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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 43357-43361 917

include listing out all CSWs in Tiruttani area and regularly contacting them face
to face, creating awereness about STD/HIV/AIDS and to enlighten them abot
availability of free services such as blood testing, treatment, counselling and
issue of condoms at DESH Clinic. Condoms were also regularly distributed to
them by the field staff duly emphasising importance of regular use and disaster
of not using it. Besides, lodge managers were also provided with aduquate stock
of condoms to distrubute among CSWs using their lodges for sex activities.
Results: CSWs have now completely given up the habit of getting irregular
treatments from quacks. Instead they seek treatment from STD specialist either
at the Goverment Hospital, Tiruttani or at DESH "Well Being Clinic". So far 63
CSWs have been educated and nearly 54,000 condoms have been distributed
by DESH. One third of them (ie. 21 CSWs) were selected for interview (1:3) using
an open ended questionnaire.
Findings among 21 CSWs interviewed by DESH:;
(1) Awereness of STDs - 100%
(2) Regular usage of condoms - 95%
(3) Health seeking behaviour - 100%
(4) Refusal to accept a client without condom usage - 95%
Counclusion: Giving education on STD/HIV/AIDS and supply of condoms
without any interruption through Community Leaders and by the staff will be a
successful method of preventing these diseases. There will also be sustainability
of intervention even after the close of the project trough attitudinal change.
| 43357 Focus on truckers - A major determinant in HIV
prevention programmes
Ravi Saini1, Singh Jatinder2, R. Bharti3, Dinesh Kumar3. 19 Officer Colony
Taylor Road, Amritsar 143001; 2Medical College Amritsar, PB; 3Health Deptt,
Punjab, Amritstar, PB, India
Issue: Truckers who form a vulnerable group to HIV/AIDS should have an optimal
awareness about the enormity of the problem, its prevention and its implications.
Project: A recent spurt in the number of HIV positive cases of which more
than 70% constitute truck drivers has initiated a survey in order to assess the
awareness of truck drivers, truck cleaners, loaders, transport company staff,
highway petrol pump workers and workers at roadside eateries (colloq.. Dhaba)
about AIDS. The survey was carried out on National Highway I passing through
district Amritsar (population 3 million), on the Indo-Pakistan border. The survey
focussed on the significance of the fact that the ethnic (Sikh) residents of Punjab
form a majority of truck drivers and ancillary staff throughout India. The study was
carried out by personal interviews and a questionnaire containing various aspects
of HIV/AIDS regarding its etiology, symptoms, prevention and transmission. Two
hundred truckers were interviewed.
Results: The survey revealed that 18% of the respondents had not heard
of AIDS. 28% said that AIDS was treatable while 24% thought that AIDS was
preventable by prophylactic use of drugs. 26% did not know AIDS could be
prevented by the use of condoms. 42% were of the opinion that AIDS could be
contracted by non-sexual contact.
Conclusion: The results clearly showed that most truckers lack the perception
about AIDS, the use of condoms and the enormity of the pandemic. A concerted
effort that should focus on truckers and the halt-points population form a major
thrust area for all future HIV prevention programmes.
43358 Knowledge attitudes and safe sex regarding AIDS among
females sex workers controlled in STD clinic
Gladys A. Hurtubia1, M. Reyes2, C. Cabrera3, C. Soto3, P. Haemmerli3. 1Paivaci
33 Apartamento 212 Concepcion; 2Hospital Regional De Concepcion,
Concepcion; 3Universidad De Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile
Objetives: To explore and describe the perceived risk, knowledge attitudes and
sex behavior regarding AIDS among sex workers.
Design: Descriptive Study.
Method: The sample was a representative group (50%) of sex workers controlled in STD clinic located at the Hospital Regional Concepcion Chile. Sixty sex
workers completed the 40 items questionnaire; anonimyte and confidentiality was
assured; to analyze the information a computer program SAS was used.
Results: Heterosexual sex workers. Middle age 32 betwen 19-53 years old,
50% single, 21% either married or living with a partner, 93% had one more
children. The educational level was 30% elementary, 56% secondary and 3%
university studies, 86% answered correctly items about knowledge of AIDS, 85%
identified themselves as being in AIDS high risk; 82% hove only vaginal coitus;
38% oral coitus occasionally and 3% practice only anal coitus. 35% use condom
occasionally and 3% never use. To protect their health 50% avoid alcohol, 38%
drugs and 10% tobacco.
Conclusion: No association was found among knowledge educational level,
risk self perception with the safe sex practice abuse alcohol, tobacco and drugs
among sex workers. It is suggested the application of new strategies to strengthen
prevention in this group.

