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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 60956-60961 1175

stigma (AIDS and homosexuality). It was evident that targetted programs and
services had to be provided to our ever growing membership and this had to
be done by service users. It was difficult to attract funding since this approach
was novel. Nevertheless, with persistence and determination, we were able to
establish an ASO with a Board, staff providing services such as a monthly mailout,
support groups, social events, peer counselling, visitations, outreach, education,
and advocacy. A support group and peer counselling services, as well as in our
newsletter/calendar, the PHA perspective in clinical care is constantly addressed.
Results: Survey amongst members reflect a need for an ASO addressing AIDS
from a heterosexual perspective sharp growth in membership. Active participation
in PHAs in governance/management ensures relevant programs and services.
Accessibility to AIDS program, services and information needs to be specifically
targetted and sensitive.
1 60956 Helpline telephone and face to face counselling at an
AIDS research centre in Uganda
Christine N. Akola, Richard Kiwanuka, Betty Muwanga, Rose Byaruhanga,
Carol Turyatemba. Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda
Issue: Telephone and face-to-face counselling are co-factors in identifying and
evaluating HIV/AIDS educational needs.
Project: Telephone and face-to-face counselling are offered at the Joint Clinical
Research Centre (JCRC), an organisation in Uganda specialising in HIV/AIDS
research. The objective is to educate people both face to face and through telephone helpline approach about HIV/AIDS related concerns. Counselling is done
by 5 social scientists specially trained in HIV/AIDS counselling.
Results: After two years (January 1996-January 1998) 849 clients physically
visited the centre for voluntary HIV/AIDS counselling. Aims of visits: 1. Knowing
status 35.3%, 2. Symptoms and sicknesses 28.5%, 3. Marriage 26.6%, 4. Doctors
suggestion 2.0%, 5. Others 7.5%
Helpline: 748 calls were received. Reasons: 1. Knowing status 29.9%, 2. Symptoms and sicknesses 28.3%, 3. Marriage 6.1%, 4. Doctor's suggestion 0.4%, 5.
Booking counselling and medical services 30.9%, 6. Others 4.2%.
Lessons Learned: Telephone and face-to-face counselling are a good approach for identifying and evaluating educational targets in HIV/AIDS planning
strategies. Helpline encourages more openness because of its anonymity. More
education on HIV/AIDS related symptoms and sicknesses is still needed by the
Ugandan public. Facilitating more Helpline services could increase voluntary
testing and prevention.
60957 The impact of anti-retroviral therapies on black Africans
living in Britain
Remie Rwankote. 32 Alnwick Road, London E16 3EX, Britain
Objectives: To assess whether there is a profound impact on a viral load, increase
in immune function, suppression of HIV, toxicity, development of resistance and
any other side effects caused by anit-retroviral agents.
Project: The current anti-retroviral agents are reported to be widely used and
effectively by HIV and AIDS patients in Europe, USA, and other developed countries. So far there is no sufficient data and any information available showing any
clinical developments of complications related to these anti-retroviral therapies
used in Africa or any other parts of Africa.
The purpose of this is to study the impact of anti-retroviral therapies on HIV
and AIDS infected patients particularly Ugandan immigrants now living in UK and
compare them with those in Uganda. This study aims at identifying some of the
clinical advantages and disadvantages of using these anti-retroviral agents.
Results: This project will be concluded by April 1998 and the results will be
available at this forth coming conference in Geneva.
Lessons Learned: The results from this project will determine the type of
lessons to learn from the use of these anti-retroviral therapies. We may be able
to know which anti-retroviral combination has been of benefit to most HIV and
AIDS patients.
60958 In the understanding of safer sex among men who have
affective and sexual relations with men (MASM): Are we
missing something?
Roger Le Clerc, J. Otis, R. Lavoie, B. Turmel, R. Noel, M. Alary, A. Dufour.
Cohorte Omega, 4205 Saint-Denis, 320 Montreal, Canada
Objective: Demonstrate links between comprehension of saferr sex with regular
and occasionnal partners and the consideration of indicators nearest to the gay
and homosexual reality.
Method: The Omega Cohort is an ongoing study aiming to assess HIV incidence and associates psychosociosexual determinants among MASM in the
Montreal area. Men complete a questionnaire and are tested for HIV every 6
months. As of November 30, 1997, 810 baseline interviews (TO) have been
conducted. To take account of diversity and complexity of MASM's life trajecto
ries, divers indicators, in regard of significative personal life time periods, where
created. With these indicators, (age (CA), self definition of there own sexual
orientations, (Identity Age (IA), 4 groups were considered. IA was dichotomised
at egal or less 8 years (IA.- 8) and more 8 years (IA > 8). The groups are: CA
S30, IA - 8: 35.5%; CA - 30, IA: 8: 8.4%; CA - 30, IA 8: 14,5%; CA - 30,
IA. 8: 41,8%. The logistic regression was use with each group to identify safer
sex practices predictors with regular and occasional parters.

