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

696 Abstracts 33540-33544

12th World AIDS Conference

and HIV/AIDS and Q2 to evaluate changes due to the training. While in Q1 only
21% of males and 16% of females gave a correct definition of AIDS, in Q2 these
percentages increased: 84.7 and 91.4% respectively. Knowledge about sexuality
also improved from 7 and 10% for boys and girls to 50 and 62% respectively in
Buenos Aires City, and from 17 and 11% to 62 and 51% respectively in Greater
Buenos Aires. In Q1 only 24.9% perceive they're in risk, mainly associated to
not knowing the sexual partner. This percentage keeps similar in Q2 (24.1%) but
only associated to unsafe sex. Regarding to the causes to use condoms, in Q1
only 4% of males and 13% of females refer safety while in Q2 these percentages
increased to 98.2 and 87.2% respectively.
Lessons Learned: Besides the incorporation of gender perspective in adolescent sexuality issues needs more efforts, after the training adolescents improved
their knowledge about sexuality and HIV/AIDS, increased their risk perception and
the association between condoms and safety. They also debated about sexuality,
gender roles, family relationship, friendship and solidarity, as well as developed
prevention capabilities.
33540 Behaviour change among sex workers and clients can be
best brought about by peer educators
Anindita Roy. Programme Associate - Child In Need Institute, India
Issue: Identification of peers is necessary for the optimum utilisation of services
and for the sustainability of any project.
Project: The project addresses sexworkers and clients of rural red light pockets
towards risk minimisation for STD/HIV/AIDS. The nature of intervention plays an
important role in the quality and quantity of change of the Peer Educators (PE).
The PE s are sex workers or clients who were prominent individuals in the community who helped others, particularly in times of medical crisis. The project located
these people and through one-to-one interaction, group discussion, trainings they
were included in the programme. All trainings, meetings were need-based and
effective towards relevent social and attitudinal change. The residential training
particularly was very effective in this context.
Results: PE s now directly liase with concerned external agencies thereby
enhancing in their capacity building: in increasing their horizons, their self-confidence and in their decision-making ability. Their active involvement ensures
participation of sex workers and clients at all levels of project activities thereby
upgrading the knowledge about STD/HIV/AIDS at the community level.
Lessons learned: (1) Involving the peer educators at all stages ensures better
participation.
(2) Empowerment is a process and needs to be initiated to bring about effective
change.
133541 HIV/AIDS preventive information workshop at
governmental agencies in Mexico City
Rosario Ponce de Leon. Dr. Jose Terres 71 Col. Doctores Mexico, City 06720,
Mexico
Issue: Low income housewives and adolescences, the groups that are more
affected by the AIDS pandemic, receive HIV/AIDS preventive information in a
workshop that is being given at 51 govermental agencies in 51 counties in Mexico,
City.
Project: Prevention is the only way the world have to stop AIDS. Low income
women are the more affected. That is why preventive information has to be
given to the housewives and to the young people of the poorest cities in Mexico, City. There are 51 govermental agencies where this groups go to receive
support as medical attention, job trainig, education, daycare or laudry services.
We go to those community-based state agencies to give the information througth
workshops.
Results: 450 women have received the information by now and the goal is to
reach 2,100 more.
Lessons Learned: Women who have received the preventive information have
the opportunity, for first time, of talking about sexuality. This give them confidence
in knowing more than their partners and having the possibility to orient their
children in order for them to be protected against sexual disseases.
33542 Peer education: Professional to professional, Americans
in Vietnam
Cheryll Ann Kennedy, P. Kloser1, A.T. Nguyen2, T.X.D. Nguyen3, T.X. Lieu4,
D.H. Ngoc5, P. Correll1. Dept. Prev. Med., 1New Jersey Medical School, 185 S
Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey, NJ, USA; 2Univ. Trng. Ctr. For Health
Care Profess, Ho Chi Minh City; 3Health Education Information Center, Ho Chi
Minh City; 4Health Services, Ho Chi Minh City; 5AIDS Committee, Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam
Issue: International need for health professional (including policy planners) and
community worker training in the prevention, care and treatment of HIV, especially
in developing countries. Some developed countries have considerable resources,

