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

742 Abstracts 34290-34295

12th World AIDS Conference

Union. That was a big step forward because prior to that, HIV+ people were
excluded and isolated in Estonia: they did not know Each other and had therefore
no common stand. Due to the Society, its active members had possibilities to
participate in international conferences where they could get new information and
communicate with other organizations. The members of the Society participate
actively in educational and preventive programs. We have a lot of contacts with
similar organizations in other countries. We also created a common group in
the Baltic states - we organize meeting and conferences and keep each other
informed.
Fighting for our rights is not easy here. Presently, our main task is to persuade
our Government to finance a modern combined treatment. Right now, we have
to finance the treatment ourselves and that is several times more expensive than
the state support to HIV+ people in Estonia.
* international cooperation gives us more strength to fight for our rights
34290 1 Conducive environments to establishment and
propagation of self-help groups of the HIV-infected
Pathom Sawanpanyalert1, N. Silarug2. 130/3 Nakornkheunkhan Rd. Talad,
Phrapradaeng Samutprakarn 10130; 2Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi,
Thailand
Objectives: To describe environments which are conducive to establishment and
propagation of self-help groups of the HIV-infected in northern Thailand
Design: In-depth interviews
Methods: During October and December 1997, key members of self-help
groups and health officers involved in HIV/AIDS care in two northern Thai
provinces were contacted. The provinces were selected because of their extensive epidemic of HIV, mainly due to heterosexual transmission. The investigators
held several sessions of in-depth interviews with the key members and the health
officers on historical developments, early struggles, ways to solve problems, and
future prospects of the groups.
Results: Self-help groups in these provinces started only a few years ago. Most
of the groups came into existence after local community hospitals held special
clinics for the HIV-infected. When the HIV-infected met in the clinics, concerns
were expressed on the needs for self-help groups. Later, the groups formed,
mostly with health officers from the hospitals serving as advisors to the groups.
In certain communities, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) were catalytic in
establishment of the groups. Acceptance of the local communities for HIV/AIDS
was seen as a critical factor for forming and running the groups. Villages which
have witnessed several AIDS deaths were more open about HIV and more likely
to have the self-help groups. In contrast self-help groups are more difficult to
form in central districts of the provinces because of inadequate supports from
provincial hospitals and communities. Sustainability of the groups relied on how
the groups could have activities which generate incomes.
Conclusion: Openness of communities with regard to HIV/AIDS is a conducive
environment for creation and progress of self-help groups of the HIV-infected.
Supports from health officers and NGOs can play a vital and catalytic role.
34291 Community care and support/females living with
HIV/AIDS
Khatoon Amna1, M. Shoaib2, A. Khanani2, R. Khanani3. 1A-10, ST2, KDA Flats,
SEC-11 H, Nagan Chow-Rangi Karachi 75850; 2First Female Forum, Karachi,
3AIDS Task Force, Karachi, Pakistan
Objectives: Community-based strategies that lead to community acceptance,
care and support for women living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Methods: First Female Forum and AIDS Management Group recruited five volunteers - one senior nurse, and three HIV-positive female community workers to
provide comprehensive care and rehabilitation to HIV-positive women. Although
there is a lot of stigmatization and hatred in general against HIV-positive women.
Systematic tackling of the problem at the individual level - educating the immediate relations and neighbors, providing vocational training for cottage industry
or self-employment (source of lively hood) together with involving HIV-positive
women themselves proved successful in all twelve cases during a 1-year pilot
project in Karachi. Ten similar group have been organized in other provinces in
accordance with the experience of this group and more HIV-positive females are
being provided with care and rehabilitation.
Conclusion: Combined community-based approach involving medical,
paramedical, and community health workers, especially HIV-positive women,
is acceptable in our communities. It helped alleviate anxieties not only of HIVpositive case but also of their families, neighbors, and the community at large.
S34292 "Recentering" women's bodies in HIV/AIDS biomedical
research
Gilbert Elbaz, Staci Dixon. Sarah Lawrence College 1 Mead Way Bronxville New
York 10708, USA

