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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 43214-43219 889

1432141

"Wake-up Community": Personal and collective
self-esteem rescue and construction in Rio de Janeiro
BR poor communities - A prevention strategy regarding
HIV/AIDS pandemy

Katia Maria Edmundo, W.L. Guimaraes Branco, M.S. Lima Vascocelos.
CEDAPS, Rasete De Setembo No 55-1.402 Centro Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
Issue: The incorporation of needed scientific concepts and adoption of attitudes
and preventive practices regarding HIV/AIDS in population inhabiting slumsand
peripheral areas of Rio de Janeiro BR strongly vulnerable due to the high rates of
analphabets and social exclusion, making up socio-economic low urban levels,
low schooling and self-esteem - conditions that are favourable to the appearance
of risk situations and exposition to the HIV virus.
Project: The intermediation brought by specialized professionals allows the
appearance of spaces for daily meetings generating a dynamic of changes in
the levels of information/collective/discussion/development/self-esteem.. Going
through individual, inter-personal and group dimensions, the personal, social and
cultural identity of these populational segments become strengthened. Throug
the multiplying agents - inhabitanyts -knowing the culture and fear of local life,
we have implanted in the individual community attendance a home approach,
sport/cultural activities, edcuational meetings, amongst other events attendig the
popular demands to the technical needs.
Results: The project Community Wake-up - working for the rescue and construction of personal and collective self-esteem in poor communities is showing to
be a fertile way for not only the implanting of scientific information needed in the
combat to the pandemy, but also establishing conditions by means of organization
and participation, so that the population can become united to the scientific world
in the search to minimize the HIV/AIDS rates.
Lessons Learned: HIV prevention projects in poor communities should foresee community representations - a creating projects between governmental and
non-governmental bodies, articulation between scientific and popular knowledge
- raising the information levels, strengthening the solidarity, the reach of all
social segments-men and women, the educational process involving cognitive,
socio-cultural and affection aspects.

S43215I

Supporting AIDS local hot-lines system in Sao Paulo:
Strategies to expand information and counseling on AIDS
prevention all over the state

Antonio Luiz S. Vasconcelos, T.M. Silva, A.O.F. Godoy, C.A. Martins,
C.A. Santos, R. Barboza. R. Frei Caneca 1140 - Sao Paulo 01307-002, STD
AIDS Paulo State Program Sao Paulop SP, Brazil
Issue: The state of Sao Paulo has 34 million inhabitants and until December/97
the number of reported AIDS cases was 61733, corresponding to 60% of all
cases in Brazil.
This AIDS hot-line is a public service, created in 1983, being the pioneer in
Latin America. Currently, the state of Sdo Paulo has 17 AIDS hot-lines within
governmental and non-governmental organizations. Considering regional differences and also the spreading of the epidemic all over the state, it is fundamental
to promote an effective integration among all these hot-lines services.
Project: The "First Meeting on Hot-lines Services in the State of Sao Paulo",
was organized with all these 17 hot-lines in order to improve the quality of this
kind of service. During this meeting information and experience related to each
service was shared and themes regarding counseling and support for this kind of
services were discussed.
Results: 14 hot-lines participated in this meeting, 78% of the participants
considered that it was possible to know requests from the population and how
these services are working. Most of them (71%) reported that the experience of
participating in this meeting was very important. However, the integration among
the hot-lines was evaluated as partially achieved. In addition, 10% of the workers
reported that this meeting enable them to improve the service given for the
population and for their professional practice.
Lessons Learned: Hot-line services need to be widespread to guarantee that
HIV/AIDS information and counseling reach all sectors of the population. Hot-line
services obtain quite a lot of information due to the great number of calls. This
would enable hot-line services data for research and prevention campaigns.
43216 HIV testing, reporting, partner notification, and
confidentiality: An end to AIDS "exceptionalism"?
Ralf E.F. Jurgens. HIV/AIDS Legal Network, C.P Les Atriums, PO. Box 32018,
Montreal, QC, Canada
Issue: New developments, including the availability of new treatments, the approval and marketing of new forms of HIV testing (ie rapid and home testing),
and the shifting demographics of the epidemic, force us to reexamine approaches
to HIV testing, reporting, partner notification, and confidentiality of HIV-related
information.
Project: Broad consultations were undertaken over a two-year period, resulting in: (1) a comprehensive review of the issues; (2) production of resource and
advocacy materials and (3) a plan for implementation of recommendations and
law reform.
Results: The following questions have been analyzed in detail: (1) is specific
informed consent to testing still necessary, or should general consent suffice?; (2)
are anonymous testing facilities still required? (3) is pre- and post-test counselling
still necessary? (4) should new forms of testing for HIV be made available? (5)

