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

746 Abstracts 34313-34316

12th World AIDS Conference

highlighting the most comprehensive volunteer training materials and proposing
the development of a national volunteer training kit, 3) editing the gathered materials and developing a format accessible as a national resource for volunteer
training in ASOs. The content of the kit was primarily adapted from materials
used and/or produced by Canadian ASOs to train their volunteers. The kit has
been reviewed by a National Reference Group and field tested at various sites
throughout Canada.
Results: A nine volume National HIV/AIDS Volunteer Training Kit (NVTK)
was developed. It consists of training and reference materials designed to train
volunteers for service delivery in a wide range of service delivery areas. Each
section of the kit contains training modules and mini-modules as well as reference
materials, handouts, training agendas and sectional evaluation forms. This format
is intended to allow both the uninitiated and the experienced volunteer trainer the
flexibility to design volunteer training programs to suit their service delivery needs.
The NVTK has been printed and is available free to all ASOs in Canada through
the National AIDS Clearinghouse. The kit was recently profiled at a Canadian
national symposium in January 1998. A plan is currently in development for
regional training opportunities across Canada for 1998-99.
Lessons Learned: As integral components of community-based HIV/AIDS
service delivery, volunteers need to be among our most highly skilled service
providers. The NVTK is a resource developed from the collective expertise of
ASOs across Canada to ensure that this comprehensive training resource exists.
The NVTK has been designed to allow volunteer trainers in diverse situations to
match the needs of their particular service delivery requirements.
34313 The impact of AIDS service organisations (ASO) on the
Greek society
Panayiotis Vyras1,2, N.A. Papadopoulos2, R. Colebunders3, Y. Fleerackers3,
A. Lioni4, J. Kosmidis5, C. Botsi6. 1 Gen. Kololotroni 59 Koukaki 11741 Athens;
2Elpida, Athens; 4 Evangelismos Hospital Athens; 5Genimatas Hospital Athens;
6Syngros Hospital Athens, Greece; 3Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerpen,
Belgium
Background: The importance of ASO in the Greek society is gradually becoming
more evident, especially in terms of advocacy and psycho-social assistance.
Eurosupport is a European Union project for the comparison of HIV care and
support issues in member states. Within that framework data were collected from
HIV+ persons and from the major ASO in Greece.
Objectives: 1. To evaluate the activities of Greek ASO as providers of care
and support. 2. To examine problem areas and suggest possible solutions.
Methods: 1. A standardised questionnaire was administered to 150 patients
from public hospitals. Issues addressed: experiences with hospital care, availability of information and contacts with ASO, access to services, psychological and
social support. 2. Official literature concerning ASO actions and achievements
was reviewed (annual reports, development projects).
Results: Only 38% of respondents knew about ASO operating in. Greece
and 36% had contacts with such groups. 92% reported a very supportive relationship with their hospital physician, were satisfied with available services and
thought they were sufficiently informed about health options. 55% had HIV testing
performed without consent and 63% had not received any pre- or post-test counselling. None of the existing ASO obtains funding from government and none
provides medical services. Some conflict areas between the statutory sector
(government) and ASO (non governmental) in terms of service delivery were
identified.
Conclusion: HIV seems to be considered a pure medical problem by Greek
patients and social implications are generally overlooked. ASO can play an
invaluable role by empowering patients to seek self-help rather than be doctordependent. Sufficient resources need to be allocated for this purpose and more
information needs to be made available about non hospital care.
34314 Organisation of a network for the assistance of HIV
affected children and their families in the Veneto region
in Italy
Silvia Girotto, M. Vigolo, S. Oletto, C. Novello, E.M. Ruga, C. Giaquinto.
Dipartimento Di Pediatria via Giustiniani 3 35128 Padova, Italy
Issues: In 1996 a regional network for the assistance of HIV affected children
was established in the Veneto region of Italy. It is composed by the equipe of the
Referral Centre (RC) for Paediatric AIDS of Padova and the health care workers
(HCW) of the regional public services. The objective of the network is to be a
territorial framework for the families for information and support, the HCW of the
Region for information about the services and collaboration among them and with
the RC.
Project: It has been articulated in 3 phases: 1. evaluation of the need, 2. pilot
phase in a local province, 3. the establishment of the network.
Results: 1 Phase. Three questionnaires were administered to a sample of the
tutors of HIV affected children, the HCWs of the services and of the RC. The
needs emerged were:. a. adaption of public services to HIV affected families and