Issues: The present study examines the similarities between women's AIDS
activism and the older women's health movement, both located in the United
States (US).
Project: an analysis of AIDS activism to recenter women's bodies in biomedical
research suggests striking similarities with grievances already articulated by the
older women's health movement. Three types of literature were reviewed: 1)
women's enrollment in HIV/AIDS clinical trials, 2) women's AIDS research ac
tivism, and 3) women's activism in other health areas. In addition, interviews were
conducted with 1) biomedical researchers, 2) historians, 3) government officials,
and 4) activists (some of them enrolled in clinical trials).
Results: The main three similar issues faced by AIDS activism and the older
women's health movement are 1) women's medical definition limited to their
reproductive system; 2) women's low enrollment in clinical trials; 3) making sure
that clinical trials open to women take into account their research and treatment
needs.
Lessons Learned: Notwithstanding women's long-standing struggle to be included in biomedical research in a way that "makes sense to them," women with
HIV/AIDS have had to experience similar life-threatening exclusion from clinical
trials. Upon activist pressure, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued
new guidelines recommending women's inclusion in all clinical trials. These new
guidelines have not produced the expected impact as women are still underenrolled in many HIV/AIDS studies. The role of AIDS activism is therefore not over.
34293 Citizenship as a AIDS assistance and prevention
instrument
Jose Ricardo Lemos Fernandes. Rua Onze de Junho 276 Apto 75 11320-160 -
SAO Vicente/SP; Movimento Patrocine Avida Santos SP Brazil
This project has been developed with own resources pertaining to the Movimento
Patrocine a Vida ("Sponsor Life Movement"), non Govemmental Organization,
formed by HIV/AIDS carriers.
Problem: In our country, one of the greatest ploblems we heve been faceing
is HIV transmission in accelerated rithm to the economical, social and cultural
misfavoured citzens. This field enables new HIV carriers multiplication, ignorang
their own civil rights and misprepared concerning cautions in order to avoid new
contamination.
Objectives: To form citizen agents that are capable to assure the individual
growth of this community members as able citizens to request the rights and
accomplish their duties, as well as to verify quality prevention and communuty
assistance.
Development: Since august 1997 we have been realizing montholy meetings
focused on the most caring partes of our community, informing them about their
constitutional rights, making them aware of the gravity of this disesease and
giving a incentive to the acquirement of basic treatment conditions along with
the health assistance branches. In these meetings potential leaders are identified
to transmit more detailed information among their communities not only about
assistence but also about prevention of AIDS disesead.
14 information citizenship agents were made, distributed along Santos
metropolitan area. Once having technical information about brasilian legislation (which favours HIV/AIDS carriers) and AIDS assistence and prevencion
information we are directly contributing to defend each citzen through their rights.
34294 Issues of conformity and exclusion in self help
organisations
Jenny Kermally, E. McMahon, J. Bruce, D. Etchells, M. Kay. c/o Body Positive,
Tayside 11 Princes Street, Dundee DD4 6BY, Scotland
Issues: Body Positive Tayside is a self-help organization for people living with
HIV. Two of our distinguishing features are our claims to 'represent' all those who
are HIV-positive, and our success in operating as an efficient business with a
significant level of funding. The following issues arise: our claim and desire to
represent all those who are HIV-positive is undermined by our business success.
This happens in the following ways: organizations have to be structured in (hierarchical) ways which can't reflect the differences within them; some types of people
are priviledged, and this increases the potential for conflict within organizations
which are already striving to 'hold together' very different people whose only common factor is their HIV-status. To be a successful business requires us to conform
to an external standard (acceptable organizational structure; requirements of
funders, etc), rather than focusing on our real needs (sharing experiences, etc).
Project: This paper will be presented as a lively and exciting performance
piece.
Results: Being aware of the issues, and finding acceptable ways of working
within confines.
Lessons Learned: the issues of conformity and exclusion are not an individual
experience but are the experience of many similar organizations. We have learned
that we should neither take too seriously, nor underestimate the importance of, the
structures which are imposed on us; that we need to be creative in our resistance
to them; and, most importantly, that our first obligation is to ourselves.
|34295 HIV/AIDS education program of lawig bubai, the
organization of women in the entertainment industry in
Davao City, Philippines: An assessment
Angelita Rogero. #2 Sputnik St Doha Vicente Village Davao City 8000,
Philippines

Objectives: 1. To identify the HIV/AIDS education prevention program of Lawig
Bubai; 2. To identify the processes and methods used in forming the organization;
3. To determine the effects of HIV/AIDS prevention program to women after
Lawig Bubai's organization. Data on the history of its formation, vision, mission
and goals of the organization, its programs and services and strategies utilized
were gathered.