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

170 Abstracts 13417-13421

12th World AIDS Conference

knowledge and information about HIV/AIDS. The goal was behavioural focused
and the target audience was the infected (Primary) and affected (Secondary).
Emphasis was put on the importance of one to one counselling, care in reduction
of stigma and discrimination, the importance of early positive health seeking
behaviour among the people suffering from sexually transmitted infections, and
the importance of community support in the process of behaviour change towards
HIV/AIDS prevention.
Results: 47% of the population was sensitized. 22% were women. 56 PHA'S
became open about their serostatus, community leaders became more involved in
HIV prevention activities. There was marked increase in HIV testing and condom
demand. Reduction of opportunistic infections and pregnancies among PHA'S.
A research team from Nairobi and Makerere Universities, Department of Public
Health showed interest in the programme.
Lessons Learned: Using community sites for the purpose of sensitization and
awareness can be an effective strategy in HIV/AIDS prevention and control. It
can also help communities to cope with the sensitive issues and challenges
associated.
13417 The traditional medical practitioners HIV/AIDS training
and support programme
DebraAnn Mathew1, P.P. Patience Koloko2, T.D. Msezanez', S. le
Clerc-Madlala3. 1AIDS Foundation of South Africa, PO. Box 50582, Muzgrave,
4062; 2National Traditional Healer Association Hammersdale; 3University
Durban-Westville Durgan, South Africa
Issue: Developing targeted interventions for Traditional Medical Practitioners
(TMPs) in South Africa, to equip TMPs to meet the demands from their client
groups in respect of HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
Project: If AIDS prevention and care interventions are to have an impact they
must reach great numbers in an acceptable and accessible manner. Given the
fact that a very large portion of South Africans rely on the services of TMPs for
their physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, the AIDS Foundation of South
Africa (AFSA) in partnership with local TMP Associations developed and embarked upon a training programme for TMPs at community level. The focus of
the programme is to solicit the full cooperation of TMPs in the struggle against
both STDs and HIV/AIDS. To this end a culturally sensitive training course has
been developed and training workshops are hosted by appropriately trained TMP
facilitators on location.
Results: The training programme has been very well received by TMPs. Over
a two-year period 70 workshops have been hosted, and in excess of 4000 TMPs
have undergone the 5-day training course. Evaluations conducted on the programme have clearly showed that the training course has been successful in
dispelling myths regarding the transmission of HIV, and the TMPs have found the
knowledge and skills acquired most beneficial to their practices.
Lessons: Learned: TMPs have access to communities which remain relatively inaccessible to bio-medical services, and in order for the AIDS message
to reach these sections of the community it is vital that the cooperation of TMPs
be sought in the AIDS struggle. To this end it is essential that the training
be conducted by TMPs and carried out on location in the community being
served.
S13418 Evaluation of a researcher-community collaboration:
The development of an HIV prevention curriculum for
gay/lesbian/bisexual youth
Joyce Hunter1, K. Wyche2, S. Miller, P. Warne. HIV Center NY State Psychiatric
Institute 'Unit 29, Columbia University 722 West 168th Street, New York; 2New
York University, New York, NY USA
Issues: Gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are at high risk for HIV and require innovative, appropriate interventions that are readily adaptable by community service
organizations. Development of useful intervention curricula depends on close
community-researcher collaboration at all planning and development stages.
Project: Over the course of four months, researchers from the HIV Center for
Clinical and Behavioral Studies and representatives from six community-based
agencies serving urban and suburban youth in the New York metropolitan area
jointly developed a 14-week intervention curriculum for gay/lesbian/bisexual youth
based on a video produced at the HIV Center. To ascertain community participant
satisfaction with the process and anticipated use of the program, we conducted
semi-structured interviews with participating agency representatives. Interviews
were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded by independent raters.
Results: All interviewees felt that the project was important and that their staff
would use the video and curriculum. They were glad to have been involved in
the process of curriculum development from the initial stages and felt that they
had provided important information for curriculum improvement and validity. They
were especially appreciative of the opportunity to have been involved from the
beginning of the project, stating that their previous contacts with research-based
institutions had not always been collaborative. A secondary benefit cited was
that the process provided the opportunity for agency representatives to network

among themselves. Potential barriers noted for staff were lack of time to complete all sessions, possible inconsistent use of the curriculum, and concerns that
the curriculum might not work for every program. Allowances should be made
for modifications necessary at particular agencies. Although all interviewees felt
that they would be effective in influencing their agency to use the intervention
curriculum, they expressed concern about the financial aspect of instituting the
program.

