Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

164 Abstracts WePeD6314-WePeD6318

XIV International AIDS Conference

WePeD6314I HIV prevention programs can reduce stigma
among students
H. Stewart1, A. McCauley2, S. Baker3, M. Givaudan4, S. James5, I. Leenen4,
S. Pick4, P. Reddy6, U. Rewthong3, P. Rumakon7, D. Walker1. 1Population
Council/Horizons, Washington, DC, United States; 2International Center for
Research on Women/Horizons, c/o A. McCauley Population Council, 4301
Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 280, Washington, DC 20008, United States;
3Program for Appropriate Technology in Health/Horizons, Bangkok, Thailand;
4 Instituto Mexicano de Investigacion de Familia y Poblacion, Mexico City
Mexico; 5 Medical Research Council - Capetown, based at the School of Public
Health and Family Medicine at University of Natal, Durban,a South Africa;
6Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; 7Population
Council/Horizons, Bangkok, Thailand
Background: Evaluations in Mexico and Thailand included a focus on the question: Can school HIV programs reduce stigma and discrimination toward people
living with AIDS? In each country, local organizations trained teachers and designed courses to change attitudes toward PLHA.
Methods: Quasi-experimental, longitudinal data were used to measure change
in attitudes by measuring program impact at baseline, immediately after the intervention and a few months later. Researchers surveyed students' attitudes toward
PLHA by asking several questions on stigma and discrimination. Students from
four secondary schools in Mexico and six colleges in Thailand participated in the
study. In each site half of the schools received the intervention and half served
as controls. The mean age of each study group was 16 years in Mexico and 20
years in Thailand.
Results: In both sites, the intervention was significantly associated with a decrease in stigma and discrimination toward PLHA in the intervention arm compared to the control arm of the study. The difference in arms was significant for
both post-intervention rounds. Mexican students' willingness to care for a sick relative was 55% in both study arms at baseline. For round 2 64% of the intervention
group were willing compared to 48% of the control group. In round 3 there was
a significant but smaller difference. On the same variable 68% of the Thai intervention group and 67% of the control group were willing to care for a relative at
baseline. Both post intervention measures showed approximately 80% of the intervention group v. 71% of the control group were willing. There was a significant
but smaller increase in willingness to buy food from an HIV+ food seller and this
difference was significant between study arms across rounds The only variable
that was unaffected by the intervention was keeping secret a family member's HIV
status.
Conclusion: School programs can reduce some negative attitudes associated
with stigma.
Presenting author: Holley Stewart, c/o A. McCauley, Population Council, 4301
Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 280, Washington, DC 20008, United States, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeD63155 Risk behaviours in the face of HIV transmision
among Spanish youths between 14 and 24 years
old
J.L. Bimbela1, J.M. Jimenez1, M. Lameiras2, N. Alfaro1, J.M. Failde2,
J.C. Diezma3. 1Escuela Andaluza de Salud Publica, Escuela Andaluza de Salud
Publica, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, Apartado 2070, 18080 GRANADA,
Spain; 2Universidad de Vigo, Ourense, Spain; 3Consejeria de Salud de Madrid,
Madrid, Spain
Background: The main goal of HIV prevention policies is the decrease of risk
sexual behaviours. The aim of this study is to identify the risk behaviours related
to the sexual transmission of HIV among Spanish youths between 14 and 24
years old in order to study how effective the prevention campaigns are.
Methods: 2171 individuals were selected through a transversal study and with a
sampling of stratified multi-stages conglomerate in three Spanish districts (n=720
from Andalucia, n=731 from Galicia and n=720 from Madrid). A self-applied questionnaire about the knowledge of HIV prevention methods and sexual practices
was used. The sample was equally represented by sex, and with an age average
of 19 (age range 14-24).
Results: Over 70% of the individuals were sexually active. Out of this 70%, 46.4%
of the individuals had not made use of a condom during their last sexual relation
with penetration; 45% (n=472) during their vaginal coitus; 65,7% (n=92) during
the anal coitus; and 89.2% during the oral sex (n=657). The main cause for using
condom is to avoid pregnancy (46%) (n=421), as contrasted with the STD prevention with 3.3% (n=30), and a 48.6% (n=445) with both aims. The maximum levels
of efficacy to prevent HIV transmission assigned by the individuals to the different
protection methods were as follows: 20.4% (n=430) to the IUD, 32.1% (n=687)
to the contraceptive pill, and 17% (n=363) to the diaphragm. Furthermore, 14,3%
(n=305) considered that anal sex protects from HIV transmission.
Conclusions: There is still a high number of youths who practise risk behaviour.
Although knowledge is not enough condition for the prevention of HIV, there is
however a need for formative / informative interventions given that knowledge

about risk practices and the efficacy of prevention methods is still deficient among
youths.
Presenting author: JOSE LUIS Bimbela, Escuela Andaluza de Salud Publica,
Campus Universitario de Cartuja, Apartado 2070, 18080 GRANADA, Spain, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

