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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 34122-34126 711

standing of the capacity and limitation of that particular profession to offer AIDS
related services to it's clients and develop adequate avenues to transmit those
knowledge to the members of the profession. Monitoring the process of professionalization of physicians, nursing and social work are important steps in
understanding the maturation process of professional and community response
to AIDS related issues.
Data was collected on, knowledge about AIDS, nature of training received,
need for further training, fear and perception of risk in dealing with the PWAs,
avoidance and unwillingness to provide services, perceptions of rights and duties
of social workers, and perceptions on difficulty in providing services to PWAs.
Methods: Data was collected through a repeated, mailed questionnaire in 1994
(n = 1,885) and 1997 (n = 1,359) from five sub populations. Home care workers,
Out reach workers, drug re-habilitation workers, family service workers and others
Results: Majority of the respondents belongs to the age group of 26-35 and
women. Both the base line and follow up data presents relatively few respondents
believed that they are sufficiently/very sufficiently prepared to serve their clients.
Those respondents-particularly home care workers- who received training even
for a short period has improved substantially in their knowledge and reported
fewer discriminatory attitudes. Substantial difference is reported in the nature of
response of those who received training and those who did not receive training.
Still 17% of the respondents reported that they are unwilling to provide services
to AIDS patients (22.1% in the baseline). Those respondents, who did not receive
training though, had a degree or diploma in social work reported discriminatory
attitudes.
Conclusion: There is an urgent need to address the training needs of social
welfare workers to address the issue of professional confidence of the respondents. The Hong Kong social service personnel's overall response to AIDS is
going through different stages of change. Mostly from unwillingness to offer care,
to willingness to offer care and support. Continuous training and support for the
staff is an essential variable in developing a professional service delivery system
for PWAs.
S34122 AIDS and community penetration through leaders women
Mahamat Mallour Salem1, YA. Alexandre2, YA. Kadjagaba3. 'B.P 440 Rdjamena
Chad; 2Population And AIDS Control Project Rdjamena Chad, 3PLMS/MST
Rdjamena, Chad
Issue: Dealing with population in Chad, women out number men. They constitute
about 52% of the population. That is why a particular attention should be drawn
on them because they are most vulnerable. A survey on HIV positive individual
conducted together with the PNLS and the WHO in 1995 gave the folowing
results: 10.2% of HIV positive individuals are prostitutes; 2.1% of HIV positive
individuals are women on perinatal visit. In so far as STD positive people are
concerned, the results are more alarming: 70% cases with pregnant women and
39% cases with prostitutes. So considering the great physiological and economic
vulnerability of women as a result of the their ignorance and traditionnal pratices,
it is urgent to warn and train them so that they can actively take part in the fight
against the infection of HIV/AIDS/STD.
Project: The strategy adopted by the PNLS is a simple dynamic: Identification
and training of socially influential leader women throughout the country so that
they can inform other women of their region. The training will be based on different
ways of transmission of HIV and modes of prevention, technics of inter-personnel
communication such as chats and educative debates.
Results: To reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS/STD through leader women to
approach and sensibilize families in which women are in reclusion. To convince
parents to give a sexual education to their children. To convince women to require
the use of condom with their occasional partners, and encourage them to create
associations of fight against AIDS.
Lessons Learned: This method of approach and communal mobilisation help
to reinforce women on their important role played in their families. Yet to deprive
women of their social security benefits is a great handicap of their emancipation.
|34123 Creation of HIV/AIDS drop-in centers as an effective
service delivery model
Laurie Sylla1, S. Flavell2. 1'HIV Action Initiative 400 Sheldon St. PO Box 2370
Hartford CT 06146-2370; 2Ryan White Title I Planning Council Heartford CT,
USA
Issue: People with HIV/AIDS continue to suffer from human rights abuses, isolation, social stigma, and not enough information about their disease or services
available to assist them. They need access to centralized sources of information,
safe space, services, and social support.
Project: Development of peer managed community drop-in centers is one
effective solution for addressing these needs. In Hartford, Connecticut we conducted a needs assessment of people with HIV/AIDS to assess how to design a
drop-in center. An organizing committee consisting of people with HIV/AIDS and
providers worked together to identify funding resources, locate a site, develop a
program, and decide how to administer the project. The program is managed by

people living with HIV/AIDS.
Results: The first HIV/AIDS drop-in center in the state was created. Over a
two year period the center has grown in scope and membership and three other
programs have been developed modeled after this one.
Lessons Learned: Development of community drop-in centers for people with
HIV/AIDS is an effective, flexible service delivery model for reducing isolation,
providing information and social support, serving as a magnet for delivery of

