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

Track D: Social Science: Research, Policy & Action
Results: The pilot phase lasted 14 weeks from April to July 1995 (280 hours, each social
worker). Contact places for the street unit included open markets, train stations, public gardens, grocery stores, schools, etc.The street unit had approx. I 100 face to face sessions
(average duration approx. 20 minutes) with women.The peer education trainers from the
Philippino and Cape Verde communities started theatre productions to involve their peers.
The other two groups are finalizing self produced prevention materials.
Conclusions: This pilot phase showed the feasibility and acceptability of the project. Further
steps will have to take into consideration the surprising cultural and ethnic diversity now
emerging in Rome (with migrants from countless different geographical areas, ethnic and
religious groups), and to incorporate feed-back from the social workers as well as from the
women contacted.
Melocchi Carlotta,Via Pio Foci 35 00152 Rome.Tel.:[phone]
Tu.D.2745
TEENAGE WOMEN TALK ABOUT CONDOM USE IN JAPAN
Hyodo, Chika*. *University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo, Japan
Objective: According to a pre-questionnaire survey among 200 teenage women in vocational schools, 56% of them have already had sex and 53% of those do not use condoms
regularlyThey are potentially at risk for HIV.Therefore, the objective of this study is to
investigate the factors that influence their decision making and negotiating strategies to get
their partners to use condoms.
Method: 5 focus group discussions were conducted in Tokyo.The participants of these discussions were sexually active teenage women from vocational schools. Questions were
based on their attitudes regarding pregnancy HIV, and condom use.They were asked to
identify the reasons why they do not use condoms. All the discussions were transcribed for
the analysis.The data analysis was followed by Grounded Theory (Strauss, 1990).
Result: The study shows that their risk assessment of contracting HIV and becoming pregnancy are not always correlated with their decision making processes regarding condom
use. In the situations where they do not use condom, the wish to use a condom and negotiating strategies to obtain condom use in a casual sexual encounter differed from those
wishes and strategies employed in a sexual encounter within a steady relationship. Although
their wish for use tends to be higher in casual sex than steady relationship, they feel discomfort in discussing condoms with casual sex partners. In steady relationships, many of
them consider that pregnancy could make the partner more committed even though they
do not want to be pregnant.This often decreases the fear of pregnancy and the wish for
condom use.
Conclusion: The indings suggest that one of the factors determining their decision making
and negotiating strategies is the extent of their commitment to their partners and how
they perceive their partners' commitment to them.
Chika Hyodo, Green Hills #403, Kawhiwa-cho 5-16-19, Shiki-shi, Saitama 353, Japan
Telephone: +8 I -48-471-0686 Fax: [phone]
Tu.D.2746
A THIRD WORLD ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE TOTAL CARE TO HIV+ ORPHANS
D'Agostino, Angelo, Burns, C., Bertolli L., Owens M. Children of God Relief Institute
Issue: Many HIV+ single mothers abandon their new born in hospital assuming they have
only a short time to live and that the child will be cared for in hospital. Older HIV+ children are orphaned by the death of parents.There has been no facility to care for their special needs before NYUMBANI.
Project: Because HIV+ orphans had no advocates and no public services were provided for
them, NYUMBANI (swahili for"HOME") was established as a facility of the registered parent organization,The Children of God Relief Institute, with some voluntary but mainly
salaried medical professionals and child care givers. A hospice was opened in September
1992 with 12 children. Support came from local and foreign sources but no major donor
has been identified as yet. With the assistance of an energetic Board, a permanent location
was acquired in the suburbs of Nairobi (Karen) to accomodate increasing demands.
Governmental recognition has been granted.
Results: In over 3 years of operation, 109 children have been admitted but only 102 filled
the required status of being both HIV+ and parentless. Of those, 47 are still resident and
42 have converted to a seronegative status. It is anticipated that by the date of the
Vancouver Conference these figures will have been modified upwards.The anticipated mortality was hardly realised and only 13 have succumbed to date.
Conclusions: The quality of life for otherwise neglected HIV+ orphans can be greatly
improved with proper care.The number of seronegative converters is likewise increased
when accessed early i.e., before breast feeding. Stigmatization and isolation can be minimized. Community conscientization to HIV/AIDS is improved.
A. D'Agostino, P O. Box 21399, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: 254 - 2 - 716829, Fax: [phone] I1,
E-Mail: Nyumbaniatt.gn.apc.org
Tu.D.2748
FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES' PERCEPlION OF SELF ROLE IN THE SEXUAL
ENCOUNTER AND CONTROL OF STD AND AIDS.
Irinoye, Omolola O. Obafemi Awolowo University ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Objectives: The study examined low Nigerian female undergraduates perceived the status
of a woman in the sexual encounter and how such views infuence what they were doing
to protect themselves from STD/AIDS.
Methods: A self administered questionnaire was distributed to I 20 randomly selected
female volunteers at Obafemi Awolowo University lie-Ife.
Results: Response rate was 63%. Majority of the respondents, 80%, expressed that women
should have equal rights to enjoying sex as much as men. Although 61% agreed that it is
possible for women to fieely discuss sex with men, 53% had attempted this before while
43% had previously discussed condom use with the male sexual partners. Although 89%
have heard about STD and AIDS, only 3 I% were abstaining f-om sexual intercourse while
15% were using condoms.To assert control over their sexual life, 28% would abstain from
sex, 17% would insist that partners use condoms while 33% would discuss safer sex with

men prior to engaging in sexual intercourse. Also, 72% agreed that they have roles to play
in the control of STD and AIDS but 4% were willing to engage in the ten specified actions
necessary for STD and AIDS control. Overall, 19% would be willing to participate in providing care for people with AIDS in their neighbourhood.

