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

728 Abstracts 34213-34218

12th World AIDS Conference

34213 Impact of prevention campaigns targetted to overseas
populations initiated by the French Ministry of Health
Colette Menard', M.C. Hadengue2, L. Speisser', M. Ballereau2, A. Ramon1,
B. Roussillel, F. Belingard-Deybach2. 1CFES2 Rue Auguste Comte 92170
Vanves; 2Direction Generale de la Sante, Paris, France
Issues: Impact of the specific communication strategy implemented by the French
Ministry of Health in the French overseas departements (the Antilles, Guiana,
Reunion) since 1995.
Project: The communication is part of the National Public Health Policy. It aims
at:
(a) reducing the risks of HIV implementing information on sexual pratices (multiple
partners, partner selection, HIV testing).
(b) promoting tolerance and solidarity towards HIV positive people. TV and radio
messages have been adapted to respect ethnical and cultural specificities.
Qualitative researchs and pos-tests have been set up to measure the impact
of the communications and the populations attitudes and behaviour changes.
Main Results: (a) a large approval of the initiative of the Ministry of Health
which takes into account the particularities of each populations situation
(b) 87% have a better understanding of HIV+ people
(c) 89% are more fearful of the risks for their society and for their relatives
(86%)
(d) 6/10 have been motivated to use condoms.
Lessons Learned: From 1995, the social images of HIV and attitudes on
tolerance and solidarity have considerabily changed: they are no longer taboo.
Nethertheless progress in prevention still has to be strengthened. Emergence of
new information on treatments may change attitudes: hope/vigilance. February
1998 qualitative survey will clarify those changes.
34214 Impact of HIV/AIDS Internet resource
James D. Marks. President, Body Health Resources Corp., New York NY, USA
Issue: HIV patients and clinicians need a common meeting ground on the internet
to share quality information, enable support, and facilitate more effective, more
efficient & better-informed treatment.
Project: THE BODY, an internet site on the World Wide Web [www.the
body.com] made its debut in June, 1995. Its aim is to provide authoritative,
far-reaching and objective content from all aspects of the HIV epidemic. Topics,
updated on a daily basis, now include treatment, mental health, prevention and
transmission, (including Q&A forums with recognized experts), public policy, legal
and workplace issues, and support areas for sharing and connecting with others.
In addition, THE BODY features content provided by agreement with over 35
US AIDS organizations, professional societies and teaching hospitals as well as
international conference coverage submitted by affiliated physicians.
Results: THE BODY now reaches an estimated 60,000 users per month, far
exceeding numbers of patients than can be seen at individual AIDS clinics (tracking records suggest that 1 out of 6 users is a medical professional). Frequent
experiential reports from patients, caregivers and clinicians worldwide confirm the
site's role in improving patient/caregiver communication under information-dense
conditions and in supporting a better understanding of care options.
Lessons Learned: Quality of on-line HIV/AIDS information is a function of comprehensive and timely content from reputable sources, ease of access, respect
for privacy, a diversity of viewpoints, and the ability to accommodate multiple
learning styles.
591*/34215 Trends of reporting on HIV/AIDS and mobile
groups in the print media of Bangladesh: Can the
media be an ally in altering the image of AIDS?
Elora Barua, Joachim Victor Gomes, M. Bloem. CCDB, 88 Senpara Parbatta,
Mirpur-10 Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh
Objectives: To get insight into the way media in Bangladesh are reporting on
HIV/AIDS, (2) To understand the manner media in Bangladesh are reporting on
mobile groups, especially migrant workers, (3) To assess the impact of the several
workshops, seminars and other interactions that took place between HIV/AIDS
activists and media people.
Methodology: Both Bengali and English newspapers were monitored on their
coverage of articles on HIV/AIDS and mobility related issues like migration, trafficking, refugees, floating sex workers and street children, since mid 1993 until
the beginning of 1998. In addition an assessment was made of the interactions
between HIV/AIDS activists and media people.
Results: Number of HIV/AIDS related articles increased over time, but still
ethical and responsible reporting did not always take place. Despite different
workshops with both (young) journalists en senior editors, the quality of reporting did not improve significantly. Analysis of the newspaper clippings show that
there are definitely positive trends in the reporting both on HIV/AIDS and mobile
groups, but the overall image of AIDS is still negative, linked with judgements,
moral values and blaming others.

Understanding how people contextualize HIV/AIDS and mobility, analysis of
newspaper clippings proved to be useful for providing valuable insights on how
AIDS is discussed and portrayed by the dominant groups of society. Migrant
workers are quickly blamed for spreading HIV, special attention should be given
to them in order to alter the image of the migrant worker and HIV/AIDS. Improvement of media reporting through workshops is not enough. Initiatives from the
journalists themselves seem to be more effective.

