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

Mo.D.240 - Mo.D.244

Monday, July 8, 1996

Results: During the course of the year 150 persons (47 men and 103 women) have been
assisted.These in turn have shown greater confidence and security on living with, and caring
for their relative or friend living with AIDS.The family program for the support of PWA has
been rather well accepted. It is notable however that it is basically the women who seek
program assistance. Women have been culturally entrusted with the provision of care to
family members, regardless of the fact that they are sister, mother, daughter, or wife.
Lessons Learned: It is of utmost importance that the development and strengthening of
community structures which respond to the needs generated through the support to
someone who ives with AIDS be promoted. In this manner burn-out of the caregiver is
avoided.The training and assistance of necessary strategies for home-care givers not only
contributes to a better quality of life; but undoubtedly is a strategy of social profitability
which in turn propitiates greater participation of those within the social network of both
male and female PWA.
Sols Antonio A., Bolivia #5, Centro HistOrico, 06020, Mexico D.F. Mexico.
Telephone/fax: [phone].email: amac@o laneta.apc.org
Mo.D.240
OUTREACH PROGRAM TOWARDS DEAF PEOPLE TARGETTING PREVENTION OF AIDS.
Grivois*, Dr Lise, Houette, Dr Andre **. *AIDS program Advisor for the City of Paris,
France; **Director of EMIPS (Mobil Unit For Prevention of AIDS), City of Paris, France.
Issue: Deaf people do not have access to traditional prevention program; living in a closed
community the risk for contamination is higher when a member of that community brings
in the virus.
Project:The City of Paris, through her Mobile Unit for Prevention of Aids (EMIPS, in
French) has initiated a complete approach for prevention targeting deaf people: I
Intervention in special school for deaf by an educator, herself deaf, using sign language. A
medical doctor could be present with an interpretor in sign language to answer specific
questions. 2 Walk-in clinic for HIV test by a physician expressing herself in sign language. 3 A
poster for Prevention. 4 Visual communication through images dealing with false beleifs, risk,
safe behavior, tests: called <<Sida-Images>. 5 Prevention Video using images and sign language.
Results: 6 special schools for deaf youngsters have shared 27 interventions: 263 school
boys and girls and 70 adults working in those schools have attended.
Conclusion: The program has been very successful among school deaf youngsters, especially because prevention was done through an educator, both young and deaf, very close to
them.The walk-in clinic was less used than we expect, seemingly because it was to much
identified with AIDS.A similar experience done in a general medicine clinic drew much
more people.
Dr Lise GRIVOIS, 94 96, quai de la Rapee (B826) - 75012 Paris, France
T61:0 1 33 I 43 47 70 10 Fax: [phone]
Mo.D.24 I1
COST EFFECTIVE AIDS AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON COMMERCIAL FARMS
IN ZIMBABWE.
Kerry KaXy, Margie Cosnett. Commercial Farmers Union, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Main objective: To implement a cost effective HIV peer education project among commercial farmers and employees in Zimbabwe.
Introduction: Approx. 17% of the population live on commercial farms in Zimbabwe.This
sector is the second largest employer after the government.To maintain a viable agricultural
economy and reduce burden on the health facilities and families, urgent intervention among
farm workers was needed.
Programme: A work place based initiative, it is run by farm workers, owners and other
members of the farming sector on a voluntary basis. Peer education is based on face to
face communication, group meetings & workshop courses.Videos, drama, literature on
AIDS, all in major languages are used.The programme also includes agro-industry rural services, church leaders, local politicians, traditional healers & midwives, chiefs, communal areas.
Project outcome: Witnessed a decline in stigma of HIV/AIDS as more open discussion has
been adopted. High level of awareness in target groups, growing concern over socio-economic impact of HIV on agro-industry, increased acceptance of condom use and initiatives
towards self help & home care.
Lessons learned: Participatory small group approach has proved to be best for the youth.
Regular follow-ups help to maintain the project on course. Free distribution of condoms
has ensured reduction in inevitable medical costs on STD treatment.The project has shown
that parent and teacher to child communication could be enhanced through the channels
created by the awareness programme.The voluntary aspect makes it sustainable.
Kerry Kay, Commercial Farmers Union, Box I 24 I, Harare, Zimbabwe.Tel: [phone] I
Fax: [phone]
Mo.D.242
DRUG INTERVENTION/AWARENESS AMONG IDUs IN THE SLUMS
Kan~a, Keith,* Sharan, New Delhi, India
Issue: Population vulnerable to HIV/AIDS through IDU usage in the slums require innovative and appropriate intervention and awareness.
Project: Given the rapid increase in the number of IDUs in Delhi slums, an intervention
using client perceptions through planning stages was developed.To this effect, a Harm
Reduction programme with a Drop-In centre was established with IDUs from a socioeconomically deprived background in focus.This project includes in its staffing, rehabilitated exdrug users working as peer educators, a professionally qualified medical practitioner and a
social workec Strategies include an oral Buprenorphine maintenance programme (the only
one in Asia), IDU needle/syringe exchange, one-to-one information and counselling on
HIV/AIDS, a drop-in centre and sex education accompanied by distribution of condoms.
Results: The Harm Reduction Programme has been very well received by the slum
dwellers. Within six months the number of chents increased from 15 to 288 exceeding our
envisaged figure by over 100%. Many IDUs have stopped injecting, switching instead to safer
methods of use leading to IDU prevention. A total of 789 doctor client consultations have
been recorded and 28 clients have been admitted to a full-time rehabilitation centre not
including seven more who have been detoxified.
Lessons Learned: Harm reduction programmes in the slums are potentially successful if
they are specifically addressed to meet the specific needs and understanding of the slum