experience and expertise in epidemic management.
Project: A multi-disciplinary team of health professionals from an urban US
medical school in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City AIDS Committee
mounted a three day conference of lectures, demonstrations and workshops. The
US team had three physicians (internist with experience in treating all stages of
HIV infection, dermatologist, psychiatrist with HIV-psychosocial and prevention
expertise), a nurse experienced in HV care, a medical student with a public health

background and a coordinator. Vietnamese physicians, nurses, a health policy
planner, a social worker, interpreter and translator, and community outreach
peer educators (from youth groups, rehabilitated drug users and commercial
sex workers) made up the team from the Ho Chi Minh City AIDS Committee.
The committee is broad-based and has wide community representation. Formal,
lecture-based presentations (including medically based lectures on opportunistic
infections, skin disorders, infection control, public health, fears and phobias) were
supplemented by focus-groups, sharing meals and problem-solving workshops
based on adaptation of solutions for specifically targeted environments or behaviors, while acknowledging the tremendous socio-cultural barriers that exist
within and without the economic and political constraints. Outreach strategies
were developed for groups that participate in illegal behavior (drug use and sex
work). Counselling skills were practiced and networking partners and potential
resources were identified.
Lessons Learned: Vietnamese participants were surprised to learn that the U.
S. had experienced many of the same problems with which they were struggling.
All participants reported a very high level of learning new concepts, strategies and
approaches. Through mutual respect and collaboration that fosters full participation, this project demonstrates that expertise can be translated and transformed
for socio-cultural adaptation.
33543 1Peer education and support for African PWAs living in
England
Charles Bagira. 182 Montrose Avenue, London Edgware HA8 ORP England, UK
Issue: The role of individuals living with HIV in setting prevention initiatives to
reduce further HIV infections and re-infections among Africans living away from
their countries of origin and the role of peer education in reducing infections from
mother to baby.
Project: Due to increasing number of PWA and deaths of Africans living in
London (UK), several Community groups have developed to address the issue.
Innovative vision is one example of such initiatives. I will share my experience
of being a service user and an active volunteer with my community group which
has managed to set up mixed support groups for men and women to share
information, discuss relationship problems and tackle issues for children.
For the past 15 years of the HIV pandemic, there was a lot of secrecy, denial,
and fear of accessing services among Africans due to fear of breach of confidentiality and fear of immigration cases being jeopardised due to HIV diagnosis.
The support groups have helped many men and women to accept their status,
get informed and empowered and many have moved on to share their status
publically to help those still in denial. The support I have receive is tremendous,
during my care for my wife who has since died and I have 4 young children to
care for.
Lessons. The initiative has made a break through, last world AIDS day was
coloured with Innovative vision service users as positive speakers sharing experience. The department of Health and several local Health and social authorities
have acknowledged the impact made by our innovative programme and have
pledged to support it financially and with training resources. It works effectively to
involve PWAs at all levels, policy and service development.
33544 Behavior change and living with AIDS through focus
group discussion for factory workers
Duangduen Kahothong. Saraburi AIDS Education & Res. Entre 238 Pakpeaw
Muang Saraburi 18000, Thailand
Issue: Factory workers are vulnerable to HIV infection due to risk behaviors
and an unaware of the transmission. They require knowledge and strategies to
change their risk behaviors.
Project: Number of HIV infected workers in Saraburi province, one of an industrial areas in Thailand, are increased tremendously compared with other groups.
Reducing risk behavior for factory workers program was initiated started with
AIDS in the work place program targeted to 50 factory managers/owners with the
intention to enable them to set AIDS prevention plans/policies for their workers.
Following to that, voluntary workers were recruited and trained to conduct focus
group discussions. In addition, Saraburi AIDS Care Network was established to
collaborate with the factories and volunteers and to help PWA refered from the
factories (counselling, treatment, provide necessities).
Results: 37 factories (nearly 30,000 workers) joined the program. Each factories set AIDS prevention and care policies for their workers. Those factories
collaborated with Saraburi AIDS Care Network and allowed the Network to work
closely with voluntary 'workers. There were approximately 65 per cent of workers
in those factories participated in the focus group discussion program. The level of
workers' knowledge/risk behavior and also number of infections reduced. Those
infected workers were treated in line with the policies set by their factories and
also sought helps from the Network when needed.
Lessons learned: Worker's risk behaviors and also the rate of infection can
be reduced successfully through focus group discussion especially organized by
their friends in factory settings.