do the new developments warrant any exception(s) to the principle that testing
always be voluntary; (6) should an approach emphasizing partner notification be
adopted?; (7) should HIV be reportable by name?; and (8) when should HIVrelated medical information be divulged? For each question, recommendations
have been formulated.
Lessons Learned: Recommendations concerning HIV testing, reporting, partner notification and confidentiality cannot be cast in stone. The fundamental
guiding principles are unlikely to change, but specific considerations that underlie
testing policies need to be constantly reevaluated, based on broad consultation
with all stakeholders, including PLWHIV/AIDS and community-based organizations. Today, HIV testing should be strongly encouraged. However, the trend
towards "trivializing" it should be treated with great caution. Stigma and discrimination remain serious problems and potential harms from testing continue to be
significant.
[43217 Establishing a national blood transfusion service the
Zambian experience
Gabriel Kawangu1, N.P. Luo2, J. Mulenga1, W. Brunger3. 1Zambia National
Blood Transfusion Service, Uth Blood Bank, National Road, P/Bag RW lx
Lusaka; 2Ministry of Health Lusaka, Zambia; 3European Union Brussels,
Belgium
Objective: To Chronicle the Zambian experience in establishing a National Blood
Transfusion Programme
Background: Prior to 1987 Blood Transfusion support in Zambia was hospital based with no standard National Donor Selection Criteria and no legislation
to govern the practice of transfusion medicine. European Union support to the
ministry of health over the last ten years has brought about major strides in establishing a truly National Blood Programme in conformity with the health reform
process.
A National Blood Transfusion service has been established with central control
on guidelines, policy formulation, purchasing of supplies and consumables and
monitoring with decentralising of 7 regional blood transfusion centres.
357*/43218 A public health approach to move HIV prevention
research to practice
Jane Mezoff1, E. Sogolow2, L.S. Doll2, S. Semaan2, M.S. Neumann2
J.R. Anderson2. 11600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E37, Atlanta, Georgia, 2CDC,
Atlanta, GA, USA
Issue: Scientific journal articles rarely describe the details of HIV prevention
interventions. Further, investigators often do not have funding for translation and
dissemination of successful HIV prevention interventions. Thus, HIV prevention
service providers have difficulty locating science-based interventions.
Project: To address this issue, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has initiated several activities. (1) CDC developed the Prevention
Research Synthesis (PRS) project to create an ongoing database of HIV prevention intervention studies and to identify studies that had positive behavioral
or health results. (2) CDC initiated the Replications and Technology Transfer
(RTT) project to support investigators' efforts to translate intervention research
protocols into materials suitable for program use and to test these materials in
nonresearch settings. (3) To support use of effective interventions, CDC developed the Behavioral and Social Sciences Volunteers (BSSV) program, which links
community-based prevention scientists with service providers.
Results: The PRS project has identified 82 intervention studies so far, including
19 with evidence of effectiveness. In 1996-1997, 4 interventions received RTT
support: 2 designed for gay men, 1 for heterosexuals, and 1 for women only.
Support for 2 more interventions is planned for 1998. Through BSSV, about 80
behavioral and social scientists have registered to work in their communities.
The first 10 BSSVs have begun activities that include providing technical assistance for science-related activities (e.g., needs assessments, survey designs,
and program evaluations).
Lessons Learned: CDC's experience thus far suggests that behavioral and
social scientists and HIV prevention providers want to work with one another;
involvement of these scientists in program activities can improve use of science-based interventions; and programs can be put in place that enhance rapid
movement from research to practice. Our findings suggest that funders should
add support for translation and dissemination activities to intervention research
grants.
|43219 Extraordinary response from a government to combat a
evermoving epidemic of HIV/AIDS
Allaudin Kadar Mohideen. Project Director TNSACS 417 Pantheon Road
CHENNAI-600008, India
Issue: To establish a government run programme which will be quick and efficient
in response to HIV control in Tamil Nadu, India.

Programme/Response: Soon after HIV infection was detected in Tamill Nadu
the state government responded quickly and set up a special cell. It was found
to be not adequate in implementatio of activities. It was basically a department
administered scheme which had to go through the usual government procedures
in sanction of resources and release of funds for various activities. This involved
considerable delay. It was recognised that system should be developed which will
hasten the response & be adequate to face the challenge. An alternative model -