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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 43414-43419 927

Project: CASA de Maryland is a community-based organization that provides assistance in legal, education, housing, employment and health matters to
Latino immigrants residing in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The project,
supported by the Maryland AIDS Administration and the Washington AIDS partnership, conducted pre-post knowledge and attitude evaluation on 15 Hispanic
men from Central America incarcerated in the local jail and among 18 women
attending employment training in CASA de Maryland.
Results: Self reported level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS increased significantly from 24% to 76% reporting that they knew some or a lot about AIDS after
an education outreach intervention. The percent of persons who believed that
they can not be infected with the HIV virus through casual contact increased from
48% to 80%. Knowledge about whether it was possible for a pregnant women to
transmit the HIV virus to the baby during delivery increased from 84% to 96% with
greater improvements among women. Attitudes about identifying an HIV infected
person through looks were not significantly affected.
Conclusion: Our outreach program reached a selected group of Hispanics in
the Washington DC metropolitan area who have limited ability to influence policies
to provide culturally acceptable HIV/AIDS education programs. Our evaluation
found that knowledge about prevention can be increased in these groups of
Hispanic men and women if presented in a linguistically and culturally appropriate
manner.
43414 An HIV prevention and treatment video project for
incarcerated women by incarcerated women
Timothy P. Flanigan1 4, Joshua D. Schiffman2, S.E. Ribaudo2, A.C. Spaulding3,
R.A. ladevaia3, J.D. Rich4. 1164 Summit Avenue Providence, Rhode Island;
2Brown University School of Medicine Providence RI; 3Rhode Island Department
of Corrections Cranston RI; 4Miriam Hospital Providence RI, USA
Issue: Incarcerated woman are at increased risk for contracting HIV through high
risk behavior. HIV+ women may be reluctant to begin HIV therapy. Incarceration
is an opportunity for enhanced education on HIV prevention and treatment, but
requires innovative approaches to behavioral modification and education.
Project: Following informed consent, female inmates were interviewed on
videotape in individual and group settings, discussing the risks of HIV, drug use,
"life on the streets", prostitution and unsafe sex, and losing custody of their
children. The need for HIV testing and HIV therapy were emphasized. The final
video was offered to the Rhode Island prison and jail program and made available
for viewing by all incoming inmates.
Results: The incarcerated woman-to-woman video will help to reach a population reluctant to discuss HIV risks and HIV treatment. Although long term effects
are not yt known, this HIV video may help incarcerated women to re-evaluate
their high risk lifestyles, initiate treatment for substance abuse, and encourage
HIV testing and the start of HIV treatment while imprisoned.
Lessons Learned: A video project for incarcerated women by incarcerated
women can be a vehicle for "peer" HIV education and prevention in the prison
setting.
43415 HIV counseling and testing for convicted people in
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Celia Wainstein1, Juan Copie2, E.M.R. Rodriguez Rios Elisabeth3,
Vanesa Fridman3. 1 Honorio Pueyrredon 364 8 "A" BS. Aires; 2Ministerio de
Justicia, Buenos Aires; 3Programa Sida, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Background: As human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been increasingly recognized among convicted young people, (most of them IVDUs),
HIV counseling and testing has been recommended for this population (inmates
of jails in Buenos Aires).
Objectives: The aim of the survey was to quantify sero-incidence of HIV
infection among people convicted in Buenos Aires.
Methods: From March to November, 1997, HIV testing (ELISA and Western
Blot) was offered to men and women convicted, in jails in Buenos Aires. Previously discussions about AIDS took place amongst inmates and teachers about
the different ways in which the virus could be transmitted and the behavioral
changes to adopt in order to avoid transmission.
Results: In the studied population (3561 inmates), 1498 (42%) were HIV
tested (279 of the respondents were females, and 1219 were males). 25/279
women were HIV(+) (9%). 135/1219 men were HIV(+) (11%), MY counseling and
treatment was offered to all HIV(+) inmates.
43416 Specific information material about STD/AIDS, drugs, and
other health aspects for the prison system of Rio de
Janeiro
Eugenia M.M. Midlej, Pierre G. Bauer, E.J. Biondi, L.P. Veiga, J.L. Fialho,
C. Rosa, E. Romano, M.C.A. Marques. Superintendencia de Saude,
Desipe-Sejint, Rua Senador Dantas 15, 90 Andar, 20031-201 Centro, Rio de
Janeiro, Brasil

Issue: To produce information and education material about different health
aspects for prisoners, their partners and prison staff.
Project: Specific material was prepared to be used in lectures/debates with
prisoners/partners requesting access to intimate visit (Video and booklet about
intimate visit, billboards about STDs, AIDS, and hygiene); manual of counselling
about STD/HIV/AIDS for training and capacitation of professionals; mini-infocards

