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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 33581-33586 703

Results: The first training of Peer AIDS Educators was held in January, 1996
and ten (10) people trained from eight (8) factories. The role of Peer AIDS
Educators are to educate co-workers on HIV/AIDS/STD's, counselling affected
and infected co-workers with HIV/AIDS find distribute Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) materials and condoms to their peers. In 1997 the peer
AIDS Educators organised mobile street AIDS campaigns in collaboration with
Maseru City Council AIDS Education Unit. The campaign lasted for two days and
it was held at above mentioned estates. About 10,000 pieces of condoms were
distributed during the campaign.
Lessons learned: The employees at the workplace are a hard to reach target
population, therefore information on HIV/AIDS and prevention strategies can be
effective if the government can have a clear policy on protection of people living
with AIDS at the workplace. In having that kind of policy all the work-place will be
under legal obligation to establish AIDS education corners.
33581 | Peer education programme among the youth and women
in Kinoni community
George William Luboobo. Taso Masaka PO. Box 1679 Masaka, Uganda
Issue: Marginalised groups in our rural settings require an intervention to address
their specific needs inorder to achieve effective behavioural change.
Project: In view of the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection among the Youth
and Women the most marginalised groups in Uganda, a Peer Education Programme was started in Kinoni Community. The project entails in its strategy,
participatory methods of separate peer group learning, the training of Peer Educators by TASO Community Trainers, setting up of referral system and formation
of Peer Education groups, sex education and condom distribution.
Results: People in Kinoni Community have shown a keen interest in the Peer
Education Programme as evidenced by a high level of community participation.
Within six months 160 people had been referred to HIV antibody testing, 1496
condoms had been distributed and 5 peer educator groups formed.
Lessons: Peer Education Programmes among marginalised groups are important tools for effective behavioural change if they are designed to enable such
groups explore their social, economic and sexual needs and analyse specifically
communication hindrances they face.
33582 Sensitisation of barbers on STD/AIDS in Bafoussam,
Cameroon
Ferdinande Kana1, C. Ndongmo2, E. Kembou', L.N. Kaptue1.
'Sidalerte-Cameroon, PO Box 1937 Yaounde; 2Hematology Laboratory Chu,
Yaounde, Cameroon
Objectives: To sensitise barbers especially those who are ambulant on the risk
of HIV infection associated with their work.
Project: - Identification and recruitment of 20 ambulant barbers and 10 barbers working in a fixed place. - Assessment of their Knowledge, Attitudes and
Practices (KAP) among 100 persons regarding hygienic conditions during barbing places. - Training of 30 barbers selected during 2 days in the theoretical
knowledge concerning skin diseases and AIDS (transmission patterns, clinical
signs and prevention). The prevention of HIV infection was mainly based on the
adherence to rigorous hygienic rules (washing of materials with bleach after use,
single use of razor blade, use of hand gloves) and their implication in the fight
against AIDS. - At the end of training, two sessions of educative talks were
organised by educators from Sidalerte-Cameroon in order to give examples to
the peer educators.
Result: Barbers constitute a very vulnerable group to AIDS since from the
investigation KAP, only 2% of them use hand gloves; 90% are not mindful of
hygienic rules (a single razor blame for instance can be used for about 10 persons). All have heard about AIDS but don't know that their professional practice
exposes them to infections, Thirty certificates of peer educator were awarded to
the trainees who were in turn to train their colleagues. They were given training
materials to use for their colleagues and customers (5 packs of bleach, 100 pairs
of gloves, 50 boxes of razor blades, 50 posters, 1000 condoms).
Lessons Learned: Our work was approved and supported by the authorities
of the service for hygiene of the town and the barbers customers invited during
educative talks sessions. This proximity approach of the fight against AIDS is to
be encouraged. But due to limited means, we can not extend our action to other
towns of the country. We are therefore unable to touch a larger population, nevertheless, sensitisation remains an important weapon against AIDS in developing
countries.
33583 The challenges a youth peer counselor trained for a high
institution of learning faces as she/he adjusts to meet the
demands of the rural youth
Wilfred Arubaku. Box 16013, Kampala, Uganda
Issue: There is a growing need for Youth peer counselors in a country like

