Program Supplement [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

[ LBPED9043
Responding to AIDS in 21st century: developing harm
reduction policy and practice in african american communities
Ptah, Amu (United States)
Background: African-American communities have been hardest hit
by drug-related AIDS, harm reduction remains controversial and
practitioners remain isolated. Goal is to develop and implement
harm reduction policy and practice within African American
community-based organizations and the communities with whom
they work, and develop strategies for ensuring African American
leadership within the harm reduction movement.
Methods: Developed an African American Reader on Harm
Reduction which serves to support harm reduction advocacy and
education within African American communities. Facilitated
organizing meetings on both coasts of African American leaders in
harm reduction to develop and implement a harm reduction policy
agenda as a response to growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in
Communities of Color in the United States. Organized two free
regional conferences on African Americans and Harm Reduction in
NYC and San Francisco.
Results: Two very successful conferences reaching over 16oo00
participants. Formation of the African Americans in Harm
Reduction Working Group a national network of harm reduction
advocates and practitioners at work on local and regional harm
reduction policy agendas for African American communities. An
African Americans in Harm Reduction training curriculum is being
written and will serve as a national training model. Planning and
organizing four community forums in New York Wasington DC, Los
Angeles and Oakland to explore the opportunities and challenges
facing harm reduction in the African American community.
Conclusions: African Americans within the harm reduction
movement have suffered from a lack of visibility and organizing
opportunities. These organizations need assistance training staff
to better serve drug users and those with a history of drug use.
Need to link the issue of harm reduction and HIV to the broader
social justice issues affecting African American communities.
Corresponding author: Ptah, Amu, 22 West 27 street, 5 Floor,
New York, New York, loool, United States,
Email: [email protected]
SLBPED90441
AIDS sexual risk behaviour among addicts in Brazil
Silveira, Dartiu Doering Silveira, Evelyn (Brazil)
Background: Only a small percentage of Brazilian addicts use
IV drugs. The main objective of this survey is to describe
factors related to AIDS risk behaviour among Brazilian addicts.
Methods: We interviewed 1056 addicts from an outpatient care
unit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to examine possible risk behaviours
associated to demographics, patterns of drug use and
depressive symptoms.
Results: The subjects presented a mean age of 26.5 years
(SD=9.5), 86.9 % were male and 65 % single. Most addicts
(59 %) systematically failed to engage in safe sexual practices.
Rate of HIV+ was 3.8% and 37.5 % of the seropositive addicts
had never been IV drug users. Among seropositives only 43.7
% referred safe sexual behaviour. Alcohol dependants were
more prone to neglect safe sexual practices than cocaine
dependants (68.7 % and 63.6 %, respectively). Frequency of
alcohol consumption was associated to unsafe sexual
practices among men (p < 0.05). The presence of depressive
symptoms was related to unsafe sexual behaviour among
women (p < o.o5).

Conclusion: We confirmed that among Brazilian addicts the
factors associated with AIDS risk behaviour seem to be
strongly related to sexual behaviour. A considerable
percentage of HIV-positive addicts were not infected through
IV drug use. The amount of alcohol consumption is definitely
an important risk factor for HIV infection among men and the
presence of depressive symptoms seems to play an important
role in neglecting safe sexual practices among women. In a
broader sense, addicts display polymorphic patterns of
behaviours suggesting the need to find specific strategies
towards different sub-groups of addicts. Nevertheless, further
studies are required to establish defined profiles of
dependants according to risk exposure for the infection.
Corresponding author: Silveira, Dartiu, Rua Florida 320,
4565oo000, Brazil, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone],
Email: [email protected]
LBPED90451
Vietnam's first and only anonymous HIV test site:
A success at attracting high risk individuals
who have not been previously tested
jThinh, Tran, Bain, Deborah2, Giang, Le1, Mandel,
Jeffrey2, Lindan, Christina2 1Vietnam; 2United States)
Background: Vietnam's first and only anonymous HIV test site
(ATS), opened in Ho Chi Minh City in November, 2001. Our
objective was to attract at-risk individuals who might
otherwise not seek testing for fear that their HIV sero- or risk
status would be reported and become community knowledge.
To date, HIV surveillance of IDU and CSW has been largely
limited to detainees at rehabilitation centers. Young drug
users, their sex partners, CSW, their clients/partners, MSM,
and others at risk, may not present for HIV testing or access
prevention or treatment services because of concern regarding
reporting and detention. We present data on the acceptance
and feasibility of the first ATS in Vietnam.
Methods: HIV counseling and testing services are free and
anonymous. Counselors and staff receive ongoing training,
clinical oversight and supervision. Limited data are tabulated
on clients' gender, risk behavior, and reasons for accessing the
site. Blood HIV+ by EIA is confirmed using a second EIA & a
rapid test. Of 500oo clients seen by May 31, we present data on
the first 400.
Results: 23% of clients were H IV+. 69% of clients had never
been HIV tested before; of these, 35 (17%) were HIV+.
Reported risk behaviors included: drug injection (22%); sex
work (18% of women); sexual partner of CSW (46% of men);
unprotected heterosexual sex (51%); STD (9%); MSM (3%);
needle stick accident (8%). The majority of clients (72%) were
male; 77% were between the ages of 20-39. 45% of clients
heard about the ATS through the media; 21% were referred by
health service agencies.
Conclusion: The ATS serves a young and diverse population
that would otherwise not have been tested. The number of
clients requesting services and the high HIV prevalence to date
demonstrates the need for counseling and testing services that
guarantee anonymity and provide risk reduction education,
referral and support services. Anonymous testing is both
feasible and acceptable in Vietnam and needs to be expanded.
Corresponding author: Tran, Thinh, 53 Vu Tung St, floor 2, Binh
Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam,
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone],
Email: [email protected]
XIV International AIDS Conference BARCELONA - JULY 7-12

49