Tu.D.2745 - Tu.D.275 I
Conclusion: Health education on STD and AIDS in this University appeared to have had a
limited impact in enhancing their respondents' ability to negotiate for safer sex despite their
strong belief in the "equal right" phenomenon in sexual encounters.The need to provide
skill acquisition programmes to enhance sex negotiation by women in this setting and in
Nigeria appears compelling. Also there is an urgent need for further study and planned programmes for women generally in Nigeria to enhance their sex negotiation capabilities.
Omolola O. Irinoye, Dept. of Nursing, PO. Box 1100, Obafemi Awolowo University IleIfeNigeria Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Tu.D.2749
ATTITUDES OF POLISH WOMEN TOWARD PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS
Niemiec, KrzysztofT., v-Przeclawska, E., Chazan, B. National Research Institute of Mother
and Child, Warsaw, Poland
Objective: To gather information about the attitudes of polish women towards HIV/AIDS
and to determine if there was a relationship between social-demographic variables and the
attitudes and opinions expressed.
Methods: One thousand three hundred and eighty five women in reproductive age
(N= 1385; I 5-49 yrs) from three different regions of Poland were interviewed regarding
their attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS, perceived risk for HIV, AIDS prevention
and aids-related knowledge.
Results:The participants demonstrated a hostile attitude toward HIV-infected people, specially to women, and low level of AIDS knowledge. However, there was little evidence of
avoidance of high-risk sexual behaviours. Overall, Polish women had relatively liberal views
about people with HIV although a majority felt that some restrictions should be placed
upon their freedom. Findings suggest that there is not a close match between what is epi
demiologically accepted as risk behaviours and what respondents regarded as risk behav
our. Age, marital status and educational status appeared to be significant determinants of
attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS, while religion and income were not.
Conclusions: The findings indicate the need for a comprehensive AIDS education programme to improve the knowledge and change the attitude toward people living with
HIV/AIDS in Poland.
K.T. Niemiec, AI. Wyzwolenia 14a/145,00 570 Warsaw, Poland
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Tu.D.2750
TESTING A DIFFUSION-OF INNOVATION APPROACH TO ENCOURAGE HIV RISK
REDUCTION BEHAVIORS AMONG LATINA WOMEN
Ortiz-Torres Blanca*t, Ehrhardt A*,Van Dommelen E*', Rivera M*, Rivera MG'*. *HIV
Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, NY State Psychiatric Institute/ Columbia
University New York, NY, USA, and University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Objective: To pilot and evaluate a diffusion-of-innovation model based on a video for the
prevention of HIV in a sample of Spanish-speaking Latinas in NewYork City
Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with 1 8 opinion leaders identified by several
NGO's. After relevant information was elicited from these groups, 20 women were recruited at beauty shops,"botanicas", laundromats, street corners, and others were referred by
woren who had participated in the focus groups.These women were trained to become
facilitators. Pre-and post-tests are administered (before and after training) to determine
changes in normative beliefs regarding sexual practices, types and frequency of sexual practices, self-efficacy and previous exposure to HIV/AIDS preventive messages. Facilitators
recruited other women from their networks and ran groups in which participants viewed
the video and engaged in group discussions. Follow-up assessments were conducted three
months after the group sessions.
Results: Eighteen women conducted groups with a total of I I0 women. Facilitators were
on average 34 years old; 85% had high school or less; and 55% were married, with an average of two children. Process data show changes in normative beliefs among the participating women after group discussions. Follow-up at three months documents changes in sexual
practices.The effectiveness of diffusion is also documented by dissemination logs completed
by the women and indicating that they have been showing the video to a great variety of
network members. In addition, some of the facilitators have begun jobs at community based
organizations working with STDs and HIV prevention.
Conclusions: A combination of several strategies have proved effective in diffusing HIVrelated preventive messages among Latinas: a video that is culturally-sensitive, materials writ
ten in Spanish; a participatory role in the research and intervention, and the use of network
members to facilitate the diffusion of the innovation.
B. Ortiz Torres, Centro de Investigacion VIH/SIDA, PO. Box 23345, University of Puerto
Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931 tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] I 5 E-mail:
[email protected]
Tu.D.275 I
WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV IN PUERTO RICO: IMPACT OF HIV ON THE LIVES OF A
GROUP OF HISPANIC WOMEN
Fabiiin, Ana M.,* Roca de Torres I.,** Rodriguez, Orellana M.R."** *Institute of Caribbean
Studies; **Department of Psychology; ***Institute of Statistics, University of Puerto Rico,
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Issue: Heterosexual transmission of HIV is rapidly becoming one of the main modes of dissemination in Puerto Rico, an island of 3,500 square smiles with a population of 3.5 million.
A total of 3,423 cases of AIDS in women and 347 cases in children has been oficially documented. Since HIV infection and AIDS have had a major impact on the family in particula,
and on society in general, there is a sense of urgency in understanding the characteristics
and the extent of the effect of HIV on the daily life of women in Puerto Rico.The signiicance of their experience within the social context, with attention to current myths, needs
and prevention issues, was the focus of tIme project.
Project: Anchored in the conceptual framework of phenomenology extensive semi-structured interviewing was selected as the choice method for gathering information. With just a

few leading questions on subjects such as coping, rejection, adjustments, family dealing with
knowledge about their HIV infection, the seven women interviewed were encouraged to
speak extensivelyThe recorded interviews were analyzed, noting the complexities of their
experiences. A book is under preparation, that will let the women communicate the

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