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

Tu.D.2766 - Tu.D.2771

Tuesday July 9, I1996

Tu.D.2766
KNOWLEDGE OF PREVENTIVE PRACTICESAWARENESS OF CHANCES OF BEING
INFECTED,AND REPORTED CONDOM USE PREVALENCE AMONG COMMERCIAL
SEX WORKERS
Rusakaniko S*, Siziya S*, Maradzika J*, Naamara W**, Sonnichsen C"*, *U iersity of
Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; **AIDSCAP/FHI/Zimbabwe, Harare, Zinmbiwef e *AID
SCAP/FHI/AFRO; Nairobi, Kenya
Objective: To determine the knowledge of AIDS prevention practices, awareness of chances
of being infected, and reported condom use prevalence among commercial sex worker s
(CSWs) living along the 3 major transportation corridors (routes) in Zimbabwe.
Methods: A total of 482 CSW were randomly selected from 15 sites along the 3 major
routes of Zimnbabwe.The data was collected using the Family Health Internatioral/AIDS
Control and Prevention Project (FHI/AIDSCAP) core structured questionnaire. After the
interviews, focus group discussions were carried out.
Results: Respondents' mean age was 27.8 (SD-6.4) years.The radio was the common
source of information on AIDS. Knowledge level of preventive measures was 93%. About
51.2% were aware of the fact that they were at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS.Almnost every
CSW (92.8%) could access a condom. About 83.2% reported changing their behavior since
hearing about AIDS. All indicated changing their behavior to include condors use. Condom
use prevalence was 92.8%. About 25.5% inconsistently used a condom in the first round
and not in subsequent rounds.The STD prevalence was 46.7%.
Conclusions: The knowledge level of preventive measures was high, and respondents could
easily access condoms. Appropriate interventions for upgrading the status of (CSWs and
equipping themn with assertiveness skills to negotiate safer sex are a priority.
S. Rusakaniko, dc/o Alfred Nimocks, AIDSCAP 2101 Wilson Blvd., #700 Arlingtoni,VA, USA,
22201; tel. 703.5 I 6.9779; fiax. 703.5 I 6.978 I
Tu.D.2767
DEPRESSED AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE WOMEN WITH HIV NEED MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES
Eversley, Rani.B.* ***, Israelski, D.** ***, Galzagorry,.* **, Kunwarc P*, Sith, S.*.
University of CA. San Francisco;* Stanford U. Medical Center;" " AIDS Commurnity
Researcth Consortium**
Objective: To examine the relationship between psychological distress symptoms among
women with HIV and their perceived needs for mental health services in order to plan
counseling and case rmanagement services.
Method: We assessed data fromr a pilot study of 25 women ernrolled in care at a public HIV
medical clinic in a geographically dispersed county with urban and rural regions in northern
California.Women were assessed for demographics, HIV-risks, route of infectiorn, HIV syrrmptoms, psychological distress using the Brief Symptorsr Inventory (BSI), and perceived needs
for mental health services.
Results: Seventy one percent of the women studied were Africarn-American, 2 1% were
Caucasian.The mean age was 37. Forty -three percent reported sufficiently severe levels of
psychological distress symptoms to suggest presence of an emotional disorder Shirty -nine
percent of the womren reported symptoms of paranoia, 35% obsessive-coiipulsive disorders, 26% anxiety 22% phobias, 22% depression, 24% anxiety and 24% phobic disorders.
Women who reported obsessive-corampulsive symptoms (p=0.03) and depression (p-0.02)
were significantly more likely to report a need for mental health services.There were no
relationships between any of the other psychological symptom groups and perceived need
for mental-health services.There were also no relationships between HIV-symptorns, any of
the demographic variables and psychological symptoms or perceived need for nental
health services.
Conclusions: These pilot data suggest that a high proportion of women with f IIV experience severe psychological distress and may need psychological services.The relationship
between perceived need for mental health services among those who reported obsessivecorarpulsive symptoms, or depression suggests that these symptoms may be experienced as
more intrusive and undermining of daily functioning. Secondly the high proportiorn of
women reporting obsessive-compulsive and paranoia symptoms are siramilar to data reported by populations recently traumatized by natural events, and suggests that these symptoms
may play a role in adaptation to severe and unexpected life adversity
Rani Eversley Ph.D. UtCSF Dept. of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Box 0612 San Frncisco,
CA. 911't3, U.S.A.
Tu.D.2768
KNOWLEDGE,ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES ABOUT HIV TESTING AMONG HIGH
RISK WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE
Kissinger P, Ruddy P Philips K, Herwehe J, Scalco B, Kaiser M. affiliated with Children's
Hospital, New Orleans Pediatric AIDS Program, Women's initiative (WIN)
Purpose: To explore Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices about HIV testing among high risk
women of childbeari ng age.
Methods: Five focus groups were coanducted: two groups - 18 yeirs old, aid three irups
I 8 years. using a standardized focus group gidel ne. Sessioans vere taped, t i criced rd
analyzed using NDIST. Sessions lasted I-1.5 hours, coirsisted of 4-B won en and monetary riursements were given. All bu out AD women were wan pere Aifri anA
Results: Major tsenes wereivellk D rse rception. teiscorceptias siboit
DIV transtaission imong older women, but good urnderstarading about trans risson aorsg
adolescents. Denial of risk was conmmon semong the older women, while a Ilsck of ability to
evaluate the importanece of the risk was common smong the younger- wo en.Shier e was
urniversat agreernernt that mandatory DIV testing is acceptable ard that DIV testinig for pregnant women wis "doing the right thing'. While a desire for confidentiality arid continuity of
care whet tested was expressed by some, others had no under-standing of hoe nasry peopie had access to information for those tested in a confidential matter Motivation for testleg was not self-initiated for most of the women and roost did not know thre difference
betweet "confidential' and "anonymous". Most of the wonmen had beer HIV-tested. A
major ity of womsen felt that condoms are seldom used and lack efficacy. Several teens felt
that exchange of sex for "goods" is acceptable. Few participantts knew someone witha AIDS,
and thoise who did were more reformned shoot AIDS. Fear of AIDS was per-varive ted
words like "deadly", "ter ininal", "hopeless" were used to describe the disease.

