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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 13454-13458 177

A National Action Plan has been put in place to bolster the program and as well
as capability building through integration of training and information dissemination
to existing programs of DOLE, for example in labor education, in predeparture
seminars, giving with enterprise management skills to HIV positive persons. In
addition, workers, personnel managers and employees together with their respective occupational health doctors and nurses are integrating the topic to their
on going programs.
13454 AIDS intervention among deep-sea fishermen in the
Philippines
Nymia Pimentel Simbulan 2, R.H.I. Imperial2, J.G.T. Tayag2, D.M.N. Non3,
D.C.G. Gomez2. College of Arts & Sciences UP Manila, Padre Faura St.
Ermita, Manila 1000; 2CEMSHAD & UP Manila, Manila; 3Mindanao State
University, Gen Santos, Philippines
Issue: The lifestyles of deep-sea fishermen, the mobile nature of their work
and their work environment are important factors/conditions which should be
considered in the development of AIDS intervention work among this vulnerable
occupational group.
Project: The intervention project for the deep-sea fishermen was undertaken
in two major fishing areas in the Philippines, namely: Gen. Santos City and
Navotas, Metro Manila. It was primarily in the form of STD/AIDS mass education
and peer educators' training A combination of outreach activities & strategies
was used in reaching out to at least 5,000 deep-sea fishermen in the 2 study
sites. The STD/AIDS mass education, i.e. lectures, group discussions and distribution of IEC materials, was conducted in various venues most accessible to
the target group. These were: 1) premises/offices of fishing companies, 2) fishing
communities, 3) docking areas/piers. The topics covered, teaching materials and
paraphernalia used, teaching strategies and supplementary activities undertaken,
varied depending on the venue. Meanwhile, those trained to be peer educators
were identified through the assistance of key personnel in the fishing companies
and communities and from among the participants in the outreach activities. They
were tasked to help the project team distribute IEC materials, provide contacts
for the outreach activities and assist the team in mobilizing their peers during
actual group sessions. Focus group discussions were conducted as a culminating
activity aimed to evaluate the effects of the intervention project.
Results: The intervention project reached the target number of fishermen and
initially trained 58 peer educators among their ranks. It increased/improved their
level of knowledge on STD/HIV/AIDS. There was an overall recognition of the
value of using condoms as protection against STD/HIV/AIDS although this recognition is more on the level of theory than practice. Moreover, the participants'
positive response to the outreach activities can be gauged from 1) their spending
a part of their free time listening to the lectures, 2) active participation in the group
sessions & 3) the request to make the group sessions a regular activity in the
company.
Lessons Learned: 1) Company/management support is a crucial element in
the implementation of AIDS intervention among the deep-sea fishermen, 2) Peer
education is an effective strategy in AIDS intervention work for the seafaring
population since the people mobilized to conduct education work are constantly
in contact with the target group, knowledgeable about their lifestyles and work
environment, & familiar with their language, 3) Patience, perseverance, flexibility
and resourcefulness are important qualities/traits one must have when conducting
intervention work among seafarers.
13455 Workplace education as a vehicle for community
education: An application with results
Anthony Gallagher1, P. Bonifer-Tiedt2. 18111 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church VA
22042; 2American red Cross, Falls Church, USA
Background: Workplace settings offer unique opportunities for reaching adults
with interactive HIV prevention programs and can support diffusion of information
and skills from the workplace to the family and community. One of the purposes
of this research was to investigate the diffusion of HIV prevention information
from the workplace to the community. The objective was to measure participants'
intent to convey information and skills from workplace sessions to their families
and peers outside the workplace.
Method: The intervention was based on a modularized approach, tailored to
meet the needs of the specific workplace. Three trained instructors facilitated at
each 2-hour session. Red Cross instructors facilitated group discussions about
the ways HIV is and is not transmitted. Two of the instructors were company
employees, representing management and labor interests. Over 1912 employees
were trained.
Results: Pre/post survey questions measured change in behavioral intentions.
Repeated measures t-test results demonstrated statistically significant gains in
four scale measures of behavioral intentions: intentions to engage in casual
contact, use condoms, discuss HIV information outside the workplace, and social
diffusion (p - 0.0005). Three month follow-up data indicate that 76% of respondents had spoken to family and friends about HIV prevention, particularly condom
use.

Conclusions: Carefully designed, interactive, and targeted workplace HIV education resulted in diffusion of HIV prevention information outside the workplace,
particularly to families and communities.