Uganda, where the issues of youth sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS is
left much of the time in the hands of professionals.
Project: Since the beginning of 1990's many students in Makerere University
fell victim to HIV/AIDS and have since lost their lives. Some of the students who
where a little bit luckier, only suffered the consequences of unwanted pregnancies. As the situation reached alarming proportions, some few vigilant students
came up to form the Makerere Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Project

in 1995. Youth peer counselors, also referred to as Community Based Delivery
Agent (CBDA's) were trained to deliver the much needed services to the students
in the form of counseling, contraceptives etc.
Result: (1) There as been a steady decline in the number of students dying
from AIDS related illnesses and STDs.
(2) The number of unwanted pregnancies has also gone down considerably.
Lessons learned: (1) Door to door approach of condom distribution is more
effective than clinic-based.
(2) Open minded approach to HIV/AIDS fight is also a good method.
(3) Similar approaches can easily be effectively employed for the rural youth.
33584 Training of peer educators to develop educational and
STD/HIV/AIDS prevention projects in schools
Pilar Aguirre. Trans. 34 #115-33 Apt. 205 Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Issue: To train people as peer educators is an effective way to reach specific
populations and to design STD/VIH/AIDS prevention projects.
Project: Targeting a school population, 50 persons were trained during 120
hours in IEC (Information, education and communication) strategies to develop
sexual and reproductive health projects to prevent STD (sexual transsmited
diseases) HIV/AIDS in their community.
Workshops done by professionals prepared peer educators to reach students,
teachers and family members with educational materials, personal and group contacts and innovative strategies (for example: newuspapers, suggestion boxes,
radio talkshows, bulletin boards, posters, songs and videos) that considered the
specific needs and characteristics of the population.
Results: The project changed cultural atitudes of the community members
toward sexuality, prevention STD/HIV and AIDS.
The project promoted youth organization and participation of the community
around HIV/AIDS prevention issues and reched more than 2000 people in the
school, including students, teachers and family members. The 50 persons who
were trained designed a sex education project for he school to be developed
for serveral years reaching both teachers and students of all grades fromm
pre-school to 11th. grade.
Lessons Learned: It is possible to design a prevention project of STD/HIV/AIDS
with community members and with high quality trained peer educators reaching
specific populations with innovative strategies changing attitudes and increasing
STD/HIV/AIDS knowledge and safe-sex behavior.
33585 Implication of rural youth associations in the fight
against STDs/AIDS
Michel Mouafol, Ngnie Tagne Suzanne2, Jean-Marie Talom2, Ubald Tamouife3,
Pauline Mounton4, Lazare Raptue2. 'Association des Jeunes Anti-Sida
(A.J.A.S.) PO. Box 5877 Yaounde; 2Sidalerte, Yaounde; 3Cameroon Health
Program, Yaounde; 4Association des Freres et Soeurs UNIS, Yaounde,
Cameroon
Objectives: To bring a good number of rural youths to participate in the fight
against STDs/AIDS in their community.
Methodology: - Contact with chiefs of different villages in order to mobilise
and to bring them to adhere.
- Identification of various associations.
- Training of youth leaders from different quarters
- Partial activities of peer educators
Results: - 12 community opinion leaders contacted were in favour of our idea
and they promised supporting our activities.
- 8 youth associations were identified within which 2 members were selected
from each of the association for the training.
- 16 youth leaders were trained within 2 days on all aspects concerning
STDs/AIDS
- As of today, 15 educational discussions and 5 quizzes have been realised by
these trained leaders thereby sensitising 3000 youths.
This experience has enabled us mobilise rural youths as far as STDs/AIDS are
concerned. The next evaluation of this work will help us re enforce our strategies
on the prevention of these pandemic infectious.
S33586 Challenge in implementing HIV/AIDS/STD in the prisons
in Kathmandu, Nepal
Pradeepta Upadhyay. Gya Nesore Kathmandu, Nepal
Issues: A Project to generate awarness in HIV/AIDS and STD transmission has
been implimented in three prison in Kathmandu. One female and two male prisons
were identified for this intervention program.
Approach: In coordination with the jail management a group of prisoners are
identified as peer educators. This group received peer education training and
became the focal point for HIV/AIDS/STD activity inside the prisons.
Counselling trainings were also conducted for this group. They were also as
sisted and encouraged to maintain reports of their activities and to design and to
develop strategies suitable to the prison enviornment. Lectures and discussion
are held with a focus to intergrate reproductive health and sexuality. Education
materials are distributed through them and the prison library has been equiped
with reading materials for the benefit of the prisoners.
A condom box has been put up in the male prisons and the condom logistics
are maintained by the peer educators.