Results: Even if, in each group, some predictors are similar in regard of the
sexual partner's type, safer sex seems to be sustain by other specific factors for
each group. For example, for CA. 30, IA - 8, safer sex is predicted by less
barriers to deal with highly emotional situations with condom use (OR: 0.86, p
= 0.004) and by the perception that less gay or bisexual friends or relatives are
HIV+ (OR: 0.87, p = 0.002). For CA > 30, IA - 8, these predictors of safer sex
are: a smaller preoccupation for the discovery of their sexual orientation (OR:
0.68, p = 0005) and less barriers to assume leadership in maintaining safer sexual
relations (OR: 0.91, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: The consideration of the MASM life trajectories' complexity and
diversity can give a better comprehension of their sexual practices. It can help to
create more grounded and adapted interventions. More sophisticated indicators,
other then age, must become an important domain of research. Is there of gay
career?
60959 Community response to the myth and misconception
about HIV/AIDS treatment amongst African Refugee
community in UK
Keefa Kiwanuka. 218 Eversholt Street, London, NWI IDe. UK
Issue: Refugee and Asylum seekers' access and compliance to the current
advances in HIV/AIDS treatment and care require an innovative and culturally
appropriate intervention.
Project: Given the high incidence and low take up of HIV/AIDS treatment and
care services amongst the African community in UK, an intervention drawing
from the cultural experiences of African people living with HIV/AIDS (PWA), was
set up. It aims to increase access to the treatment and care services, and to
support compliance, amongst Africans from East, Central and Southern Africa. It
provides peer advocacy, HIV/AIDS treatment information and Education tailored
around their cultural needs and experiences. The project has amongst its staff
and volunteers PWAs, working as peer Educators, counsellors, and is supported
by qualified medical doctors from collaborating hospitals. It organises monthly
information forums normally attended by about 60 people and produces a monthly
Newsletter, with 3,000 print runs, providing updates on community issues and
on HIV/AIDS treatment. Our treatment advocates (volunteers) explain individuals
how the treatments works and run support groups, disseminating information.
Result: The only type of its kind in the African Community in UK, the program
is increasingly growing popular. In the last two years we have more than doubled
the circulation of our Newsletter from 1,500 to 3,000copies despite the HIV/AIDS
stigma; and doubled attendance of our Forums and support groups. We are making and increasingly getting more referrals from the STD clinics. Doctor-patient
communication is improving, and compliance is better.
Lesson: despite their social condition and the myths and misconception about
treatment and care, refugee communities can access and be compliant, if the
services are responsive and sensitive to their cultural needs and aspirations.
S60960 Positive Club - A self help group of people with HIV in
Russia
Eugenia Baranova1, N.A. Nedzelski2. 1PO. Box 130 Moscow 113303: 2The
Russian Names Fund Moscow, Russia
Issue: Institutionalization of AIDS in Russia, and a lack of a supporting environment, causes many people with HIV to feel isolated and powerless which
often results in "victim attitudes", substance abuse, relationship problems, and a
generally poor quality of life.
Project: Positive Club in Moscow has a 4 years' experience in providing a
welcoming place where people with HIV can be open about their HIV status, offer
and receive peer support, share coping experience, and receive accurate information. The Club which meets twice a month has been initiated, supported and
sponsored by the Russian NAMES Fund, but is an independent, self-governed
informal structure.
Results: Feedback from HIV+ attending the Club shows that they especially
appreciate the atmosphere of openness and support at the Club meetings. The
need is now felt to form more specific self-help groups around the club: a group
of gay men, women, drug users etc., in order to help the people address their
specific issues.
Lessons Learned: Self-help groups can serve as an important empowerment
tool for people with HIV, and a resource for building a strong and supportive HIV+
community.
[60961.Psychological-sociological situation of people with AIDS
in Poland
Jolanta Wojciechowska. Ulkrzykwoustego 19 Gdansk-Oliwa 80-952; University
of Gdnask, Poland
The aim of the research was to find the Psychological-Sociological problems
facing HIV/AIDS infected people. The investigations were conducted by means

of anonymous surveys using Beck's depression Scale in various towns of Poland
during 1996-1997. The investigation included 210 people: 144 men and 44
women. More than half (56.19%) quit their jobs or school. This was caused by
stress, decline of physical health, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, loosing a job, etc.
The disturbing fact is the 19% of those who responded are deprived of an accommodation. The development of a sickness and hospitalization forbids people
to continue functioning normally. Most of them 135%) were between the ages of