non-HIV specific services, empowering people with HIV/AIDS, and leveraging
resources. People with HIV need to play an active role throughout the process of
creating and managing the center.
34124 Impact of community health care in control of
opportunistic infections among HIV/AIDS patients
Wanja Euge Kariuki', A. Njoroge2, R.W. Ngugi3. 'Forces Memorial Hosp.
Community Health, Box 30968 Nairobi; 2AIDS Relief Catholic Church Kenya,
Nairobi; 3Kenyatta Hospital-New-Born Unit, Nairobi, Kenya
As HIV prevalence increases in many parts of the world, poverty and inequity still
prevail. Drugs for treating opportunistic infections (diarrhoea, respiratory infection
and skin infections) are too expensive for majority of HIV/AIDS patients. Also due
to stigma associated with AIDS community tend to reject these patients and even
they do not take them to hospitals.
Project: A CBHC study was doneat two slums 15km apart in Nairobi to find
how the above problem can be solved. In one slum villages were trained as community health workers and easily available drugs were used to treat opportunistic
infections. The other slum people were left to seek treatment of hospital.
Results: Community accepted HIV/AIDS patients just like other patients and
the patients started coming freely for treatment. Suffering due to opportunistic
infection was drastically reduced and death rate went down. The other slum
without CBHC continue rejecting HIV/AIDS and suffering continued.
Conclusions: CBHC is the best for taking care for HIV/AIDS patients and
changing human altitude towards HIV/AIDS patients.
34125 The role of buddhist monks and communities in HIV/AIDS
prevention and care
Laurence Maund', R.M. Bennoun2, P.W. Chaimalee3. 'Sangha Metta Project,
103 Phra Pokklad Road, Muang District Chiang Mai 50200; 2UNICEF East Asia
& Pacific office, Bangkok; 3Mahakakut Buddhist University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Issue: Buddhist monks have an important potential role at commnuity level in
engendering practical compassion and support in HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
Project: Given the continuing discrimination and rejection towards people with
HIV/AIDS by local communities, and the significant social role of monks and
temples in local communities and villages, a social mobilisation and community advocacy project was initiated in a Buddhist University campus in Northern
Thailand, and a network developed through tempes and temple communities
throughout North and Northeast Thailand, extending to Myanmar, Lao PDR and
Southern China. Practical strategies used include training of monks, inclusion
into Dhamma camps, summer retreats and ordination of novices, and in monks'
activities in the temple and village community and schools.
Results: The Sangha Metta Project for Buddhist monks and communities has
been received enthusiastically by monks, temple and village communities in North
and Northeast Thailand, and by senior monks in Lao PDR and on the Myanmar
and Southern China borders with Thailand. A network of over 100 monks has
been established in Thailand, Lao PDR and border areas.
Lessons Learned: Buddhist monks can be supported to lead village communities ahead in showing and giving compassion and support to people with
HIV/AIDS, and in community/village-based prevention and care.
34126 Health promotion fair: An approach of the community
Cristiane Paulin Simon', E.F. Rasera2, R.C. Silva2, R. Goraveb3. 'Jose urbano
170 B7 54 14091-190 Ribeirao Preto/SP; 2FFCLRP-Universiy of Sao Paulo
Ribeirao Preto SP; 3FMRP-University of Sao Paulo Ribeirao Preto SR Brasil
Issues: The effectiveness of a health promotion program and prevention of
STD/AIDS and drugs abuse for adolescents requires the community involvement
in general.
Project: The prevention program was accomplished by community health
promotion resident psychologists of Ribeirao Preto Hospital das Clinicas and
psychologist students of the Nucleus of Studies for the Use of drugs and AIDS
Prevention (NEPDA) at the University of Sao Paulo, under the educational supervision of two professors and a psychologist. The interventions occurred in the
high school aimed to adolescent of a low income neighborhood of the periphery
of Ribeirao Preto city. In this neighborhood there is a high prostitution incidence,
traffic of drugs and drugs abuse. It was discussed close to school and the Community Leaders the need of their involvement and the purpose of a focal intervention
to sensitize the population in general for the subject of STD/AIDS and drugs. The
association named the event of Health Promotion Fair using as central theme
AIDS epidemic. It was offered to the population as an attractive breakfast, lunch
and an afternoon snack. The activities were divided by age group and interest.
Among them: soccer, posters sessions, film exhibition, workshops of safe sex,
theater, corporal expression, information on STD/AIDS and drugs, art, music.
Results: Most of the population of that neighborhood were present at the fair, a
total of 665 people, mainly children and adolescents. The activities were positively

evaluated by the coordinators and the population considering the motivation and
involvement. Besides, it was possible to identify the main doubts as regards the
forms of HIV transmition and how to prevent. These information may facilitate
new interventions.
Learned Lessons: The focal interventions are necessary during the development of programs to mobilize undermotivated populations that are not prepared
to discuss on the theme AIDS, being a form of knowing reality better. The com