Bridging the Gap: Conference Record [Abstract book, International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1998: Geneva, Switzerland)]

1026 Abstracts 60143-60149

12th World AIDS Conference

traditional tribal communities and other stakeholders for those communities, in
particular in coping as "agitators" to allow power to shift within those groups.
60143 Educational program for sex workers in rural areas
Dharmendrakumar Jain. 2237 Gali Siwad Bakliwalan Kishanpole, Jaipur, India
Issue: Sex workers in rural areas of Rajasthan state in India are at high risk
because neither they have adequate knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS nor access
to any sort of educational program. Apart from this they are almost illiterate.
Project: A program of education for commercial sex workers of 10 villages
was initiated in the year 1995. The sex centres are inhabited on the outskirts of
villages and there is no approach roads. Also there is no facilities of general health
care in and around the sex centres. So the sex workers are compelled to contact
some quacks or traditional healers in case of STDs or otherwise. But since these
quacks and traditional healers are too quite ignorant about HIV/AIDS, the risk
of HIV infection is very alarming. Under this project program of intervention was
developed both for the sex workers and quacks or traditional healers as well.
Results: The innovative kind of educational activities carried out under the
project proved very much appropriate and useful for the sex workers as well as
quacks or traditional healers. Enthusiastic response of sex workers was notified
during cultural gatherings and focus group discussions. They grasped well the
message and informations disseminated through video films and puppet shows.
Lessons Learned: Educational program for rural sex workers needs to be
developed very carefully specifically keeping in view their socio-economic background, educational status, general health care system etc.
60144 AIDS prevention for pupils
Elena Kopnina. 108-42 Gagarin Prospect Nizhniy Novgorod 603009, Russia
Issue: The study of senior pupils' information level about HIV-infection and AIDS,
and training them in behaviour rules preventing HIV-infection.
Project: Since 1996 the fast-spread of HIV-infection among drug addicts are
being occurred in Nizhny Novgorod region. 25 % of them accounts for young
person to 18. It is clear that the educative work only can promote restriction
to wide-spread occurrences of epidemic. We have conducted a lessons for the
senior pupils with different social and educational level (391 persons) in Nizhny
Novgorod schools. Four lessons for the group of 15-20 persons have been conducted. The problems of biology, HIV spread, clinical course of infection and the
measured for AIDS prevention have being considered. Anonymous questionnaire
was been carried out before and after lessons.
Results: A total level of the senior pupuls' knowlege correlates with the number of the correct answers in the first inquest. After the lessons the repeated
questionnaire showed that the number of the answer "don't know" was decreased
essentially. The numbers of the correct and incorrect answers slightly increased
and decreased, respectively.
Lessons Learned: The further studies within this field can help to develop the
technique of carring out the prevention work among pupils.
60145 Christian psycho-spiritual strategies to handle HIV
patients and their families
Guillaume Gnamba-Yao. O.I.C.PS.-Ong, 09. BP: 570-Abidjan-09, Cote d'lvoire,
W Africa
Methods: The Ivorian Christian Organisation for Health Protection
(I.C.O.H.P-NGO) has developed strategies to assit HIV patients to overcome
the anguish that comes with the AIDS virus infection through deliverance from
fear, worry anxiety and stress. This psycho-spiritual approach will kindle in the
patient the reassurance of a normal and purposeful life while eliminating the
complex of self marginalisation there by strengthening in the patient the resolve
to accept to die of any other ailment except by AIDS. The organisation has also
developed for families of victims, a strategy aimed at information, education and
communication (I.E.C) in order to enlighten them to reject or alienate any of their
members who is infected by this virus, but rather to affectionately integrate the
victim in the day to day family life.
The Ivoirian Christian Organisation for Health Protection recognites the fact
that man is not only tridimentional but also Body, Soul and Spirit. Any attempt to
ensure a healthy living without taking into account these three factors remains a
struggle towards a "cease-fire" loaded with interruptions
60146 Treating tuberculosis patients among HIV/AIDS clients in
a support organisation clinic - TASO Mulago experience
Ruth Kulume-Okwanga1, Martin Okot Nwang2. 1c/o Mr David Okwanga Box
7130 Kampala; 2National TB/Leprosy Programme, Kampala, Uganda
Objectives: To determine outcome among Tuberculosis Patients treated in Medical Clinics of HIV/AIDS Support Organisation.

Design: Retrospective, Descriptive Study.
Methods: The Non-Governmental Organisation; The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) runs three Medical Clinics a week to treat mainly Medical conditions
occurring among HIV/AIDS Patients. Tuberculosis Patients have been treated in
this clinic since 1994 with the support of the National Tuberculosis Programme.
Case records of Patients treated in the clinics were reviewed retrospectively to
determine, cure rate, treatment completion rate and transfer out.

