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

698 Abstracts 33551-33555

12th World AIDS Conference

quarterly testing and call monitoring. Ongoing training includes weekly information
memos, quarterly informational updates, individualized learning opportunities, and
computer and Internet training. Volunteer support includes resume assistance,
letters of reference, computer training, recognition of birthdays, illnesses and
family events, and social opportunities.
Results: The Hotline documents caller gender, language, location, ethnicity,
age, risk and caller concerns. A total of 1,297 or 92% of 1,392 callers sampled
reported that their call increased their knowledge that some of their personal
activities might put them at risk for HIV infection. One-hundred percent of callers
sampled responded that they would use this service again and refer it to their
friends and loved ones. Volunteer retention remains above a projected 70%
retention rate.
Lessons Learned: The coordination of interactive training methodology, ongoing evaluation and training, volunteer support and creative information management combine to support a high-quality volunteer-powered, client-focused,
free and anonymous resource for peer counseling, information and referrals for
120,000 callers annually.
33551 Shifting the prevention paradigm for gay men
Paul Perchal1, A. Barker2, T. Trussler3. 11107 Seymour Street; 2Coordinator
Mens Program AIDS; 3Research Consultant GMAP, Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada
Issues: In Vancouver gay men continue to seroconvert at high rates of HIV
infection and epidemiological studies have limited utility in planning prevention
initiatives which adequately address the realities of community based organizations or the broad range of factors influencing the choices gay men make
with respect to their health. Our experience at AIDS Vancouver along with the
experience of other agencies in the developed world suggests there is a growing
awareness of the need to search for a new direction in prevention which has more
relevance to the lives of gay men.
Project: The Gay Men's Action Plan (GMAP) is a participatory action research
project undertaken to gather qualitative information about the factors influencing
gay men's health choices as well as build individual and community capacity
to address these issues. Individuals from the gay communities were recruited
and trained as peer researchers to conduct focus groups in people's homes.
Participants were supported to take as much ownership over various stages of
the process as possible.
Results: The experience to date suggests we are engaged in a profound process which holds a great deal of promise for the future. We have also witnessed
some encouraging signs of personal growth among participants. How this affects
sexual safety and health is still undetermined.
Lessons Learned: GMAP reflects our attempt to come to grips with finding
a new way of doing prevention with gay men. In spite of a plethora of barriers
including, trying to secure funding within the present structures, recruiting volunteers, and overcoming fears of deepening encounters with gay men, in slow
progress this process has deepened our resolve to move forward.
33552 Prevention and control of STD/HIV transmission through
peer educators amongst CSW
Shroff Seema. MSALI Road, Mumbai, India
Issue: Peer education is one of the key strategies to work with women in prostitution particularly for primary health care, and prevention of transmission of STDs
and HIV/AIDS.
Project: Kamathipura and Khetwadi are major brothel based red light areas
in Mumbai. ASHA Project of Mumbai Municipal Corporation strengthen its team
by appointing 13 peer educators identified during field work. These peers have
been trained with priority in communication skills, knowledge and concepts to
gain confidence. The input was to extend their assistance in easy and sustained
availability of clinical services and counselling to CSWs. The peers visit 40 houses
every day & contact 200 women in prostitution for IEC & deal with 4-5 women as
IPC in detail for their concerns. They provide platform for ventilation, information,
and guidance about the health services, referral network, and use of condoms. By
the means of IPCs the peers freely discuss with women in prostitution about empowerment, High risk behaviour and guide them for adopting realistic perception
of risk factors in context to STD, HIV/AIDS.
Result: More than 500 women in prostitution have been reached so far effectively. There have been constant increase in the no. of women seeking health
services from project;s comprehensive health clinic. Demand for condom has
also increased.
Conclusion: The peer education through CSW peer educators is effective with
CSW mainly because of their understanding of risk factors concerning social,
clinical issues & guidance for availability of proper services.
33553 Creating a culturally appropriate behavioral prevention
intervention for Spanish speaking gay men from an

existing risk-reduction program
Michael Buitron, N. Corby, F. Rhodes. CSULB Center for Behav Research &
SRVCS, 1091 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, CA 90813, USA
Issue: While theory-based behavioral interventions that target English-speaking
gay men have been shown to be effective, they require culturally appropriate
adaptations to function successfully within specific ethnic groups.

