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

710 Abstracts 34116-34121

12th World AIDS Conference

The human element is a key element in the planning and delivery of technical
support in HIV/AIDS.
S34116 Knowledge and attitudes about new HIV drug treatments
among NYC Latino and Black young men who have sex
with men
Alexi San Doval1, Richard Duran1, B. Burgos1, L. O'Donnell1, A. Stueve2.
Education Development Center 55 Chapel Street, Newton, Massachusetts
02158; 2Columbia University School of Public Health New York NY, USA
Background: Has the availability of effective HIV drug treatments influenced
the risk behaviors of different populations? One concern is that information (and
misinformation) about treatments may reduce motivation to practice safer sex,
particularly among high-risk groups, such as young men (under the age of 25) who
have sex with other men (ymsm) and who may feel less vulnerable to becoming
HIV infected or less worried about the consequences if they do.
Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 55 Latino and African
American ymsm in the South Bronx/Upper Manhattan and Queens. Participants
were asked what they had heard about treatments for HIV and how effective they
are; whether these drugs have changed the way they think about HIV and AIDS;
whether a person who is HIV+ and being treated can transmit the virus to others;
and whether knowing a HIV+ partner was being treated would make a difference
in sex practices.
Results: 39 ymsm were aware drugs are available which may help some
people who are HIV+ live longer and be healthier. Most knew that drugs reduced
- but did not eliminate - viral load and that HIV transmission is still possible.
However, respondents reported making decisions about whether to have anal
sex or use a condom based on assumptions that partners are not HIV+ if they
look healthy, and they were reluctant to talk about HIV status or drug treatment
with partners or peers.
Conclusions: Interviews with Latino and African American young men who
have sex with men indicate an awareness of new HIV drug treatments. However,
many continue to make decisions about whether to use condoms or engage in
anal sex based on a quick assessment of a partner's health, and thus continue
to expose themselves to risk.
S34117 | Resettlement of street youths as a strategy for HIV/AIDS
prevention
N.J. Ssekiboobo Tenywa1, Charles Serunjongi2, Peter Zaake Senyumba3,
Charles Simbwa4, Sande Ndimwibo5, Fred Odongkara6, Regina Mutyaba7.
1 PO. Box 12439, Kampala; 2 Youth Alive Club, Kampala; 3National Youth
Council, Kampala; 4 Youth Alert Foundation, Kampala; 5Uganda Anti-AIDS Youth
Association, Kampala; 6Uganda AIDS Commission, Kampala, 7Uganda Human
Rights Educ. & Dev't Centre, Kampala, Uganda
Issue: An increasing number of youths is coming on streets mainly in urban areas,
most of whom being orphans. Most of them are very vulnerable to sex abuse and
drug abuse and hence to HIV/AIDS infection. Actually some are already infected
with HIV. There is also concern to public whose property is lost in the hands of
these street youths.
Project: A resettlement programme was initiated by Kiruddu Rural Youth Development Association as one of the ways through which, with full participation
in economic activities and sports of the youths, a reduction in HIV infection is
envisaged.
Results: With counselling on HIV/AIDS dangers and emphasis put on behavior
change through these seminars and now 43 of them have been taken out of the
streets, 13 accepted to go back to school. They have also accepted condoms
which are regularly issued to them. The Association has received balls, board
games, and one manual brick-making machine and through such activities the
Youths have been absorbed. Most of them can now fit very well in society. Those
who have accepted to go back are living happily with their parents or guardians,
others in schools are used to convince their friends still on streets to rejoin their
relatives or these youths home. HIV/AIDS awareness is now number one with
these street youths.
Lessons Learnt: With some little funding, the street youths and prone to HIV
infection can be integrated in society, and there is really a need to change their
mentality as long as there is economic support. With love, comfort, economic
support and education programmes on HIV/AIDS associated with extra curricular
activities among street youths, their wild life and HIV/AIDS ignorance can be
checked.
S34118 1 Video letters between Africa and Europe against AIDS/HIV
Salima El Kebir, Pascal Revault. GRDR 93100 Montreuil 20 Rue Voltaire, France
Issue: Migrant community vulnerable to HIV/AIDS require innovative and appropriate tools and support. Especially because of the spread of knowledge
concerning HIV/AIDS without discussion on their social implication.