Results: Of a total of 47 Patients; over a period of 1 year, 15 Males and 32
Females. 19/49% completed treatment, 10/49% declared cured, 0% failure, 1/4%
was transferred out. 10 out of 47 Patients died. The cure rate was greatly affected
due to the fact that these are HIV/AIDS Patients who either died before treatment
completion or moved to far distant places upcountry, as they get terminally sick.
Conclusion: The study shows that it was possible to integrate Tuberculosis
treatment with the Medical Clinic of a HIV/AIDS Support Organisation. And counselling plays a big role in compliance of TB treatment among TASO clients since
they are counselled and have a will to live.
60147 Ethnobotanics- Phytotherapics and AIDS
Walter Radames Accorsi1, W.A.S. Accorsi de Souza Sobrinho2. International
AIDS Society, Rua Governador Pedro De Toledo, Piracicaba, Brazil
Objectives: An ethnobotanic contribution to the study of AIDS. The role of
Phytotherapics made with medicinal plants whose active principles stimulate
the immunologic system helping to counteract the opportunistic symptoms of
diseases that occur in individuals that are HIV positive.
Design: Prospective, controlled study.
Methods: Since 1982, around 12.000 people diagnosed with AIDS have volunteered to take special phytotherapics followed by traditional regular medical
check up.
Results: Patients that have received continuous treatment with phytotherapics
have been able to maintain a desirable quality of life.
Conclusions: Symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea,
and candida, present in most volunteers have decreased while they were taking
phytotherapics and their health condition was maintained stable, highly improving
their life quality. Phytotherapics have contributed to improve patients immunological system.
60148 Diabets, HIV infection, and the use of protease inhibitors
Leslie Diaz, Ronald J. Wiewora. Stratogen, 3345 Burns Rd., #302 Palm Bch
Grd, Ff33410, USA
Objective: To review the incidence of diabetes in people with HIV infection and
correlate this with the use of protease inhibitors.
Design: Retrospective, chart review.
Methods: The practice studied was a large HIV practice in Palm Beach County,
FL, USA. Three hundred charts were reviewed. Information was gathered regarding the incidence of diabetes among this HIV infected population. Information was
also gathered regarding the use of antivirals, specifically protease inhibitors.
Results: Five patients were found to have HIV infection and diabetes (1.6%).
Estimates of diabetes in the general population range from 2% to 6%. Of the
300 charts reviewed, 182 were on protease inhibitors. Three patients developed
diabetes after protease inhibitors were given (1.6%). The protease inhibitors used
included indinavir, ritonavir, and nelfinavir. The two remaining patients developed diabetes after starting other antiviral combinations including nucloside and
non-nucleoside analogs.
Conclusions: The incidence of diabetes in the study population was no different than in the general population. Use of protease inhibitors did not increase the
incidence of diabetes.
60149 1Hematocrit, symptoms and quality of life in AIDS patients
with anemia and MAC infection
Cecily Cosby12, J. Tokumoto1, P. Kramer1, S. Stringari1, F. Tolmachoff2,
J.B. Molaghan3. University of California, 613 Blackstone Drive San Rafael
California 94903; 2Sonoma County HIV Practice Santo Rosa CA; 3San
Francisco General Hospital San Francisco CA, USA
Background: Anemia in disseminated Mycobacterium-avium complex (dMAC)
infection is common and associated with poor prognosis. The association between
anemia, functional status, symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in AIDS patients is
not well defined.
Objectives: To assess the correlation between hematocrit (Hct) levels, Karnofsky Performance (KP) scores and patient self-reports of fatigue, shortness of
breath (SOB) and overall QoL in AIDS patients with anemia and dMAC infection
who were not on AZT.
Methods: A 16 wk open-label treatment program with recombinant erythropoietin (r-HUEPO). 25 patients had a mean increase in Hct of 9.5%, SD 4.2 (p =
0.00). Hematologic measurements were taken every 4 wks and KP scores every
wk. Weekly self-reports of fatigue, SOB, and overall QoL were done using Likert
scales with patients and providers blinded to Hct at the time of scoring. Correlates
of high and low Hcts were obtained.
Results: At low Hct levels (mean 27.7%, SD 2.95) correlates suggested a
significant increase in fatigue (r = -0.45, p = 0.022), a significant increase in SOB
(r = -0.37, p = 0.062) a significant decrease in QoL (r = 0.486, p = 0.011) but
not a significant decrease in KP scores (r = 0.349, p = 0.101). At high Hct levels

(mean 37.2%, SD 4.77), correlates suggested a significant decrease in fatigue
(r = -0.53, p = 0.006) a significant decrease in SOB (r = -0.44, p = 0.025) a
significant improvement in KP scores (r = 0.51, p = 0.014) but not a significant
improvement in overall QoL (r = 0.25, p = 0.215).
Conclusions: Low Hct levels were associated with reports of increased fatigue,
increased SOB and a decreased overall QoL. High Hcts were associated with
reports of decreased fatigue, decreased SOB and improved KP scores.