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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 34230-34235 731

Lessons Learned: To empower PWA in a heterogeneous working group it
is necessary to deliberately foster their skills development. A kind of hands-on
working dynamics is better than conceptual discussions to achieve this goal.
34230 Using documentary films on life stories of people living
with HIV/A as intervention strategy to enhance support
mechanisms
Ramesh Venkataraman 2, M. Mishara3, V. Khanna4. 12466, Sector D Pocket 2
Vasant Kinj New Delhi 110070; 2Positive Life; APN +, New Delhi; 3Positive Life,
New Delhi; 4Hemophillia Federation (India) New Delhi, India
Issue: The lack of an informed and compassionate view of PLWHAs in India
is leading to increased human rights violations. The situation gets further compounded by unavailability of even basic services and treatments. The worst hit,
are women, children and the poor. They are left with no support structures to fall
back on.
Project: To develop a mass media & education campaign using true life stories
of Individuals with HIV to foster behavior and attitude change - after thorough
research, one individual's real life situation was developed into a 28 min. documentary video-film and telecast on National TV. Without completely revealing the
person's identity and using some dramatized situations and a personal testimonial
- serious issues of discrimination, unacceptance, internal fears and the present
situation have been depicted. The efficacy of this as a tool to break down isolation
was tested in various focus group sessions also. It is also being used to enhance
outreach into communities. I am presently producing two more projects of this
kind, specially crafted to reach out to all segments of the population.
Results: It was revealed that discrimination against PWAs stems from a number of factors: unfamiliarity, fear of infection, incorrect belief about who can get
HIV. Focus group discussions showed that with such 'humanization'; with proper
facts and clarity, acceptance of PWAs was increased. The perception of the
seriousness of the problem, and attitude changes were strongly aroused. Many
volunteers were willing to work more in the AIDS field. Several NGOs/CBOs
were willing to work closely with PWAs and are using this film for their programs.
Policy Makers were further sensitized. PLWHAs themselves gathered strength
from these films to get together into self-help groups. Networking for capacity
building, with NGOs, PWAs and professionals in the area of care, and for increased participatory involvement of PLWHAs, were further given a thrust and
enhanced.
Lessons learned: Advocacy strategies and media efforts by PLWHAs on
PLWHAs can increase familiarity, help lesson stigma, break discrimination and
foster acceptance by making the epidemic more visible. Their problems are
accentuated in a more realistic, non-mythical, accessible manner. Such a film,
used strategically, can set into motion a chain reaction of creating mechanisms
of support, both from inside the affected community and from institutions outside,
in the form of a collaborative network of services and support.
34231 The legacy of AIDS: Global media coverage of infectious
diseases
Paula A. Treichler, D.E. McGee, N.S. Karnik, M.V. Ruiz. University of Illinois,
Room 190, 506 S. Mathews, Urbana, IL, USA
Issue: Media assignment of meanings to such public health threats as emerging
infectious diseases (EIDs) has significant effects on how specific medical crises
are defined, conceptualized, and addressed.
Project: The AIDS epidemic furnishes a template as well as a series of
"lessons" about the study, analysis, and evaluation of media coverage of global
health concerns. AIDS set important precedents for how the media narrativize
global health threats, and in turn whether such threats come to be perceived as
"crises." To determine the influence of the AIDS media paradigm, we analyzed
selected recent media stories including BSE (mad cow disease) and influenza
type H5N1 (Hong Kong "chicken flu") as well as infectious diseases associated
with immigration and famine. Using qualitative methods, we identified and analyzed the strategies through which meanings were constructed, represented, and
disseminated, the nature of these meanings, and their social consequences.
Results: The media's assignment of meanings to infectious diseases helps
determine which diseases get defined as official public health threats. While these
meanings construct compelling stories of "coming plagues," they often do not
facilitate deliberate and effective intervention.
Lessons Learned: We recommend a critical approach to understanding how
meanings are attributed to diseases as well as the development of explicit
scientific and social criteria for prioritizing public health crises.
S34232 Mass media campaign for AIDS prevention among
teenagers in Mexico
Guillermo Egremy1, Patricia Uribe2. 1 Tlalpan 4585 Toriello Guerra CP140 50;
2Conasida, Mexico, Mexico