Project: An existing program, based on CDC and NIDA behavioral research projects, has effectively reached English-speaking gay men with multiple risk-reduction components that include outreach using role-model stories, a
stages-of-change safer-sex workshop, and a weekly support group. Listo para
Acci6n, an intervention which targets Spanish-speaking gay men, has adapted
many components from the English-language program to create a culturally appropriate intervention. In a series of four sessions that take place in a local
Latino dance club, the Listo para Acci6n program addresses issues such as HIV
transmission, condom negotiation skills, and goal setting for HIV risk reduction.
Participants who complete the four sessions are evaluated for risk reduction
competence, then awarded certificates that identify them as "Compadres," or
community leaders. After each session, participants join staff to offer condom
packets, referrals, and information about the program to other patrons at the
club. Patrons interested in participating are invited to two additional sessions,
co-facilitated by the Compadres. The Compadres serve as a support network, or
"second family" for these new participants in their risk reduction efforts. After the
two sessions, the participants are invited to become Compadres themselves, and
the cycle begins again.
Results: Since the inception of Listo para Acci6n, 25 Compadres have been
trained. Follow-up surveys have shown an increase in HIV knowledge and the
Compadres' intention to practice one or more risk-reduction behaviors.
Lessons Learned: Existing behavioral interventions can be successfully
adapted to the cultural norms and values of a specific ethnic group and remain effective. For example, issues regarding sexuality are not talked about
within the Latino family. Using a social support model, the Compadres create a
"second family" for the new participants where they can deal with sexual issues
and find support for reducing their risk for HIV.
33554 Peculiarities of anti-AIDS program aimed at teenagers in
Armenia
Alexander Ter-Hoyakimyan1, D.A. Sargsyan1, S.G. Topchyan1, L.S. Zohrabyan2,
G.G. Ghoukasyan3. 12 Koriun Street Yerevan 375025; 2Director, National AIDS
Center, Yerevan; 3National AIDS Center, Yerevan, Armenia
Main Objective: To increase the awareness and knowledge of pupils about
HIV/AIDS/STD prevention measures.
Methodology: Peer education of pupils with qualitative evaluation of program.
Results: The program started in October 1997. The voluntaries of Scientific Association of Medical Students of Armenia (SAMSA) visited 10 secondary
schools, covering 3 000 pupils of 8, 9, 10th grades. The questionnaire revealed
interesting data related to national mentality, stereotype and topics forbidden
in the former USSR. 40% of teachers hardly accepted the program, especially
the part of condom distribution, meanwhile 97% of teenagers found information
provided by the program very essential. 67% of teenagers had no idea about
HIV/AIDS (etiology, transmission, consequences etc.). After discussion only 33%
of teenagers had the same unchanged level of knowledge. 34% of teachers were
against the condom delivery, but pupils insisted that the program to be complete.
Conclusion: (1) The program is necessary without any doubt and has to be
continued.
(2) The negative influence of adults' stereotype mentality should be prevented.
(3) Media (TV, radio, press) should be involved in larger programs.
33555 Peer-oriented interventions reduce HIV-risk behaviors
among out-of-treatment drug abusers
Linda B. Cottler1, W.M. Compton1, R.M. Cunningham-Willians1,
A. Ben-Abdallah1, F. Abram2, C. Fichtenbaum1, B. Dotson3. 1 Washington
University/Dept Psychiatry, 40 N. Kingshighway, Suite 4 St. Louis, MO 63108;
2School of Social Service/St. Louis Univ. St. Louis MO; 3City of St. Louis Dept.
of Health St. Louis MO, USA
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a peer-delivered intervention to a standard intervention on cocaine use, condom use, and number of sexual partners,
among out of treatment drug abusers.
Design: Randomized 3 month follow-up study.
Methods: As part of a NIDA-funded Cooperative Agreement study to prevent
HIV transmission among out-of-treatment drug abusers (Grant #DA08324), the
St. Louis site assigns persons to either a standard or a peer-delivered enhanced
intervention. Change in HIV risk behaviors for both groups is assessed at 3
months. The standard intervention (the NIDA Cooperative Agreement Standard)
includes education on: male and female condoms, reducing sexual partners, syringe hygiene, and recognition of symptoms of STDs and HIV. The peer-delivered
intervention includes four 2-hour sessions, which expand on the information given
in the standard intervention.
Results: Findings based on the first 725 cocaine-using subjects to complete
follow-up have shown that the sample overall reduced its level of high risk
behaviors. Specifically, 80% of this sample of out-of-treatment crack/cocaine
users stopped, maintained or reduced their lower level of crack/cocaine use.
Additionally, our sample was successful in reducing their number of sex partners,

maintaining one-partner relationships or abstaining. Persons in the peer-delivered
enhanced intervention group were statistically significantly more likely to reduce
their crack/cocaine use than those assigned to the standard intervention (83%
vs. 76%), but there was no difference between the enhanced and standard with
regards to sexual behaviors. Our peer-delivered intervention proved to be more
beneficial to men than the standard intervention in reducing crack/cocaine use.
However, women assigned to the peer-delivered intervention were slightly more