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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts WePeD6426-WePeD6429 189

1. Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
2. Peer Education and Training
3. Voluntary Counselling and testing
4. Condom procurement and distribution
Trained Peer Educators in the companies referred factory workers to the project
clinic for sexualy transmitted diseases management and voluntary counselling
and testing. This paper will present the workers that came to the clinic and their
partners during the period of March 2000 to February 2001 as a result of Peer
Education.
Lessons learned: This shows that Peer Educators because of their continued
education have influence on their peers resulting in them seeking sexualy trransmitted diseases management and voluntary counselling and testing and also being able to bring their partners.
Recommendations: Peer Education should be used as a tool to influence workers to come with their partners for sexualy transmitted diseases management and
voluntary counselling and testing.
Presenting author: Fananai Mtengwa, Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention Project,
103/105 Rotten Row, Harare, Zimbabwe, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +263 4
770170, E-mail: fananai @zappuz.co.zw
WePeD6426 Evaluation of STD/HIV intervention among sex
workers in the Red Light Area of Surat (India):
Experience of eight years (1992 to 2000)
J.K. Kosambiya, V.K. Desai. Dept of P & S M, Govt. Medical College, Surat -
395001, India
Background: A Red Light Area (RLA) comprising of 800 Sex Workers (SWs) is in
existence for last 400 years in the centre of the city. The present paper discusses
experiences of baseline findings (1992) and of the interventions in this area since
1998.
Methods: Study includes baseline study (1992) and follow up study (2000) in
same area. Participants were 108 (1992) and 124 (2000) female SWs with their
informed consent. Studied parameters were KABP and prevalence of STD / HIV
amongst SWs. Diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical examination and laboratory investigations.
Interventions: There was no active intervention till 1997 except condom promotion, creation of general awareness and development of linkages with SWs and
external stakeholders. Interventions began since 1998 with a DFID(UK), sponsored project "Partnership for Sexual Health". 'Peer Educator(PE)Model' was
adopted with strategies of STD care, Counselling, Condom Promotion, Behaviour
Change Communication(BCC), Enabling Environment. Repeated police actions
have resulted for slow progression in enabling environment.
Results: Significant increase has taken place in the prevalence of Syphilis (18.5%
to 29.4%) and HIV (18.5% to 43.2%) and also in other clinically observed STDs.
A statistically insignificant decline in Genital Ulcer Disease was also observed.
PEs had taken one-year time to establish themselves and stabilise in the area.
Due to effective BCC, condom use rate has reached to 94%. There is an improvement in STD identification and its management and also partner management. Significant increase in knowledge about STD/HIV and role of condom in
their prevention has occurred.
Conclusion: Inspite of increased awareness about STD/HIV and condom use,
the higher prevalence of Syphilis and HIV suggests the search for alternative
strategies for STD/HIV control/prevention in this group. Enabling environment is
a key factor for successful and sustainable use of control strategies.
Presenting author: Jayendrakumar Kosambiya, B/7, Asstt. Professors Quaters,
New Civil Hospital Campuss, Majura Gate, Surat -395001, India, Tel.: +91 261
3240259, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeD6427 Partnership in sexual health a better strategy for
Target Interventions and health services
L.K.M. Malodia. AIDS Control Society, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Issue: Target interventions and Counselling services require participation of government, NGOs, and community for its better acceptibilty, coverage, and to make
it user friendly?
Description: Ahmedabad is 7th largest city of India having 5 million population,
culture of NGOs and public partcipation inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.
Ahmedabad has no redlight area, sex workers are scattered making them difficult
to be identified and start a Intervention. Initially NGOs were reluctant to work with
government and in the field of control of spread of STDs/HIV/AIDS among High
Risk groups.Our trustunderstanding, and mutual respect ultimately brought them
in partnership for sexual health.
We work through NGOs for Behavioural change communication, quality STDs
care, condom promotioncounselling services, and enabling environment, in four
years we are working with 3000 female sex workers, 1100 MSM, 5000 street children, and 50000 migrants, having high risk behaviour, we have AIDS Helpline and