Project: A participatory method using video-letters produced by comity was
developed through an exchange of answer/response between France and Mali
in a first time. The project include a partnership with health migrant community
based organizations and provide a specific training (public health, training tools,
video techniques).
Assesment of the results was done through a collaboration between communities and health autorities.

Results: In the year 1997, 6 video were produced and discussed in an exchange process concerning directly 45% of 200,000 people in Kayes (Mali) and
2000 in Seine-Saint-Denis (France).
The main results are:
- A partnership with the health autorities.
- Planification of community actions in a network.
- Implication of women an youth's groups about HIV screening (test) and
support of people living with HIV.
Community exchanges between Europe and Africa through video letters in an
interesting way to promote appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention and support.
S34119 Managment of children in families affected by HIV/AIDS:
Community issues
Ismaila Mbaye, Ngagne Mbaye. University Cheikh Anta Diop, Pikine BP 20330
Thiaroye, Senegal
Issues: Management of children affected by HIV/AIDS is becoming one of the
most crucial social problems in Subsaharan Africa.
Within the framework of a prospective study on "the psycho-social situation of
children in families affected by HIV/AIDS in SENEGAL", we aimed to know how
to improve the community involvement.
Project: Since January 1996 we are following-up 16 families where at least one
parent is HIV positive and had received proper counselling. Every 3 months, the
study team visits each family and collects informations by observation and parent
interviews about the intra-family relations, the economical impact of HIV/AIDS on
the household and the health situation of the children; special attention was given
to the community implication in the coping mechanisms of the family managment
of the children.
Results: Ours findings confirms that the community involvement is the best
culturally acceptable and affordable way four our societies to cope with the increasing number infected or affected children. But they revealed also the decline
of the traditionnalnetworks of solidarity and the unawareness of the needs of the
children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Lessons Learned: It raises the issues of the "shared confidentiality" the necessity of training the community to improve its perception of HIV/AIDS and to
identify the specific needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS, and the external
support for the caregivers.
371*/34120Strengthening the community response to the HIV
epidemic in Senegal
Moustapha Gueye1, Elizabeth Reid2, B. Goumbala1. 16, rue Calmette Dakar;
2ANCS DAKAR, Senegal; 2UNDP New York, USA
Objective: To explore ways to catalyse and empower communities to respond
actively to the HIV epidemic in Senegal, through strengthening their capacity to
understand and commitment to act; and, through strengthening the capacity of
organizations within civil society to support and contribute to these processes.
Methodology: A conceptual framework for a capacity building approach based
on concepts of partnership, social capital, perspectives, social learning, process
facilitation, and social change was developed. Methodologies for the creation
of inclusive spaces for community conversations were designed; these methodologies, which included strategic questioning and story creation and analysis,
were designed to stimulate processes of reflection and discussion within and by
communities which would enable them to better understand the interrelationships
between their daily lives and culture and the epidemic, and how they might
respond. Community organizations engaged in responding to the epidemic were
chosen, two urban, two peri-urban; members of these organizations and the staff
of two national capacity building organizations (Enda-Sante and Alliance nationale
contre le sida (ANCS)) were trained in the approach, in the methodologies and
in their application to their work. Monitoring systems were established to enable
the organizations: to identify further training and technical assistance needs; to
monitor the implementation of the capacity building approach in their work; and,
to determine the extent to which they were responding to and supporting issues
identified within the community.
Preliminary Findings: The concepts "capacity building", "partnership", "participation", etc. need to be clarified as they are used and understood in multiple ways.
The approach and methodologies used are complementary to others which are
being used nationally and locally and are effective in increasing understanding,
engagement and action.
Discussion: The capacity building approach used is time and human resource
intensive and so its adoption will require the development of different benchmarks
of progress and new methodologies for evaluation. However it builds on local
knowledge and expertise and so validates and empowers. This could lead to
improved impact and sustainability.
34121 Professionalization of AIDS services in Hong Kong:
A study on social welfare personnel's attitude towards

AIDS
Joe Thomas, Joseph Lau. Community Research Program on AIDS, The
Chinese University of Hong Kong CCTER/7, B7, The Prince of wales Hospital,
Shatin, N. T; The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Background: Professionalization of AIDS service is a process of a particular
profession acquiring adequate skills, knowledge, attitudes and realistic under