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

916 Abstracts 43351-43356

12th World AIDS Conference

Phase 3: Skills: This is the practical skills training covering business and
financial management business skills and business Options.
Results: As this abstract was being compiled the project was in the second
phase. Successes in phase one: (i) women are able to read and write (ii) Empowerment is taking place as the women are identifying problems in their lives
and identifying solutions within the community.
Lesson Learned: The project cycle will be complete in March, 1998. By June,
1998 lesson will have come out during evaluation.
S43351 An assessment of sexual health status among the
fishermen community
Sudipta Barman, T. Bandyopadhyay, A. Seal. Vivekananda Education Society,
25/1A Diamond Harbour Road Calcutta, India 700034
Issue: Does the lifestyle of fishermen community increase their vulnerability
towards Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS?
Project: Sundarban is the world's largest delta situated at the mouth of river
Ganga in West Bengal, India. The small villages on the islands of the delta are
inhabited by fishermen community who stay away from their home for a long
period due to which they engage in high risk sexual behaviour with multiple
sex partners. Low socio economic status force the women folk to engage themselves in sexual activities with middlemen, moneylenders or tourists. A study
was planned and developed to assess the knowledge, attitude, behaviour and
practice of the fishermen community in the Sundarban delta, West Bengal, India
which make them vulnerable towards Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS.
Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from a sample of 994 fishermen and fisherwomen through group meetings, focus group discussions and
questionnaires.
Result: 41% of the total sample are illiterate among which 25% are females.
20.5% go for medical treatment to a hospital several miles away from their home.
76.5% prefer to visit quack. 31% male and 38% female suffer from genital infections. Majority of them do not possess any knowledge on Sexually Transmitted
Diseases. 23% male and 36% female have no idea on AIDS. Condoms are used
regularly by only 5.4% of the sample population and it is used for family planning.
Lessons Learned: The lifestyle of the fishermen community potentially increases their vulnerability towards HIV/AIDS unless and until they are made
aware on the methods of prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS
and are provided with sexual health services.
43352 High risk behaviour of eunuchs and innovative
STD/HIV/AIDS intervention among eunuchs during
"Eunuch festival"
Sivan Arunachalam. 35 Alwar Thirunagarannexg, Chennhi, India
Koovakam festival in the village Koovakan in Tamil Nadu, India is unique occasion
for more than 10,000 of EUNUCHS called ALI's all over India who claim marital
connection with none, other than deity himself. EUNUCHS are transexual, though
born as male consider themselves as female.
ALl's who came to the festival assuming themselves as MOHINIS (ANGELS)
dressed up in colorful costumes and heavy make up.
Temple priest tie nuptial knot around their neck and marry them to deity and
nuptial night comprises of unrestricted sexual indulgences among EUNUCHS
(ALIs) and other homosexuals convergence on the spot. Sexual perversions of
all types and designs are performed in the open field. This open air sexual orgy
has a lot of potential for the spread of STD/HIV. Based on the experience over the
years. Communication wing of AIDS Prevention and Control Project, prepared
the intervention strategy:
(1) Training of ALl (EUNUCHS), peer educators to contact ALIs.
(2) STD/HIV prevention activities carried out by ALIs in the lodges and near
temple areas.
(3) Miss Koovakam Beauty Contest to bring their problems before the society.
(4) STD clinic for the treatment of STDs and distribution of free and socially
marketed condoms.
(5) Education and entertainment programme at Koovakam.
- Open air sexual orgy was less intense than previous years.
- Continuous AIDS prevention activities brought about desired behaviour
change among EUNUCHS and made them to take precautions during sex and
go for increased use of condoms.
- Miss Koovakam Beauty Contest was well received by ALIs and focussed the
ALIs problems before society.
- Local, National, International print and Electronic media coverage was greater
than previous year.
|43353 Adolescents and AIDS: A study of awareness and
attitude concerning HIV and AIDS in the Manikganj
District of Bangladesh
M.D. Nurul Islam. Von Wireless Gate Uttar Seuta Manikganj 1800,

Bangladesh
A study was conducted among the final year students in higher secondary colleges in the Manikganj District of Bangladesh, to appraise their awareness and
attitude, concerning HIV & AIDS. Assessing exactly what they knew, what their
special needs were, what media appealed to them most, we would be in a better
be in a better position to design AIDS/HIV Education programmes.