(credit size; Brazilian adaptation of Swiss prevention material) about HIV/AIDS
and drugs; folders about STD/AIDS, hygiene, drugs, contraceptive methods;
question/response manual made in partnership with prisoners. The material for
training of professionals and their application was produced by the Health Coordination Sector. The material to be distributed for prisoners was developed in
partnership with inmates.
Results: The information material had a good acception by the prison population. The intimate visit material was reproduced by the Health Ministry for use
in prison systems of other states and the video was adapted for adolescents
in other institutions. In 1997 about 200 lectures were delivered for inmates and
their partners who requestr the intimate visit, using the billboard album, video
with distribution of 3.000 booklets "intimate visit" and 10.000 condoms for the first
contact. The mini-infocards and folders were intensively claimed by the inmates.
Lessons Learned: For a better assimilation and discussion of the informations
it will be important, beside the intensive information and education, to adapt
the material to the inmate reality and language. Suggestions from peers will be
included in future adaptations. Our portuguese written information material can
be requested by other interested countries and institutions.
572*/43417 The health care issues of the HIV+ and HIVincarcerated transgendered community
Scott Cozza. 73 Mission Dr. Petaluma Califonia 94952, USA
Issue: The HIV and nonHIV incarcerated population have health care and psychsocial issues unique to their community. Within correctional facilities medical
and mental health care remains poor for the transgendered.
Project: The research was qualitative, collected anecdotal focus group data.
Subjects were transgendered m-f. This presentation represents the voice of the
transgendered prisoner.
Results: Transgendered are denied hormones. HIV+ and HIV- are disciplined
more harshly then the general population for the same offense. HIV - transgendered are housed with the HIV+ population. There is no medical or mental health
clinic which addresses transgendered issues. Some correctional staff humiliate
and discriminate against the transgender person.
Lessons Learned: Correctional facilities should develop programs which address the unique needs of this marginalized community within the prison walls.
Staff should receive sensitivity training to TG psychosocial issues.
43418 AIDS support program targeting transgendered inmates
in 4 French prisons
Maire Tuahiva, Cam Cabral, Lea Heyman, J. Rebocho. Pastt, Paris, France
Issue: support of transgenders health in jail can be improved with a partnership
project with jail staff and transgender communauty groups.
Project: PASTT (Prevention Action Health for Transgenders), AIDES PARIS
and ACT UP - PARIS have created a work group about isolation of transgenders bringing a specific support such as hormonotherapy, psychological support,
health access, counseling about HIV and gender identity, and also safe sex and
harm reduction informations.
Visiting program is set up for wanted transgenders. The support is also carried
out by mail, financial. PASTT intervened concerning gender identity by specialist
doctor for jail staff.
Results: (1) 4 prisons have been involved: Fleury-Merrogis, Fresnes, La Sante
and Villepinte.
(2) 35 transgenders have been contacted in these jails: 27 in Fleury-Merrogis,
5 in Fresnes, 2 in La Sante and 1 in Villepinte. 7 had French nationality and 28
were migrants. 31 received a financial support. PASTT received 35 letters from
transgenders in jail. 14 transgenders have been supported after their day out.
Conclusion: Female and male transgenders have specific needs specially because of gender identity problems. Dramatic isolation and deficience concerning
a specific support for transgenders in jail can be decreased with a common work
joining as much staff jail as associations where transgenders are represented.
|43419 The Scottish National AIDS/HIV Register - A complete
patient record from seroconversion to clinical end points
Glenn Codere, G.M. Allardice, J. McMenamin, D.J. Goldberg, W. Smyth,
F. Raeside, L.E. Shaw. SCIEH, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glascow G3 7LN,
Scotland
Objective: To integrate information from a variety of HIV surveillance systems in
Scotland thereby generating a single register capable of monitoring an individual's
progress from negative HIV-antibody testing through HIV diagnosis, CD4 count
monitoring, AIDS registration, and death.
Methods: In 1994, The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health
(SCIEH) coordinated and administered four National attributable HIV surveillance
systems, data from which were held on four independent databases - Laboratory
Surveillance of All Persons Having a Named HIV Antibody Test (The Denomina
tor Study), Laboratory Surveillance of All Persons Having an HIV Positive Test
Result, the AIDS Registration System, and Surveillance of Persons Undergoing
CD4 Monitoring. The first step in integrating these systems involved the merging
of the HIV Positive and AIDS Registration databases. Information on an individual's last recorded negative HIV test result was then lifted from the Denominator
Study and added to the record. Death information on HIV infected individuals,
provided by the Registrar General for Scotland, is added to the database on a