counselling services attached with Inter Acting Voice Response System, since
April, 1999 we have received 225 thousand calls.
Counselling services has improved the STD cilinics attendence, behaviour, treatment compliance in patients and their partners.
Lessons and Recommendations:
1. Government alone cannot work for the AIDS/STDs control in the high risk
groups as they do not have the accessible, acceptable, and user friendly ser
vices. This can improve with NGOs and Community partcipation as they have
reach, rapport and better undrstanding of community needs.
2. NGOS also require good capacity building, resources and infra structure which
they can get from government sector.
3.Counselling services, NGOs linkages can improve the STD clinic attendence,
treatment compliance in patients and their partners. it can bring the behavioural
change in the high risk groups.
4. Partnership in sextual health requires mutual trust, understanding and respect
among partners.
Presenting author: Laxman Kumar Malodia, 5, surabhi Apts., Nr. umiyavijay
Society, B/h. Saurabh school, Rannapark,Ghatlodia, Ahmedabad,Gujarat, India,
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeD6428 Role of informal health care providers in
prevention and control of HIV/AIDS
S.A. Shah1, A.K. Ghauri', S. Kristensen2, M.A. Mirza3. 1Sindh AIDS Control
Program, Sindh AIDS Control Program, Services Hospital, M. A. Jinnah Road,
Karachi, Pakistan; 2University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL,
United States; 3the Bridge, Karachi, Pakistan
Issue: Majority of male patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections in Pakistan,
seek medical advise from informal sector health care providers. Unfortunately
Government does not recognize this sector, therefore they are not involved in HIV
prevention activities including, Education, Counseling, Condom promotion and
voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing.
Description: This paper describes the results of a Pilot Project implemented as
out reach programs to involve informal sector STI care providers in HIV/AIDS
prevention activities.
Pakistan AIDS Prevention Society an NGO conducted trainings of informal STI
care providers in Syndromic Management of STIs and HIV/AIDS prevention
strategies in three major cities of Sindh Province (Pakistan) Karachi, Hyderabad,
and Sukkur total 120 STI care providers were trained.
Lessons learned: Informal health care providers can easily be motivated to get
involved them in HIV/AIDS prevention activities such as for education, counseling, condom promotion and referral of STI patients to voluntary HIV testing and
counseling centre.
Informal health care providers take keen interest in training of syndromic management of STIs and other STI/ HIV/AIDS prevention and control strategies.
Recommendations: This research recommends involvement of informal health
care providers in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.
Presenting author: Sharaf Shah, Sindh AIDS Control Program, Services Hospital, M. A. Jinnah Road, Karachi, Pakistan, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +92 21
777 1753, E-mail: [email protected]
WePeD6429 Introducing anonymous screening for sexually
transmitted infections at an anonymous HIV test
site
J.W. Dilley1, L. Loeb', S. Casey', B. Adler1, J. Rinaldi, J. Klausner2.
1UCSF-AIDS Health Project, Box 0884, UCSF AIDS Health Project, San
Francisco, CA, 94143-0884, United States; 2San Francisco Department of Public
Health, San Francisco, CA, United States
Background: We examined the utility of anonymous urine-based screening for
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and swab-based screening for pharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhea (PGC) in an anonymous HIV counseling and testing program as a
method of identifying otherwise undetected STI in HIV testers.
Methods: In 2000 and 2001, UCSF AIDS Health Project (San Francisco's largest
anonymous HIV counseling and testing program) offered anonymous CT and
PGC counseling and testing to all clients at two clinic locations. Clients received
STI results when they returned one week later for their HIV test result. A trained
phlebotomist provided on-site treatment and offered take-home partner treatment.
Results: Acceptance of STI screening among 5,592 clients was high (72% for CT,
73% for PGC) and did not vary significantly by gender or sexual orientation. The
presence of previously undetected PGC was particularly high among MSM (124
cases, 5% point prevalence). Eleven cases of CT were detected among women
(1% point prevalence). Among clients positive for either CT or PGC, the majority
of those infected returned for their results (97%) and accepted treatment (92%);
58% of those who presented for results accepted partner treatment. Conclusion:
Providing anonymous STI screening at an anonymous HIV testing site identified
217 cases of STI that might have otherwise gone undetected. Due to the known
association of STI infection and HIV transmission, STI screening should be considered as an adjunct service at anonymous testing sites.
Presenting author: lisa loeb, Box 0884, UCSF AIDS Health Project, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0884, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]

7996, E-mail: [email protected]