Lessons Learned: It is crucial for researchers to work from the earliest stages
in close collaboration with community partners in order to develop programs that
can actually be used by service organizations. Such collaboration results in a
sense of partnership and investment in the resulting program and can assure that
issues such as limited financial and staff resources are taken into consideration.
S13419 | HIV/AIDS counselling in Butego community of Masaka
District from 1993 to date
Mark Jones Kamya. Kyotera, Uganda
Issue: HIV/AIDS calls for a quick and steady approach through counselling by
adapting strategie that minimise the ills that are caused thereafter.
Project: Counselling services have been availed to Butego Community with a
population of approximately 300 people since 1993. This was due to a looming
HIV/AIDS pandemic during that time. The various types of counselling offered
are Pre-test, Post-test, Crisis, Prevention, Bereavement and Family Planning.
These days however emphasis in counselling is on prevention of infection and
re-infection of HIV. During counselling clients come up with various options such
as condom use, abstinence, faithfulness and reduction in sexual partners. 50% of
the clients buy the condom use option as the most viable and simple to implement.
It is clear that condom use has gained ground in the 1990's particularly among
the youth who have much lust for sex. In their community the male youth who
have adopted condom use are between the age of 18-35 years & the female
youth are between 20-35 years.
Results: From counselling interventions made over a period of 5 yrs, shows
that 30% astain from sex for fear of re-infections. 50% of the clients have opted
for condom use strictly to avoid re-infection.
Lessons Learned: Counselling is very vital for sexual behavioural change. And
this change tends to be gradual in pattern hence the person in question (client)
is not strained to make an informed decision. About 50% of the clients become
sexually inactive due to natural weakness and such people usually imagine that
they are abstaining.
S13420 1 Recruiting African-American mothers and teens for HIV
prevention interventions: Establishing trust
Pamela Denzmore-Nwagbara, B.A. Manteuffel, K.V. Childers,
G. Rodgers-Tillman, C.K. Dilorio. Emory University School of Public Health 1518
Clifton Road, NE #559 Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
Issue: Recruiting African American mothers and teens into an HIV/AIDS prevention study requires appropriate strategies for the community contacted.
Project: It is well known that recruitment of African Americans into research
studies can be challenging and often has not been successful. The AA population is constantly labeled "hard to reach" and is reportedly not interested in
participating in research. In this project a total of 1152 mothers and adolescents
(576 mothers/576 adolescents), were to be recruited into two HIV prevention
interventions and one comparison program in an 18-month period. Recruitment
took place at 11 community centers. Recruitment strategies must recognize that
all AAs are not the same educationally, culturally, and economically. It is critically
important to establish and maintain trust. Rapport and open communication with
community staff and participants enhances trust. In addition, participants must be
able to trust the integrity of individual recruiters and the project. Recruitment must
accommodate needs and respect cultural and ethnic values of AA participants.
Creating a positive image of the program and positive interactions between project
staff, center staff, and participants improves recruitment efforts. Enthusiasm and
patience by recruiters is critical.
Results: At 15 months, recruitment goals are on target with a total of 418
adolescent/mother pairs recruited. Recruitment challenges include no-shows
for appointments, changes in telephone service, coordinating schedules, lapsed
memberships in the community organization, establishing and maintaining rapport
with participants and the community centers.
Lessons Learned: Recruitment in the African American community requires
well-trained and personable recruiters, maintaining excellent communication and
relationships with community center staff and participants, flexibility in adjusting to
differences across communities, meeting needs of participants. Most importantly,
recruitment requires great ingenuity and resourcefulness and is time consuming.
Use of appropriate recruitment strategies by all recruiters can be enhanced by
developing a recruitment training videotape.
S13421 Community based AIDS supporting program in a
northeast province, Thailand
Jaturong Teerakanok', C. Keehaisit2, E. Thonggkrajai2, C. Leelakraiwan2,
M. Kanato2. Khonkaen Provincial Health Office Khonkaen 4000; 2Khonkaen
University, Khonkaen 40000, Thailand
Issue: Khonkaen province has been recognized with high number of HIV-infected
and AIDS patients. Several intervention has been implemented but mainly from

government top down planning and activities.
Project: Operational research was conducted in three different community settings since 1996: school-based, factory-based and village-based, where problem
appeared to be intense. The main strategy is people participation, selfcare/self
help and peer group supports.
Results: At the village-based, the project are encouraging people with HIV and
AIDS to form their network in two districts. Three meetings of self help groups