To integrartle women's
needs into their ongoing programming, AIDS organizations should fit st do tar geted work
with positive women and the organrizations and agencies who serve them..
Jane Allen, AIDS Coalition of N.S., 5675 Spring Garden Road, Suite 300 1-lalifix, Nova Scotia
B3J I H I,Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone]
Tu.D.2734
PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TARGETING:WOMEN'S
NEEDS
Marie Anesie Harerimana*, Lafond J.S *, Pilon M.*. "Center of Resources, Interventions,
and Services in Sexual Health, Montredal, Quebec, Canada;; Unriver site dsu Qudbec a
Montreal, Montr6al, Qudbec, Canada
Issue: In Canada, most of the STD's women prevention programs are targeting on Aids. As
such, they are not rated as a priority and are often found unsuitable fi;r women who are
S specifically affected by an STD such a s herpes, chlamydia or genital warts, and fIr those
unconcerned by Aids or for others lacking reans to protect there elves.
S Project: A women's prevention programr consisting of 24 hours ofIl eting, targting health
> care providers was initiated.This first request originated forom a Woners Aids Center need
D ing additional training in sexual education and sexual health. Apart flom twne medical and
u biological knowledge given, most of this program's interactive strategies s s out the health
S care provider's own vulnerability as a woman and fears in regards to ST ) and e Aids, self> esteem, empowerment, pleasurable sex and skills in decision-mal<irg ',oon irnication, and
negotiation or refusal of risky behaviors.
c Result: The program was started 3 years ago, since then appeoxirs te st 80 lorirrunity tenter's health providers such as psychologists, sexologints., socrologis 'rOso' social workers,
< school teschrers, I-IV women, volunteers etc. have coinpleted the Ii miit'R. Tits pr-ogram is
O still in a coerstuction phase, gateri g darta, rmaterial. educators, S,, l trird feed
0 back. Promnoting it err a larger scale is still err hold, slthsough siany ap1mlc is re oil our
so waiting list. All and all, this Women's Prevention Programn han been twit,. toI' be very helpful
c:: to those health care peovidees as a tool in answerinlg specific wor erott a ris met sexual
a)
L health issues such as positive sexuality regardig AIDS rnd STDs presenri i.
Lessons: Along the way, and withlin the prograr, health care providers to va "nts msultidisciO plinary field are chosen foe- this continuing program and will rertegirite Ibis rialoeiial into their
U given field of practice.
nO Marie Andsie Darerimanac, 5339 boul. SI-Michel, Montlral, Qudher l-tlY 'r g Ircephone:
O (5 14) 729-845 ISfax: (5 14) 725-1I757, email: loseenlaforid(tcqail.
Egt Tu.D.2735
s,_ THE EXPERIENCE OF URBAN SHANTYTOWN WOMEN CREATING COMMUNITY
'' NETWORKS FOR THE PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS

S Maldonado Castro, MRBAN SH. Coordinator Bosque Community,/,rtion Network on
X HIV/AIDS, Santiago, Chile.
Issue: The formation of a community network and its contribution tio the ipr,"vention of
390 HIV/AIDS in a poor commurnity of Santiago, Chile.