Conclusion: In li t f the AC[G 076 results, testing for HIV amonrg high arsk women of
child bearing ae, icpor t rnt. Risk perception continues to be the rnajor obstacle to HIV
testing amon'g w '. ot women approve of mandatory testing, though few women
understand the r tr i.itt, of this policy.

Patricia Kisirie!Ph[.
Telephone: (5.

36 South Roean Street New Orleans, LA 70 11 2.

Tu.D.2769
INTERPERSONAL AND GENDER-RELATED FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH
CONSISTENT CONDOM USE AMONG YOUNG ADULT AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WOMEN
DiClemente,RPaj ',Win,' iood, Gina,i '1University of Alt inma at Birminghiam,
Birmingham, AIL, iSA
Objective: Tor dee rt mine the nterpersonal anrid gender related correlates of consistent con
dom use, using thse Itheory of Gender and Power in youn g ad!u-ilt African Anercan women.
Methods: From Feb, rary 1993 through December 993,28 Aftc(rin-Americani women.
18-29, were rerrited usp, street outreach fris the a lower socioeconom c AfricanAmerican community in San Francisco, Californria. Data were collected using a face-to-fice
interview.T he as>rroation between potential correlates and consistent condom use was
assessed using rcontingency tiable analyses. All variables identified as significantly associated
with consisten t condom use (P<_ 10) were enrtered in multtiviriate logistic regression
model to identify their indeopendent effects.
Results: Only 28. t% of wormen reported usin condoms consistently, every time they had
sexual intercour se wit ir the previous 3 nonrths. he inal oistic regressor analysis dentifled five va riables lternirants of sonsstent condo use. Wo rnen who hr ad two or
fewer chiren(RR-et f 1'.' p.5.t roen who were mores assetr tse in demandrag that
their sexual partner use condoms (RR 13.3, P-.003),women who reported greater self
control over consistent condom use (RR- 10.8, P=.009) women who were not interested
in becoming pres sn t (RP 87, P=.7)ad oR a i ho perce ved themselves as having
control overteir partsner' e of coiidr i P(RR-'S P.t08) were more likely to report
using condoms consistently
Conclusions: ftV prevetio reserh fori worien exrnini scor elates of condom use
may benefit f(or usinhigenitsr specifc theoin's. Foccisin h on gende specific correlates inan
HIV prevention nterven tion for woimer ray enrhance ts efficacy in reduong high rsk sex.
R. J. DiClemente i 120 MJH, 1825 Univer ity RBlvd., Birmn igham, AIL. 5294,USA Telephone:
205-934-6020 Fax: [phone] email:rdclemrente(shb.soph.uab. edu
Tu.D.2770
INFLUENCE OF LIVING ARRANGEMENTS IN PREDICTING BEHAVIOR CHANGE
AMONG DRUG USING WOMEN AT RISK FOR HIV INFECTION
MetschLisa R., McC oy C..B.' McCt:oy, H.V'*f, Lfai, S.',lWeather yN.L., Incardi'. J.A.*, Correa,.
R.*, Mc Anany, H. 'Unirversity of l i, FL; '' Florida Interiational University Miami. FL.
Objective: this tudy irnvetiates the relationsrhip between wi arrapurngepents aind behavior
change arionir drug- usring women ini oLiami, Florida. Previous research h as shown that longterm mainteriance of btehav ior change by drug user s predicted on the support or distraction from peers, drhr using partners arid fuamiy mrembers Ihese studies have well docu