WePeD631 6 Peace corps work on HIV/AIDS
L.V. Lambert. Peace Corps, BP 1282, Abidjan 06, Cidex01, West Africa, Cote
d7voire
Issue: The AIDS epidemic is depleting the fruits of years of development work,
in order to preserve the health and productivity of the important community members it is crucial to reinforce a communal acknowledgement that AIDS exists and
that it is a problem in their community, also the community must willingly take the
necessary steps toward changing their sexual practices. Peace Corps Volunteers
(PCV) are in an ideal position to do so.
Descriptions: of activities: In November 2001 Cote d'lvoire held it first HIV/AIDS
all volunteer conference. The goal of the conference was to arm each volunteer with the necessary knowledge and tools to begin or improve their HIV/AIDS
project at their sites.
The HIV P.E.A.C.E tool kit came to life, and was introduced at the conference. The
acronym P.E.A.C.E stands for PCVs educating and advocating change through
empowerment. The Tool is designed to help volunteers examine their role in
HIV/AIDS education and to facilitate the creation of community alliances with the
potential to affect behavioural change. The P.E.A.C.E kit will become a tool for
use in pre service training (PST) for new volunteer trainees and in service training (IST).
Recommendations: Peace Corps Volunteers serve in areas where there is limited access to the services of many NGO or government agencies. The volunteers are well integrated into their communities. Volunteers are introduced to the
life skills manual that is designed to help young people learn communication, relationships, and other skills. The exercises teach behaviour that volunteers should
use to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS Therefore, volunteers have many
opportunities to reinforce these messages, increasing the chance of behaviour
changes and most importantly, volunteers have good rapport with the youths,
who are the most vulnerable group. Subsequently, the volunteers are in an ideal
position to help decentralizing the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Presenting author: Vaquise Lambert, BP 1282, Abidjan 06, Cidex0l, West
Africa, Cote d'lvoire, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
vaquise @ hotmail.com
HWePeD6317 The decentralized Ivorian population thirsts for
knowledge on STI/HIV/AIDS: Experience of the
telephone hotline Info SIDA
M.A. Kpolo. Coordinator, 22 BP 1291 Abidjan 22, s/c Ruban Rouge, Cote d/voire
Issue: Since the creation of a Ministry of AIDS Control in Cote d'lvoire, many
initiatives have been undertaken to fight the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, many however, are centralized in Abidjan. Recognizing the need to supply accurate information to rural populations, the Ministry-with significant support from Cote d'lvoire
Telecom-established the toll-free hotline, Info SIDA.
Description: The Ministry of AIDS Control has assembled a unique partnership
that includes Cote d'lvoire Telecom, Ruban Rouge (a local NGO which oversees the counselors), and a steering committee composed of representatives
of HIV/AIDS organizations. Technical assistance to the line is provided by Johns
Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (JHUCCP), through the USAIDfunded Family Health and AIDS project (FHA).
Within the first three weeks, over 3000 telephone calls had been logged, with the
majority coming from the interior of the country.
Counselors use two support materials to provide accurate, up-to-date information
to callers: a question & answer guide of commonly posed problems, and a referral
guide to STI/HIV/AIDS services throughout the country. For each call, the counselor fills out a sheet that will enable the Info SIDA coordinator to monitor caller
demands and referrals made.
Lessons learned: An analysis of the calls reveals the following: I) There is a significant need for accurate information to be given to rural populations in a format
acceptable to them (i.e. anonymously); ii) The large majority of callers are men
(75%) and young people under 25 years of age (80%); iii) Private-public partnerships lead to win-win situations; iv) Hotlines can provide valuable information and
support STI/H-IV/AIDS services (through referral).
Next steps: 1) Increase number of lines available from 2 to 4; 2) Promote hotline throughout country; 3) Strengthen monitoring system to assure high-quality
of counselor support.
Presenting author: Alain Kpolo, 22 BP 1291 Abidjan 22, s/c Ruban Rouge, Cote
d'lvoire, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

I WePeD6318

The pilot programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina
to explore the role of sports instructors as a
potential means of drug abuse and HIV prevention
Funded by directorate general for development
cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (DGCS)

M. Martini1, S. Volpicelli2, N. Losi, V. Agnoletto2. '1OM- International
Organization for Migration, via Nomentana 62 rome, Italy; 2LILA-CEDIUS, Milan,
Italy; 310M, Rome, Italy
Bacgroung: Part of a wider programme focused on preventing HIV/AIDS in SEE,
this intervention aimed to test the efficacy/sustainability in SEE of models used
in other countries. Sports are a strategic way to reach youth, especially in a post