Tu.D.2733 -Tu.D.2737
Project: In May 1994, the Bosque Community Action Network on HIV/AIDS was formed,
uniting public health clinics, teachers, shantytown health groups, the Community Mental
Health Center (COSAM) and NGOs in their struggle for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and
dignity for people living with AIDS. We believe that only through horizontal coordination
can we strengthen the triad of prevention: access to information on AIDS, access to health
services and the construction of a social support network.
Results and Lessons Learned: Our work began with a community diagnosis and the definition of a work plan, including seminars with adolescents and women, workshops, murals,
distribution of information and posters. Our work is carried out in the context of unemployment, low salaries, distant and inadequate health services, alcoholism, drug addiction,
malnutrition and poor mental health, amidst the social realities of a neo-liberal economic
model.We have survived for two years and are succeeding in creating peer support networks in our search for concrete and appropriate solutions.We are convinced that vertically hierarchical programs are ineffective, and that we are our own best advocates in confrontirng the daily problems of life in poor communrities. Since 1985, when the first woman
with AIDS was diagnosed in Chile, there has been a gradual increase of the of HIV/AIDS in
women. As poor women we find ourselves facing a critical situation of vulnerability, due to
our lack of social power, resources and information. Our Network distributes clear information and th e addresses of centers where people can direct their concerns, and which provide solidarity and support for those living with the virus, as well as basic counseling on
mental health issues affecting their families.We struggle against HIV/AIDS because we live
our present and will share our future only by contributing to a common strategy in which
organization and community mobilization are the key elements in the light against
l-IlV/AIDS.
M. C: Maldonado, Las Canteras 685. Pob. Almendro I El Bosque, SANTIAGO, CHILE. Fax:
56 2 27434'12
Tu.D.2736
CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN'S AIDS NGOS:THE EXPERIENCE OF SWAA
MulangaKabey.C. Esu-Williams, E. Luo, N. Meilo, H. Anyangwe S. *Society for Women and
AIDS in Africa (SWAA).
Issue:The absence of a vaccine or cure for HIV/AIDS makes it imperative to continue to
sustain preventive and support efforts as the basis for our current response to HIV/AIDS.
Unfortunately adequate action necessary to bring about any significant reversal in the rising
trend of the epidermic in Africa is still lacking.Women and adolescent girls have suffered
grave consequences from HIV/AIDS, yet in many countries, there is poor official acknowledgment arid political will to deal with this actuality Efforts by women's AIDS-focused
NGOs have largely been unrecognized nor supported.Women's networks, NGOs, CBOs
with the potential for addressing HIV/AIDS remain to be fully mobilized to combat the epidemic.
Project:The Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) was formed to provide a platform for women to address HIV/AIDS and the socio-economic conditions which make
them vulnerable to the epidemic.The initial focus of SWAA was to i) bring to the fore the
impact of HIV/AIDS on women in Africa; ii) mobilize women at country level to effect relevant HIV/AIDS activities and iii) develop a regional network of SWAA branches for intercourntry exchange and collaboration. After its first 3 years, SWAA recognized the need to i)
work with national programs to promote action in respect of women and AIDS, ii) to work
with adolescents, especially girls to develop risk reduction skills and iii) to broaden its network to include women living with HIV/AIDS, and non AIDS-focused community-based
women' s groups to enable them to incorporate HIV/AIDS into their activities.
Results: SWAA regional mobilization initiative has resulted in the formation of 28 country
branches. fhe spontaneous response of women to HIV/AIDS has been encouraging, as is
the higth level of their commitment. A broader perspective to women and HIV/AIDS issues
and interventions ensured that women outside female prostitutes received greater attention than was the case. However, SWAA met with less success in its attempt to work with
national programs and to expand its outreach to a broad range of groups capable of contributing to FIIV/AIDS initiatives.The involvement of adolescents has been rewarding, resulting in the formation of SWAA youth wings in some countries.
Lessons Learned: Af'ican women and their groups so far have mobilized rapidly and with
minimum support to address HIV/AIDS. However, to expand their outreach, increase their
expertise and hece impact, they need to build skills, access resources and create more
time to irplement their programs. Wormen ust ensure that they develop strong linkages
and access appropriate bodies in order to advocate for greater attention to their plight.
Woen'eis NGOs and groups involved in HIV/AIDS require to strengthen their organizational base to make them better suited to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa which
promises to pursue a long-terrm course. Renewed efforts are required to engage key sectors of society to support the work of women's NGOs.
Dr: C. Mulanga-Kabeya, International Coordinatoc SWAA 28, Av. Rimbaud d'Orange, Apt 56,
54080 Montpeller, France
Tu.D.2737
WOMEN AND HIV/AIDS IN FRENCH GUIANA: ETHNO-MEDICAL APPROACH.
Pradinaud, R.( ), Galliboun E.(2), Sobesky YM.( I), Magnan, F( I). (I) Centre Hospitalier De
Cayenne (Guyane Francaise). (2) Laboratoire De Sociologie De La Sante (Bordeaux II).
Unlike the situation in France, HIV infection in French Guiana is characterized by a special
epidenmiorogical situation resulting from the fact that transmission is predominantly through
heterosexual contact. In addition to its own characteristics as a tropical disease, the epideniological approach to HIV infection and AIDS among women in French Guiana also
demonstates the specific socioeconomic and cultural aspects confronting doctors practising
in this area. The medical care of these women, mostly of foreign origin, and some of them
illegal immign nts, raises problems in hospital medical care with respect to both ethnomedicine and humanmitarian medicine. From the detection to the announcement that the patient
is seropositive, ftom medical treatment to hospitalization, the relationship between doctor
and patient reflects the triptych Woman - Family - SocietyThe ethnomedecine being practised in French Guiana makes the medical staff consider the sociocultural history of their

patients.The anonymity of the discrimatory disease and the fact it is becoming so commonplace appear to have a contradictory effect on this woman based society where the practice of multi sexual partners generates situations of denial and mental blocking do not