dwellers and staffed by residents of the slum itself and rehabilitated ex drug users.The
medical practitioner incorporates in the medical role the responsibility to educate clients
The need to reinforce accurate HIV/AIDS information is addressed by all support staff and
existing knowledge on IV is firequently evaluated.
Keith Kanga, Saran.T 3, Green Park (Main), New Delhi, Incia - 10016 Tel: 9 II 1-6858086.
Fax: 91-I 1-6858501.
Mo.D.243
STREET BASED AIDS OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR INJECTING DRUG USERS (IDUS)
Mahacian, Shiba Har,* Singh, M.* * Lifesaving and Lifegiving Society, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Issue: There isalways a need of human c ontactn between IDUs and needle exchange
programs in a developing country to educate on the necessity and skills for ster-ilzng
injecting equipment.
Project: The primary objective of this programme is the prevention of AIDS among and
from IDUs and their sexual partners.The method of work is street based outreach with following components: Service Delivery: IDUs are provided with bleach, sterilized water, lubricated condoms and needle exchange to lower the risk of acquiring HIV and other blood
borne diseases. Education: Education to the IDUs are provided on one to one basis verbally
and using IEC materials. Primary Health Cire: IDUs are provided primary health care set
vices for abscesses and minor injuries. Cournselling: IDUs are provided with anonymous
counselling services, e.g., pre & post HIV antibody test, pre & post detoxification, IDU fan ly
counselling. Referral Services: IDUs are referred for drug treatment, voluntary/paid jobs or
some type of vocational training. Program Advocacy Advocacy for the with concerned agencies and individuals during outreach. Net Working Networking is done basically with service
providing agencies.
Results:This is a successful method of work in Nepal.This program is able to check the
rate of HIV infection among and from its clients by 1.57% (2/127) in 199 1, 3.39% (2/59) in
1992, 0.0 % (0/200) in 1993 and 0.0 % (0/200) in 1994.
Lessons Learned: Confidentiality non-judgmental, non-coercive and anonymity as established working policy is very meaningful for this type of program. Once, such program
becomes able to establish a good rapport with clients, clients themselves become a source
of support to the program through advocacy and other means.
Shiba Hari Maharjan, PO. Box 35 17, Kathmandu, Nepal.Tel: 977- -4 13976, Fax: 977- 4 I 64 I7
Mo.D.244
HIV YOUTH INTERVENTION:A SCHOOL-BASED THEATRE PERFORMANCE AND
RELATED INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES
Nordenberg, Dale Fredric*, Bernstein, CW**. *Emory University Atlanta, Georgia, USA;
**Project M.A.G.I.C. Foundation, Inc.
Issue: Georgia's adolescents are engaging in behaviors which put them at risk for HIV
Approximately 66% of high school students reported ever having sex while condom use
ranged from 37% to 74%. Approximately 50% of high school students have had more than
one partner and 23% of high school students have had 5 or more partners.
Project: In I 993, a school-based theatre performance, Let's Talk About AIDS was created to
educate 6th - 8th grade students about HIV transmission.The play is interactive and
addresses multiple issues including peer pressure, abstinence, safe sex, drug abuse and other
risk factors for HIV transmission. More recently Project MAGIC is developing a series of
related interventions linked to Let'sTalk About AIDS including a youth HIV hotline in conjunction with AID Atlanta, a youth oriented world wide web site for HIV education, and a
scholars program.The MAGIC Scholars Program provides support for 3 masters level public health students to work on the above activities and thus supports the training of futurc
health care professionals committed to HIV prevention.
Results: Since 1993, Let'sTalk About AIDS has been performed in more than 3 14 Atlants
Metropolitan schools for more than 53,000 6th and 8th graders.The scholars program is
under way and the hot-line and world wide web site will be completed this year
Lessons Learned: Appropriate advocacy may result in the irtroduction of HIV educational
material and sex education issues to a broad spectrum of public and private schools. A
school-based theatre performance is one strategy to provide a dynamic venue for HIV education among youth.
Dale F. Nordenberg, MD, Egleston Children's Hospital at Emory Univers ity, 1405 Clifton Rd.
NE, Atlanta, GA 30322//Telephone (office) [phone] FAX [phone]

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