S13456 Using participatory drama to communicate STD/HIV/AIDS
related messages in workplace settings - The Tanzanian
experience
Justin M.N. Mbonde, J.S.J. Tusekelege, S.S.M. Katende. African Medical And
Research Foundation PO. Box 2773 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Issue: Participatory Drama can be a valuable tool to educate people on
STD/HIV/AIDS prevention in workplaces.
Project: Since 1993 African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) has
been implementing AIDS Intervention Programme in Workplaces in Tanzania
in collaboration with managements of participating companies/organisations using the Peer Health Educator (PHE) strategy. With funding from AIDSCAP/FHI,
AMREF commissioned a professional drama group from Bagamoyo College
of Arts to write and perform an AIDS prevention play in participating companies/organisations to complement the efforts of the PHEs and diversify AIDS
messages delivery methods. Because of widespread interest and popularity of
this message delivery method, participating companies/organisations were encouraged to form their own drama groups spearheaded by company's PHEs.
In April 1997, AMREF organised a 5-day residential intensive training course in
community theatre for PHEs and Company AIDS Control Coordinators (CACCs).
The training was conducted by professional tutors from the Bagamoyo College
of Arts. This training was followed by on site follow up training during monitoring
and support supervision visits to participating companies/organisations. After the
training the PHEs and CACCs selected actors from among themselves and from
members of the target groups, wrote and performed plays designed to address
local issues on STD/HIV/AIDS present in their areas. At the end of the performance, the audience discuss ideas portrayed in the play, ask questions, raise
concerns and register their approval or disapproval of specific actions or ideas in
the play. The project is on going.
Results: A total of 13 companies/organisations had their PHEs and CACCs
trained. In total 96 PHEs and 13 CACCs were trained. Nine out of the 13
companies/organisations which received the training actually formed their own
drama groups after the training. During the first six months (July 1997 to December 1997), 31 drama performances were conducted by companies' drama
groups for an estimated total of 20,737 people in the target audience (the 13
companies/organisations have a total workforce of 27,285).
Lessons Learned: Drama can be an effective way to educate people in workplace settings provided that it is localised, focused, and accessible in a familiar
language. The discussions that emerge following the play's performance, provide
opportunity for actors to reinforce messages portrayed in the play. Drama has the
power to attract larger audience per session. It is easier to organise and sustain
rural based company drama groups than urban based company drama groups.
13457 Intervention program with building workers
Jose Carlos Pereira Silva. Rua Barad De Tatuf, Brazil
Problem: By a survey done in the files of the Social Service of Sao Paulo Support
Group for the Prevention of AIDS (GAPA-Sao Paulo), in the city of S ao Paulo,
Brazil, it was diagnosed that 30% of the AIDS patients assisted by the institution
were related to building sector workers.
Intervention Project: It was design a specific prevention program to this target
population which main objective was to train unions liders assuring them the best
information related to AIDS prevention and to human rights for those workers
already infected. In the first moment of the intervention a questionnaire was applied in order to evaluate the workers' knowledge on AIDS. Based on this survey,
outreach speechs and workshops were planned trying to direct the information to
the workers in the best way as possible and respecting their culture and language.
Results: Awareness of risk behaviors and changes towards safer procedures
related to AIDS prevention; a better understanding of male sexuality was also
achieved.
The outreach information materials have already been developed by students
of the School of Communication and Arts of the University of Sao Paulo and
the first outreach survey is finished. In some moments this work received the
collaboration of the SINDUSCON (the Building Workers' Union).
13458 IAIDS prevention in the work place
Maria Dulce Moreira, P.C. Pimenta Cristina. Brazilian AIDS Program, Esplanada
Ministerios Bloco G Sala 101, Ministerio Da Saude - Brasilia, Brazil
Issue: Of the total 116.389 AIDS cases notified until august 97, 89.2% are within
the 15-49 age group, which corresponds to the great majority of the work force in
Brazil. Furthermore, in a KAP survey conducted in 97 with the Social service for
the Industries-SESI, data shows that 99% of the 4893 individuals interviewed had
reasonable knowledge of AIDS transmission and recognized prevention methods;
but that 47.1% reported never using condoms.
Project: The STD/AIDS prevention project established in 96-97 had as its' principal characteristic to stimulate the partnership and collaboration of government
agencies with major private sector enterprises and civil society representatives.

The objective is to promote the adoption of safer practices related to both sexual
and parenteral transmission of HIV/AIDS within the work force. Through means
of: sensitization of high level administrators, towards the adoption of prevention
and assistance policies; development of support IEC materials; workshops for
leaderships and health professionals training on STD/HIV/AIDS; and mass media
campaigns.