The study involved administering pre-coded, self-report questionnaire, under
examination conditions, in seven higher secondary colleges from Manikganj
District.
In general, knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS was bad. There were area of confusions such as 75 percent think by giving blood one could contract AIDS. More
than 90 percent reported-they were very much afraid of getting AIDS and 90
percent did not believe that condom had a role in AIDS prevention. Most of them
indicated their preference for AIDS education be included in college curriculum.
Results: Dissemination of accurate information on HIV/AIDS in schools colleges would be an effective approach, particularly so since the adolescents have
strongly indicated their preference for AIDS education be included in college
43354 Impact of HIV intervention programme among women in
caste-based prostitution of Rajasthan, India
Poushali Majumdar1, I. Haque2, U. Sharma2, S. Chowdhury1. 1NGO AIDS Cell
CCM AIIMS, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi; 2AHEAD, New Delhi, India
Issue: An evaluation of the HIV intervention programme on non brothel based
(caste based) sex workers of Rajasthan.
Project: Reports of studies sponsored by Central Social Welfare Board and
Welfare Ministry highlighted that, more than 10% of the total sex workers of
Delhi are from villages of Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, which are inhabited
primarily by Bedias and Nuts, who traditionally accept the phenomena of prostitution. Based on these studies the intervention project was developed for them.
The programme was targetted towards *STD/AIDS awareness, promoting use of
condoms by free distribution, popularizing voluntary blood donations, restricting
sexual relationships and motivating to resort to alternative professions, if possible.
Result: Despite the successful awareness generated by STD/AIDS campaign
in making more than 90% of sex workers and their families, no significant influence in treatment seeking was discernible. Though 1 village registered a marked
increase of condom use, no significant inference could be drawn from other
villages.
The senstivity of the target area and population makes it imperative to
strengthen the established relationship. Proper follow-up and involvement of
community in the programme is essential. Ethnographic study to get an insight
of the social structure is the primary requirement which will highlight the existing
gender dominance and stratification of their society.
43355 From darknessto light
Tokugha Yepthomi. 20-C, Thirumalai Road, T. Nagar, Madras-600017, India
Issue: To establish a platform for PLWH/A by developing a network, to create a
sense of belonging, to struggle for rights & dignity - a dilemma. Do I open out my
status? Will I ever get support from people? Am taking the right decision? How
will I break the barrier?
Experience: As a medical doctor living with HIV, I began taking care of PLWH/A
as I began to work in an NGO in Madras, India. My hope about life was limited
because I thought I will die soon. Two years ago I had the opportunity to attend the
International Conference on AIDS I was giving a poster presentation on "Coping
with HIV". The most interesting part for me was the discussion on access to
treatment and PLWH/A sharing experiences/issues. I was inspired by a variety of
experiences which helped me examine my situation in India where discrimination
and stigmatisation of PLWH/A abound. It was coming clear to me that we have to
be organised, unified & have a collective voice. To do that, there was a need of
a platform. This evoked me to take steps towards organising the Indian Network
for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+). During August 1996 the National AIDS
Control Organisation conducted a national workshop for PLWH/A. 16 PLWH/A
were nominated to come together within 3 months to plan for future. There were
several obstacles viz. Lack of communication facility, Lack of funds, PLWH/A
from diverse background & no proper guidance. These obstacles threatened my
hope. The burning desire to have a national platform for PLWH/A, the pain &
frustration that we were going through, was well understood by good friends
who gave us immense support. Meanwhile people from NGOs, GOs, friends,
beurocrates, & Funders were persuaded and sensitised to support my efforts.
Simultaneously PLWH/A who were nominated across the country were contacted
& brought together. This gave birth to INP+ in Feb 97 -"my dream platform".
Lessons learned: Meeting PLWH/A from different countries gave me hope,
strength & desires to put up a platform in my country for PLWH/A. Establishment
of such a Platform has given hope to many PLWH/A. Sesitising beurocrates, GO,
NGOs, Doctors & Media, gave a positive outlook towards PLWH/A. Sharing of experiences among other PLWH/As brought the feelings of belongingness. Based on
my experience I learned a lesson that giving visibility to PLWH/A & the issues is the
first step towards eliminating discrimination & stigmatisation of PLWH/A in India.
S43356 Impact of DESH intervention/awereness among
commercial sex workers (CSWs)
Ganesan Velu Pillai, S. Sankaran, J.J. Meloot. DESH, 3 De-monte Colony, TTK

Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018, India
Issue: Commercial sex workers, vulnerable to STD/HHIV/AIDS in Tiruttani Town
of Tamil Nadu reqiure appropriate intervention and awereness.
Project: To create awereness about STD/HIV/AIDS to the CSWs, DESH started
a "Well Being Clinic" at Tiruttani with one project executor, a part-time Medical
Officer, one Lab Technician and one male and two female Field Staff. Strategies