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

912 Abstracts 43328-43333

12th World AIDS Conference

43328 The university as a microcosm of the HIV/AIDS world
Michael Cail Ritter1, A. Auleb2. 13478 16th Street San Francisco California
94114; 2San Francisco State University San Francisco CA, USA
Issue: Given the high risk of HIV transmission among sexually active, and/or
alcohol/other drug using university students, as well as staff and faculty living in
a HIV/AIDS epicenter, a comprehensive, multifaceted response to the HIV/AIDS
pandemic was needed.
Project: A comprehensive program for a diverse, multicultural, urban, public
university was developed to address: HIV/AIDS education; prevention education;
antibody testing; medical care for the uninsured and under-insured; disease progression monitoring; financial assistance to continue or come back to school and
maintenance of quality of life; and prevention of discrimination.
Results: A University wide AIDS Coordinating Committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and administrators was developed to address the pandemic.
HIV/AIDS curriculum integration has been achieved in nearly 100 classes representing every College of the university. A six unit Peer Education/Counselor
training class provides the peer educatiors who form the backbone of the university-wide AIDS prevention programming. A model anti-discrimination policy was
developed and instituted. The Kolb fund, supported solely by donations, provides
financial assistance for faculty, staff and students living with HIV. Student Health
Center services have been expanded to include HIV antibidy Testing, disease
progression monitoring and some HIV related medical services. A strong network
of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area HIV service, education and prevention
agencies has been developed.
Lessons Learned: Involvement of all segments of the University community
is essential in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, cost
effective HIV/AIDS response.
43329 | Delivering HIV prevention information to young gay men
and bisexual men
Richard Scholey. Terrence Higgins Trust, 52-54 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X
8JU, Great Britain
Issue: Young gay men and bisexual men becoming sexually active and without
access to the gay community require relevant HIV and safer sex information
presented sensitively.
Project: To develop an HIV prevention resource for young gay men and bisexual men and to ensure its distribution to men not part of the gay community.
Focus groups involving 31 young men (ages 15-23) who had recently become
homosexually active, were used to help produce an HIV prevention booklet that
addressed their concerns. Close liaison with designers and researchers led to
the creation of a booklet and Internet site. A national press advertising campaign
lasting over five weeks beginning January 1998 was carried out to distribute
20,000 booklets and publicise the Internet site.
Results: Focus group participants wanted safer sex and HIV dealt with alongside other sexual and mental health issues. They felt strong anxieties around anal
sex and the AIDS-related stigma attached to homosexuality. Knowledge about
HIV transmission was good, but safety of oral sex was a concern. Access to
information was seen as especially problematic. Distribution through the non-gay
youth press, youth groups, the Internet, teachers, gay helplines and social groups
was suggested. Discreet presentation was needed as secrecy was an important
issue. Images taken from youth culture were preferred, not gay images and titles.
Many men did not want to feel pressure to adopt a 'gay identity'.
Lessons Learned: HIV prevention material for young gay men and bisexual
men should also address other health and emotional issues. Material should not
assume this population has a strong gay cultural identity. As schools in Great
Britain are currently not meeting the needs of these young men, other distribution
methods are needed.
S43330 Development of effective intervention for male sex
workers in Thailand
Malcolm Mccamish1, K. Kengkanrua2, G. Carl2, G. Storer3. 1Department of
Chemistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane; 3 Macquarie University, Sydney,
Australia; 2Program on AIDS Thai Red Cross, Bangkok, Thailand
Background: Though seroprevalence studies have shown that male sex workers
(MSWs) in Thailand are at heightened risk of HIV infection, no sustained preventive strategies in Thailand have targeted MSWs or other homosexually active
men.
Design: Using ethnographic, interview, focus group and workshop techniques
we have interviewed, mainly in Bangkok and Pattaya, more than 100 MSWs
30 clients, 10 bar managers and 10 community based organisations to explore
previous interventions, investigate the sexual networks of MSW and develop a
taxonomy of sexual sites.
Results: Mapping of sexual networks shows that bar-based interventions can
reach both organised and free lance MSWs as well as their clients and male
and female casual sexual partners. Interventions fail when (a) they are non-con
tinuous, (b) are restricted to high profile tourist areas, (c) do not acknowledge
the importance of recreational sex, (d) do not recognise the power asymmetries
of MSWs, (e) do not build on resources/experience within the MSW group, and
(f) when external funding bodies favour short term projects which do not build
capacity for ongoing intervention.

