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

656 Abstracts 33321-33326

12th World AIDS Conference

Methods: Twenty women with confirmed HIV infection followed at a Brazilian
general teaching hospital participated on this study. All of them have a baby and
knew they were infected during prenatal period. The data were collected through
semi structured and recorded interview on the days of their appointment with their
doctor. The data were analysed based on the women's speech. The belief model
was constructed based on Rosenstock.
Results: Based on the women's speech five categories were identified: 1.
Perception of Infection/Disease; 2. Perception of Social Reaction to Disease,
3. Searches to live with the situation; 4. Social Role; 5.Sexual Behavior. Each
category has its sub categories. Their interrelation permitted the construction of
a Belief Model regarding the sexual behavior of HIV-1 seropositive women. It
is clear that safe and unsafe sexual behavior are influenced by factors shown
at categories and subcategories, such as: religious belief, underestimantion of
diagnosis and infection, feeling of death, wish of become a mother, social role,
social stigma, fears of revealing the diagnosis, stigma with condom. Intervention
was done through sexual and clinical counselling, but there is a basic need of
psychosexual intervention.
Conclusion: The women studied know about evolution of HIV infection and its
consequences. Even though most of them have unsafe sex and become pregnant. This is due mainly to psychological, cultural and social factors. Psychosexual
intervention is needed.
33321 Psychology of callers who have performed risk behaviors
Hongliang Ma. National Health Education Institute, Bldg. 2 Block 1, Anhua Xili,
Beijing, China
Issue: Risk behaviors, such as having sex with prostitutes, are not rare now in
China, The callers at our AIDS Hotline who have had such behavior, often regret
after the event
Project: As counselors for the AIDS Hotline of the National Health Education
Institute, we often receive calls from those who have practiced risk behaviors,
such as having sex with a prostitutes without condom, After the event they often
feel regretful for what they have done. It will contribute to better conduction of
health education on AIDS/STDs prevention to analyze their psychology.
Results: Analysis of the psychology of those callers who have practiced certain
risk behaviors has found some common patterns. When there is the possibility to
be on intimate terms with the opposite sex, curiosity spurs them to approach the
latter with the thought that it is only an eye-opener, nothing would happen. When
they touches the body of the latter, they forgets the ban on sex with prostitute
put by themselves and yields to the temptation and have sex without protection.
They feel satisfied just after that. However, they regret when they don't feel well,
especially when there is something wrong with their genitalia or after they learn
something about AIDS/STDs After counseling they would think if somebody gave
me the advice before nothing would happen.
Lessons Learned: There exists indeed a general pattern of psychology among
the callers who have practiced risk behaviors. It would be more effective to develop health education strategy and health education materials in accordance
with their psychology.
33322 Itinerant centers for HIV/AIDS anonymous testing (CTA) -
Alternative approach of prevention on STD/AIDS
Ilhammt Haddad, E. Palmieri, M.A. Oliveira, R.C. Andreazzi, R.R. Barrio,
A.C. Rapouso, M. Soares. Secretaria Da Saude Programa DST?AIDS, AV
Antonio Emerick 94/98 11.390-000 Sao Vicente SP, Brazil
Issue: Sao Vicente is one of the ocean Cities in the State of Sao Paulo. 34.49%
of the City population is of low income, inhabitants of slums and distant neighborhoods with high concentration of vulnerable population to HIV (poor young,
poor women and drug users). Most of them are not reached by the Centers for
HIV/AIDS Anonymous Testing.
Project: Itinerant CTA creates prevention alternatives - out of its physical
structure, accomplishing interventions close to the lacking and distant population
with information on STD/AIDS and offering testing for HIV through a structure
steering wheel and of the integration with prevention projects and community
based organizations.
Results: Itinerant CTA inverted the flow population-service, reaching vulnerable
and resistant demand to a prevention service.
Lessons learned: It is possible to achieve with alternative prevention approach
hidden population such us poor youth, poor women and injecting drugs users if
we are creative and innovative. Itinerant CTA is being a very successful and low
cost option for prevention in a developing country.
133323 Phone counselling
Gintare Aleksejynaite1, S. Chaplinskas2, J. Rakickene3. 1Ukmerges 305-16,
Vilnius 2035; 2Member of New Academy of Sciences, Vilnius, 3Lithuanian AIDS
Center, Vilnius, Lithuania