43359 Douching/vaginal cleaning habits among female sex
workers
Pinkysaptandari Wisjnubroto. Jalan Airlangga 4-6 Surabaya 60286, Indonesia
Background & Issue: In industrial countries, vaginal douching has been reported to be with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and etopic pregnancy, while

in the lessdeveloped countries have investigated the risk associated with vaginal
douching is highly culturerelated habits.
The Project: An ethnographic study was conducted to learn about douching
habits among female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) in the three sex industry complexes in Surabaya representing high-paid, middle-paid and low-paid
locations. The study, specifically, aimed (i) to describe the habits with regard to
women's cultural practices and (ii) to explore the possibility of their readiness to
change or modify such habits.
The findings: FCSWs in the complexes show similarities on such habits. They
bring their own traditional knowledge on practices and agents (betel leaves,
turmeric, lime and bitter herbs) obtained from their places of origin or in the nearest marketplace. In the same time, they learn about the practices and "modern"
agents (toothpaste, soap, facial cleanser, antiseptic and the like). Eventhough
they douch more than three times a day (specially after sex with clients), they see
douching as a way to keeping healthy and clean, and do not see their sex work
as potentially health- treathening. However, if they learn of new ways of douching
or new agents, they are willing to do so, as long as they are convinced that it is
good for their health.
Lesson Learned: A holistic, multidisciplinary action research be carried out
on the issues surrounding commercial sex works, in connection with sexual and
reproductive health and sexually transmissible disease. Gender imbalance needs
urgent attention and solutions.
43360 The impact of HIVAIDS on the teaching force in Ivory
Coast
Maniane Fassa1, A. Kangah2, F. Ouattara3, D. Cisse4, A. Kadio5,
I.M. Coulibaly6. 104 BP 2113, Abidjan 04; 2Falculty of Madecine, Abidjan;
3Ministry of Education, Abidjan; 4 Project Impact of HIV/AIDS on the E.S.,
Abidjan; 5National AIDS Control Program, Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire
Objectives: 1 - Ivory Coast Government loss due to HIV/AIDS in terms of duration service of teachers in primary schools; 2 - primary teachers absenteeism
due to HIV/AIDS; 3 - to compare clinic diagnostics among a) teachers living with
HIV/AIDS, b) deceased teachers because of HIV/AIDS
Design: Prospective and Retrospective, controlled study
Methods: Through data collection in 1996-1997 at primary school inspections
in Abidjan to determine, 1 - infected teachers, teachers who constitute clinical
AIDS cases, Deceased teachers because of HIV/AIDS through, HIV/AIDS/STD
surveillance-epidemiology units, infectious diseases clinics, university hospital
centres, regional medical offices, 2 - teachers' absenteeism and years' service of
deceased teachers due to HIV/AIDS through teachers' files in Human Resource
and Admistration departments of the Ministry of Education
Results: The required service duration of teachers is 30 years, the Ivory Coast
Government loss due to HIV/AIDS in terms of duration service of teachers in primary schools is 12 years, (Mean 17.8 years, Stand Error 5 22 years Max 27 years
Min 5 years). 40% of the service duration of teachers is lost because of HIV/AIDS.
The primary teachers absenteeism due to HIV/AIDS is 9 months almost a school
year (Mean 8.64 months, Stand Error 11.7 months Max 48 months Min 0 month)
(a) Diagnostics of 59 deceased teachers because of HIV/AIDS: 30.51% NeuroMeningeal disease; 28.81% Pleurisy-Pulmonary infections; 20.33% Chronic Diarrhoea; 8.47% Dermatological-Venereal disease, 3.39% Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis 3.39% Acute Diarrhoea; 5.08% Acute Fever.
(b) Diagnostics of 126 infected teachers (supposed to be alive): 19.84%
Pleurisy-Pulmonary infections; 34.13% Chronic Diarrhoea; 8.73% NeuroMeningeal disease; 19.84% Dermatological-Venereal disease; 1.59% Acute
Diarrhoea; 3.17% Acute Fever; 11.90% carrier without symptoms; 0.79%
Kaposi's disease with digestive localisation
Conclusion: Trained, qualified and experienced teachers are more affected by
the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Their death is premature and occurs while they are fully
active professionally. It is a big loss for the country, reduction of qualified Human
resources which are the basis of the education system. The main impact will be
less teachers, and through school and classroom closures less pupils.
43361 Effectiveness of PWAs "going public" in enhacing
HIV/AIDS awareness among school adolescents
Ugandan experience
Daphine Nakalyoowa1, Francis Mubiru2, Stephen Matovu3, Sallar Tony6,
Stephen Kiirya4, Patrict Gita5. 1 Student Makerere University, Youth Effort, AIDS
Control 1380, Kampala; 2Doctor, Taso Mulago Hospital, Kampala; 3Doctor,
Mulago Hospital, Kampala; 4Counsellor AIDS Commission, Kampala;
5Counsellor, Taso Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda,; 6PH. D. Student, British
Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
Project: A study was conducted on a secondary school in Kampala and one rural
school. We administered questionnaire to a group of 300 students (200 male &
100 female) before and after a serries of lessons taught by teachers and P.W.L.A.
(People living with AIDS) from TASO Mulago (The AIDS support organisation).
This included (women, men, girls, children who carried out shows in Music, Dance

and Drama and held straight talks with adolescents.
Results: After the lessons there was a significant better knowledge of HIV
transmission and prevention among these adolescents. A very significant change
of attitudes towards AIDS and P.W.L.A./HIV was recognised.
Lessons Learned: This experience demostrated that the involvement of
P.W.L.A. in AIDS education was an effective method of creating AIDS awareness,
which should be copied by all communities internationally.