of integration with NGOs and the voluntary organizations b. specific training of
HCW, c. a multidisciplinary approach for a better collaboration among services,
NGOs, volounteers and the equipe of the RC.
2 Phase. The results of the pilot phase were: Increased circulation of information
and awareness on HIV among community services and individual HCW; improved
capacity of the community service to deal with HIV related problems especially
when NGOs were involved. The problems emerged were the low involvement of

local authorities and the lack of an optimal integration between components of
the same unit.
3. Phase: Two training courses were organized and attended by 72 HCWs
and NGOs. Plenary sessions were organized, the subjects discussed were Home
care facilities, experiences of fostering in France and UK, the HIV epidemics. The
participating HCWs selected 3 major subjects to be discussed in workgroups:
(Communication to the child and the family, Foster care of HIV affected children,
Home care facilities and NGO)
Each group analized some cases to focus the problems and the needs and
now they are producing common guidelines for all the services in Veneto. The
results will be presented.
Lesson learned: HCWs with different specialities can collaborate and share
experiences and information, there is a better integration of public and private
services in the assistance of HIV affected children. The main problem is the
difficulties in involvment of local authorities in some regional Health District
134315 UK ASO programme to enable people living with HIV to
explore their options for the future in the light of
advances in combination drug treatment
Susie Parsons, R. Payne. London Lighthouse, London; 111-117 Lancaster
Road, London, UK
Issues: Many people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) in the UK who have shown
sufficient improvement in their health as a result of newly available treatments are
considering a return to the world of paid employment, voluntary work or study.
Project: London Lighthouse has developed a 12 week course called New
Perspectives to enable PLHA to explore their options for the future. The aim of
the course is to provide a supportive and empowering opportunity for participants
to explore options and possibilities in their lives, including training, education,
volunteering and employment. The course has been developed by the Human
Resources Department in conjunction with other current services provided at
London Lighthouse. It features welfare benefits advice, group and individual
counselling, word processing and other weekly training and information sessions.
Links have been forged with recruitment agencies and other ASOs and the course
also takes into account the UK government's "welfare to work" plans, including
the New Deal options designed to help the young unemployed, the longer term
unemployed and those on incapacity benefits return to work.
ASOs are well placed to provide this support to its current service users and
that many PLHA are highly motivated to return to work and to education, wish to
pace change themselves, fear the pressure that UK government welfare reforms
place upon them and no longer wish to be dependent on state benefits. The
complexity of a return to employment along with the uncertainty of the future of
new medical treatments presents a new challenge for both PLHA and ASOs.
34316 Peer education and AIDS control and prevention in an
urban slum - A Kenyan experience
Nathan Amakobe Mulure1, Gladys Maina2. 2Research Assistant; 1Programme
Coordinator; PO Box 19676 Nairobi, Kenya
Issue: The large number of teenage pregnancies and increasing incidence of
STD's in the ante-natal period in a Nairobi slum calls for urgent intervention in
these areas.
Project: A pre-survey needs assessment identified specific areas that required
emphasis during the main survey. Trainers of trainers from among the youth in the
slums with reasonable level of education were approached and taught administration of questionnaires, conduction of FGD's and interpersonal interviews. The
criterion of participation was a slum dweller in the last six months and between
15-30 years. An initial KAP questionnaire followed by 4 FGD's and a final KAP
questionnaire all in a span of 6 months. 240 participated.
Results: 60% of the male youth had had sex while 90% of the females had had
premarital sex. 15% of the females were single mothers while 20% of the maples
had children from at least 2 girls. Only 20% of the males used condoms and
2% of the ladies used condoms regularly. 10% of the participants had suffered
from an STD and 8% of these sought proper medical care. Reasons for not using
condoms were unavailability (40%) lack of trust 10% and never thought about it
20%.
FGD's proved an effective medium of discussion and generated lots of enthusiasm. The youth were able to open up to each other after 2 sessions and
expressed their fears and priorities. Few (5%) admitted ever discussing sex with
their partners at the start of the project but the number rose to 40% at the end
of the survey. Misconceptions about HIV/AIDS transmissions and manifestations
were also brought up e.g. AIDS infection through drinking water, etc. The number
of participants who felt they were at risk of getting AIDS also rose from 30% to
55% at the end of the six months.
Lessons Learnt. There is great need to concentrate AIDS control and prevention in the advantaged areas. These measures can achieve great success
if factors like the populations welfare and basic needs are taken into account.
Focus group discussions proved a powerful tool in liberating participants into free

discussions and fruitful intervention strategies.