Objectives: To determine if the AIDS hotline satisfies the programs needs and
develop recommendations to improve the hotline service.
Methods: The research was conducted in the form of a comparative survey
from respondents that used the service during the last five years. The research
method utilized an anonymous questionnaire filled out by people that used the
service. In addition, a sample of the respondents that used the service partici
pated in follow up personal interview. The information generated through a needs
assesment can be used to determine whether a hotline is appropriate.
Results: During the 5 years period more than 3,200 persons have received
information and counselling from this servise. The number of people that utilize
this service has increased, on averade, by 10%per year Women use this servise
slightly more often than men (52% and 42% respectively). There has been an
increase in the number of users of this service in the 16-25 year age group. 2/3
of the callers are asking about the possibility of getting tested for HIV. One of
the main reasons a person called to the hotline was due to feeling uncomfortable
discussing sexual topics with their partner.
Conclusion: For an effective educational campaign it is necessary to offer
alternative channels of communication to the public so that each person that
wants to receive information about AIDS may get it.
33324 |. Research in the community about the needs for the
implementation of a HIV/AIDS couseling service in a
community health clinic
Manuel Solis1, Cesar Galindo2, V.Z. Vanegas Zonia3, G.M. Garcia Mayra4,
C.J.M. Corbera Juana Miriam4. 1 la. Avenida 11-19 Zona 1 Guatemala Ciudad;
2Medicos Sin Fronteras; 3Ministerio de Salud Guatemala; 4AGPCS Guatemala,
Guatemala
Issue: Due to the magnitude of the HIV epidemic in Guatemala, it has become
neccesary to incorporate counseling and testing services in the local community
health centers.
Project: This project is an integrated project containing three large components, of which the work with the heatlh centers is one. The project is based
on complete community participation in the desing and implementation of each
component. It takes into consideration the feelings and perceptions opf the community about HIV/AIDS. It deals with the issues from a multidisciplinary point of
view and permits the unification of private and governmental efforts.
Results: This component of the project developed six focus groups with the
community (three with clinics users and three with non-users). The results describe the perceptions of the participants about the neccesary elements needed
in order to incorporate couseling and testing as a integral part of the services
offered by the local community health clinic. Other aspects investigated include
level of knowledge, attitudes about HIV/AIDS and the source of information.
Finally, the issue of great importasnce is the value which the community places
on the coulseing services that would be implemented by the health clinic.
The perception of the members of the community is important in order to
determine the incorporation of a new service such as the couseling and testing in
the local health clinics. The services implemented in the local health clinics allow
communities to optimize resources and make them have a voice in dealing with
the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
S33325 Counselling and guiding the youth on HIVIAIDS in a rural
setting
Charles Munubi. PO. Box 534, Uganda
Issue: Young people living in rural areas are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and need to
be counselled on how to change their social customs in regard to the HIV/AIDS
Scourge.
Project: In Uganda there has been evidence that the spread of HIV/AIDS was
moving from urban to rural areas. To fight HIV/AIDS in the west Ugandan parish of
Kidukuru, a group of 20 villagers obtained funds from the German NGO - Kranich
AIDS in Afrika e.V. The villagers were trained in the basics of counselling/caring
for HIV/AIDS victims. The group formed the Kidukuru counselling programme
KCP. The activities include talking to patients, youth, women groups, preaching,
advocating for condom use and leading patients to places of treatment.
Results: In 4 years 2357 villagers have been counselled and 56 more multipliers have been trained. Response has been good; 180 youths aproved of condom
use while the number of people open about their HIV status rose from 5 to 50.
Lessons Learned: Counselling people and propagating of condom use are
very instrumental at reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS in African rural settings.
33326 Encouraging self shared confidentiality promotes self
and community care
Consolataodiembo Auma, A.M. Awuor, B.G. Andare. Tapwak, PO. Box 30583,
Nairobi, Kenya
Issue: The people with AIDS (PWAs) were encouraged to share about their
serostatus. This promoted self-care and community care.
Project: The PWAs were involved in the promotion of the concept of shared
confidentiality within their community. 200 PWAs were followed for a period of 6
months ie. from June 1997-December 1997 in their community.
Method: Through counselling and self administered questios, the above PWAs
were supported in their communities.

Results: After a period of the 6 months, 25% of PWAs reported to have
received knowledge from the community about self care, 35% reported to have
received material support from the community while 40% received moral support
from the community.
Lessons Learned: Encouraging PWAs to share self confidentiality with the
community promotes a strong partnership in both self and community care.