rnented the imptance of the social envronrenrt in prorrotng changes in HIVrelated risk
behaviors amorn drug users.
Methods: The data for this analysis were drawn fronm womenr who partopated i n a randonized prospective cohort study comparing a national ly developed standard HIV prevention protocol to the 'Iiam CARES oender and race/ettnic spefic intervention program.
These data provide i' ir opportunity to examine the infiuence of iving ar rangements on HIV
risk behaviors (cru g use and sexual activities) at baselne, whether there were changes in
living arrangement fromr basline to follov up, nrt w hthe baseline iving arrangements,
and/or changes in a raingiernents were related to HIV risk reduction.This study also
examined whether these findings vary by intervention type.Variables of interest other than
living arrangements i ude demographic, homelessrness, druge treatment status, marta sta
tus, drug and sexual risk reduhctiorn behavior, and serostatus.
Data were colle ted on 38 African Anerican drug using womern it baseline and 6 month
follow-up utilizrg a rnaionally standardized validated instrum crit, the Risk Behavior
Assessment, within t e mSi i siite project. this instrurnent wa y;dmanistered by trained inter
viewers in controlled settins'. HIV testing accompanied by pr, test and posttest counseling
was conducted 'n-site by certified phlebotomts
Results: Analyses provide support for the general hypothesis about the influence of living
arrangements in changin g HIV- related risk behaviors. Behavior changes were miore ikely to
occur among wr ien who were tliving alone than their counterparts who were living with
someone else.
Conclusions: Our analysis indicate the importance of multi- level. comrinunity based interventions targetirn not only the individual dru g using womanr, but the social groups with
which she inter'ts on a daly basis.
Lisa R. Metsch, 'Ph.D., 1OO.W 10th Avenue. Rmn 2 2 (D- 93) Miami, FL U.S.A 33 136
Teleph one: (305) 2.13 6005 Iax [phone]
Tu.D.277 I
THE IMPACT OF CARE SITE ON HIV TEST-SEEKING BY WOMEN
Kurth, Ann, Keller; S.1~. Getty, t. Indiana Sate Depa tmrent S Health, Indianapolis, Indiana
USA.
Issue: HIV testri is assed to be an effectiveue interventio t for influenc rg HIV risk reduc-i
tiora. Dowesout' tra t is siss ny Ct bin shin taoe in tt is way. irt unsrl ho, women
(Ickovics 1393). I'Saty worrer isap riot penrcurse thart tahnt beasiors patace thaei at uSisk for
dIV ifection or that they mary e wnoingly plas n ut sesk thso ugh th e parinens' behav
sonn.'herehore, sasy worea ra riot persona ran! asd osides berg tcsted for DIV
Since the tendmci' thit ZD3V use (and po'sshy othenr iera ietos). ran hel0 reduce penn ast tr'atseissioa, unuren-sat cournsetisp anc sotlstuntay f hIV testing s neomonmended for stl
pregnant woraen in Shue DS 05DC. 1995. The qiuestron oh whust eotrastes wcen erao seek
fIIV testing, and in wa kit Cus of setting. Shier ere os uscseas' y g enes ie.
Project: 3his sti idy addresse-h the qure I s tf wh ut h~r 5 trenoe a nus 'HIV testing
decision. rid rathrtheor Stor e ire iny dIfthu-ss sIra thes o 'a( t~o- as shise type" oh rlita sure
setting.

395