Issue: HIV/AIDS is a major problem in teenager's sexuality. It is very important
to evaluate all preventive strategies especially directed for this group in order to
replicate those that had been successful.
Project: Since 1996 the mass media campaign for AIDS prevention consisting
in posters, brochures, TV and radio spots was specially oriented to adolescents
and parents and teachers as referrals. The main idea was to aware adolescents about their responsibility in their sexuality and promote the use of condom,

sensitize them about AIDS risk, be fearless about asking parents and teachers.
The message for parents and teachers was to seek for information in order to
assume their responsibility in teenager's sexual education. An evaluation was
made among 5000 adolescents, 5000 parents a teachers through questionnaires
and focus groups.
Results: 80% of the three groups referred to increased their knowledge about
AIDS, most of them remembered only TV and radio spots, there was a general
acceptance about condom promotion as the only or the most effective preventive
measure, the campaign information was considered correct and sufficient.
Lesson Learned: The audience of this campaign supported this kind of information and requested, clearer messages about other preventive measures but
also more descriptive about condom use.
S34233 HIV/AIDS struggle without shyness work with media:
Advantages and disadvantages
Siko Gbelil, Nicole Doumatey2, Koua Desire N'dah. 106 BP 1021 Cidexl
Abidjan 06; 2CASM Abidjan; 3Club De ms AmisAbidjan, Cote Dvoire
Issue: Evaluate the impact of the media on helping to improve the living conditions
of the people living with HIV/AIDS, for themselves and their associations.
Project: A regular follow up of 30 members (17 men, 13 women) of the "CLUB
DES AMIS" for 18 months from June 30 th 96 to December 30 th 97, a great
improvement in the quality of life of People who were fighting against AIDS without
fear or shame was evident.
Results: There are 2 groups. The first group 13 People (7 men, 6 women) who
are determined to talk Public about their illness.
Advantages: Psychologicaly stable, in good health, living in harmony with themselves and others. A good detailed knowledge about HIV/AIDS - relation with the
media - C - D - A remains the largest P.W.A. support group in the C6te d'lvoire.
Disadvantages: Victims of discrimination and segregation in public, at work, at
school and by the family. The 2 nd group of 17 people (10 men, 7 women) who
have maintained confidentiality of their serological status, but are still in the fight
against HIV/SIDA.
Advantages: Keep their lives private - Disadvantages: Always live with fear of
death - their health is deteriorating. 11 of them were admitted to hospital (5 men,
6 women). 5 have died (3 men, 2 women).
Lessons Learned: Fighting with determination and without shame in public
allowed the C - D - A to be free and confident. The members of this group
understand the discrimination they are victims of this in collaboration with the
media has helped to improve their association and slow down the impact of IDS
in C6te d'lvoire. The Government must to do their best to keep P.W.A. in good
health making them avaible for their Society.
34234 Using the media to change the perception of HIV in
Chilean society
Rodrigo Pascal', D.A. Melendez2. El Panul 6644-A La Florida; 2Vice-President.
Coornavih Santiago, Chile
Problem: From the beginning of AIDS epidemic until the second half of 1997,
the communications media has sensationalized the disease, patronizing and contributing to the marginalization of people with HIV (PWHs). These portrayals of
AIDS have consolidated Chilean society's prejudices and discriminatory attitudes
towards PWHs.
Strategy: Since its founding, "National Coordinating Committee of PWHs"
has created a group of spokepeople who can make their condition public. Each
spokesperson is trained to speak not about thier individual plight but the scientific,
medical and political aspects of the disease. Currently, in development is a work
plan with press contacts in order to emphasize the political aspects of AIDS and
lack of access to treatment, demanding accion from the private and public sectors.
Results: Chilean news medias end individual journalists are showing a renewed
interest in the subject of AIDS. A new sensitivity has been percieved, resulting
in more serious, scientific and well-rounded coverage, including dissenting views
from the official positions on the question of access to treatments.
Conclusion: The public visibility of PWHs has contributed to our empowerment
and has begun changing society's discriminatory beliefs based on risk groups.
We believe that this is a step forward in changing the social and political scene
view in order to approach effectively civil rights and treatment access issues.
S34235 Working with children with HIV/AIDS: The experience of a
national network
Angelo Mochino', Chiara Novello2, B. Zanini3, S. D'Alberto2, A. Codice3.
' Fondazione Franco Moschino, Via San Pietro All' Orto 26 20121, Milano;
2Gruppo Di-Do Fondazione F. Moschino, 3Centro Aurora Leo Ospedale S.
Orsola, Bolgna, Italy
Issue: The creation of a national network by various Italian Voluntary Associations
working with HIV/AIDS children whose aim is to promote projects and strategies

fitting the real needs of children and their families.
Project: Since 1995 six Italian Associations (Arche from Milano, Essere Bambino from Brescia, Centro Aurora from Bologna, Anlaids from Milano, GianniWendi-Michele from Torino, Gruppo Di-Do from Padova), which also work in
the Paediatric Departments of their cities' hospitals, are co-operating in common projects, such as summer holidays, cultural and recreational intervents,
specificantly for children and families affected by HIV virus.