Conclusions: Risks of HIV infection among MSWs and other homosexually
active men in Thailand can be reduced by well planned long-range interventions
directed by and at MSWs.
43331 | Setting up street-based outreach for males selling sex
(MSS) in Calcutta
Souvik Basu, D. Mitra1, D. Kundu1. Project Volunteer, 1PRAAJAK, 468A Block-K
New Alipore, Calcutta, India
Issue: An appropriate outreach strategy must be formulated to reach males
selling sex on the street.
Project: A 5 months survey was carried out through on-site observations,
one-to-one and group interactions questionnaires survey and collection of anecdotes by project staff and volunteers selected and trained from among the MSS
networks. Results should that MSS operated their "trade" within a very hostile
environment. Outreach would have to take such constraints into consideration.
The findings were shared with MSS during discussion sessions. An outreach
strategy was thus formulated with active participation of MSS.
Results: Outreach sites were identified. Convenient time for outreach was
fixed. A strong advocacy programme was designed specially for the local police
station. The peer education programme was initiated with identification of key
individuals and a training programme. Regular group discussions with MSS on
the issues of sex education, safer sex, condom promotion and legal rights was
planned. Medical referrals services are being setup. MSS community support
groups are being setup through celebration of traditional festivals and organising
get-togethers.
Lessons Learned: Direct participation and involvement of the community
members helps both in planning and implementation of programmes.
143332 JProviding support services to males who have sex with
males (MSM) in Calcutta
Suhotra Biswas1, P.K. Banerjee, S. Mukherjee. Project Volunteer, 1PRAAJAK,
468A Block-K New Alipore, Calcutta, India
Issue: A wide range of adequate and appropriate support services should be set
up to accompany HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaigns for MSM.
Project: The survey, conducted over a period of 5 months is the outcome of
observations, one to one and group discussions and collection of anecdotes.
The analysis was carried out by the staff and volunteers selected from among
the MSM network. It was found that outreach work was likely to be hampered
due to frequent police raids in cruising areas. The safety of the project staff and
volunteers was also et stake. Other N.G.O's working with general male population
were reluctant to address the MSM issue. Medical services were inadequate and
fear of exposure compelled the MSM to go to quacks which made them more
vulnerable to HIV infection. In case of blackmail, extortion or rape by police local
hoodlums or clients they were not able to avail of any legal help. Media Js not
friendly towards the MSM community thus it does not get much information.
Results: Designing a support service strategy. Mass awareness and sensitisation programme amongst police, N.G.O's medical volunteers and media coupled
with a referal and support service for medical, legal and mental health problems
of MSM should be designed. A fullscale advocacy programme for legal reform
must be undertaken.
Lessons Learned: Awareness generation and sensitisation programmes
amongst various stake holders is essential for an AIDS prevention campaign.
43333 An autobiography of a young woman who got infected
with HIV in her adolescence
Valeria Piassa Polizzi. Rua Sao Jose 930 AP62, Sao Paulo, SP 04739-000,
Brazil
Issue: Living with HIV/AIDS beeing a teenager, in a coutry with no specific support
service for young people.
Project: It is a book where I tell my story in a colloquial language, to be
accessible to young people. I got infected with my first boy friend, when I was
16, in 1987. After years of ostracism, in 1993 I lived for six months in California,
where I got a lot of information, I went to support groups and AIDS organizations,
so I learned another way to deal with the situation. Back to Brazil, I wrote my story
to share my experiences. I talk not only about AIDS, but about all the problems
of adolescence.
Results: Since December 97, 12.000 copys from the book were sold. The
media got really interested and I gave a lot of intwerviews. I have been receiving
hundreds of letters, from all over the country, from teenagers in the same situation,
who doesn't have where to get information. I have been invided to give speech in
schools and universities, wher the book has been adopted to develop this subject
among the young people.
Lessons Learned: In a country poor of information about AIDS, like in Brazil,
this book is helping to inform and educate youth. Besides I became a public HIV

positive person, who can serv as an allert for prevention and an example for
people living with AIDS.