34216 Letra S on Internet: An information for the world
Manuel Figueroa1, A. Brito2, A. Dias2, C. Bonfil2. 1Zempoala 9-205, Col.
Narvarte, Mexico City; 'Letras S Sida Cultura Y Vida Cotidiana AC, Mexico
Issue: Although information on HIV available in Mexico through Internet includes
official statistics on epidemics and links web pages to international organizations,
there is a lack of basic data on the subject related specifically to our country and
it's needs.
Project: Letra S, salud, sexualidad y sida (Letter S, health, sexuality and
AIDS), a monthly publication, included in La Jornada, a national newspaper, the
first Thursday of each month, discusses AIDS and it's relationship to society
and culture through articles, interviews and cover stories. From it's beginning, in
August 1996, it's information appears in the Internet pages of La Jornada, as it
tries to reach and influence public opinion and decision makers.
Results: Over 300 thousand readers visit La Jornada daily through Internet,
and they can all read our publication. We measure it's acceptance through the
number of E-mails we receive everyday (an average of 20), many of which ask
our permission to reprint material such as cover stories, interviews, counseling,
complaints and testimonies.
Letra S has the potential of reflecting the shortcomings and a accomplishments
in the fight against AIDS in the global and organized society. The electronic
version of our publication has five pages of easy access to readers. They can
find information (selected articles and interviews, studies and opinions pages)
on HIV/AIDS not only related to Mexico but to the rest of the world, with special
attention to the situation in Latin America.
Lessons Learned: Letra S in Internet has become an important reference for
readers that consult it. We are aware of the need to establish new links to other
publications of it's kind all over the world, although we have not yet found those
that offer a global panorama of the pandemic, as they often limit themselves to
the local situation.
S103*/34217 National awareness campaign in a country where
silence rules
Feliciano Reyna Ganteaume. Calle La Cinta Edificio Concepcion Apartamento 1
Las Mercedes Caracas, Venezuela
Issue: How to break through the silence imposed on the HIV/AIDS epidemic by
the conservative forces of government, church and society.
Project: Given the very conservative stance of the Government, the Catholic
Church and powerful sectors of venezuelan society, a campaign was designed
between NGO's and an Ad Agency that would "smuggle" basic HIV/AIDS concepts and help humanize the epidemic: Four ads tell the stories of four different
people -a baby, an adolescent boy, a professional woman and a grandmotherfrom different socio-economic backgrounds. We see their "worlds" -their rooms,
favorite objects, toys, books- but we don't see them -HIV+ people are still unwilling
to be seen or identified on TV. Their stories are told "in off" by a mother, a classmate, an HIV-boyfriend and a neighbor. They could be anybody's baby, friend,
partner or relative. The campaign intends to break the silence on HIV/AIDS, to
tell the population that HIV and AIDS ARE in Venezuela, that anyone can be
infected, that those carry HIV/AIDS are people who live, dream, work, love, just
like anybody else.
Their four stories will keep on developing over time, backed by press releases,
radio spots and bill boards. Specific information on prevention and referrals are
provided by a Hot-line that is an integral part of the campaign.
Results: A market study will be conducted in June 1998 in different regions
of Venezuela to determine, on the one hand, if the campaign was able to raise
people's awareness regarding the presence of HIV/AIDS, and, on the other hand,
if it was able to create a sense of solidarity and understanding towards those
infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. With those results at hand, the four stories will
be restructured and focused towards the day when the protagonists, their friends
and families, will feel free to show their faces.
Lessons Learned: When the public sector does not take its full responsibility
in matters of public good, the organized community must take the challenge.
It takes longer and resources are more difficult to obtain, but sooner or later
the governments will have to follow suit. Even a small percentage of an aware
population can become a very powerful ally in effecting change.
S34218 Internet AIDS information - Providing reliable referrals
Tadd Tobias. 273 Church Street, AIDS Treatment News, San Francisco, CA
94114, USA
Issue: The Internet's World Wide Web gives unprecedented access to AIDS
information - but with no assurance of quality or accuracy, since millions of
individuals can post whatever they want, without review. How can users know
what to trust?
Project: To direct people to the best information available, we produced a
Web site with links to selected high-quality sites focusing on AIDS medical treatment, conference reports, speciality publications, news media stories, volunteer

organizations, information specific to women and pediatrics, and corporate and
government material. Sites were reviewed for timeliness, accuracy, and ease
of use. We chose a simple design with text only, to avoid delay, expense, and
software incompatibilities for users throughout the world.
Results: Our site, http://www.aidsnews.org, is one of a number of AIDS link
pages created independly by different organizations. Each offers an editorial view
of AIDS information on the Internet.