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

198 Abstracts WePeE6442-WePeE6447

XIV International AIDS Conference

to go to ask for emotional and morale support or who are looking for medicines
(DIAGNOSE IMPACT).
- Relatives and friends who want to know to help and support their diagnosed
dear ones.
Results:
- People living with HIV without being afraid of living without Antiretroviral.
- People living with HIV with a better life quality.
- People living with HIV informed about the topic.
- Relatives and friends who are informed about how and what to do to help their
dear ones.
Presenting author: Enrique Alejandro Chavel Ortiz, Urb. Manzanilla, Block B6, Dept 102, Cercado, Lima, Peru, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6442I Community based research on comercial sex,
male clients and male workers
P.A.F. Fornaro. Single, Diaz Velez 1089, Lomas de Zamora C.P 1836, Buenos
Aires Province, Argentina
Background: The following research was focused on comercial sex and men
who sell sex. Summarized results are based upon a 142 surveys of men who sell
sex to other men at Buenos Aires Night Clubs.
Methods: 142 Male sex Workers answered a questionnaire, which was directed
towards specific Items: (behaviours, beliefs, acttitudes, and sexual conducts)
Results: The main cause for men who sell sex is unemployment due to the
low educational level they have. 99,3% of them did not finish University Studies. 25,5% of them finished Primary School but 24,1% did not. 8,5% of them
finished Secondary School but 26,5% did not. Men who sell sex age's average:
18% of them are 15 years old to 20 years old, 70% of them are 20 years old to
30 years old, and 12% of them are 30 years old or older. Men who sell sex are
more unrelactant to use condoms when working than they are when having
sex for pleasure. 32% of them always use condoms and 68% sometimes use
condoms.Men who sell sex weakness is prevention information on IDU, 20%
of them are drugs adicts and 90% of them usually have unprotected sex, paid it
forward with drugs only Other weak point is prevention information on STI, 58% of
them have had one STI at least once. As a member of the gay community taking
part at the Council of Responsibles at two NGOs, SIGLA (Argentine Lesbian Gay
Integration Society) & CEDOSEX (Sexuality Documentary Centre).l am involved
in field work and social work among the GLTTB Community.
Conclusions: Research on men who sell sex enables us to set up accurate HIV
prevention Interventions.
We must also meet the unique needs of men and women and adress the underlying causes that make some people more vulnerable to HIV-AIDS than others and
links between differents groups. Preventions interventions on this special population will improve the quality of life and health of men who sell sex, their clients
health, as well as their client's couples health.
Presenting author: Pablo Fornaro, Diaz Velez 1089, Lomas de Zamora
C.P.1836, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +54
114 362 8261, E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6444 Attitudes and awareness on HIV/AIDS among
general population in Tabriz, Iran, Nov. 2001
M.R. Attari, F Abdollahzadeh, S. Moghaddasian. Tabriz University of Medical
Sciences, Gholghasht Ave., Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran
Background: It is estimated that 57.9 million persons worldwide are infected with
the HIV and that 40,000 - 60,000 new infections occur each year; and that 90%
of all HIV-infected persons currently live in developing countries. According to the
statistics released in Dec. 2001, 3040 persons are reported to be HIV infected
in Iran, from whom 385 cases resulted in AIDS. HIV infection continues to expand into the general population due to the lack of preventive health education
programs. The purpose of this study was to survey attitudes and awareness of
general population regarding HIV/AIDS.
Methods: A 43 item questionnaire was used to collect information concerning
KAP on HIV/AIDS from 110 randomly selected general population referring to
Health Centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.
Results: The ages of participants ranged from 25-35 years. Majority of them
were female. The participants had a moderate knowledge about the basic facts of
HIV transmission. Majority of respondents had a weak knowledge on HIV/AIDS
prevention. Many of them (53%), however, thought that persons with AIDS have
identifiable symptoms. Most respondents also correctly reported that AIDS patient
can pass on the disease to others. Fear of HIV transmission amongst participants
was independently related to pessimistic attitudes towards HIV/AIDS.
Conclusion: These data suggest that it is essential to update the health promotion programs in the community. As regards WHO recommendations to prevent
HIV/AIDS spread by means of community education and training programs, and

as per results of this study,it is strongly recommended that all public mass medias and community training resources take the required measures to promote
communal understanding of safe behaviors, self care, and HIV/AIDS risk factors.
Presenting author: Mohammad Reza Attari, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Gholghasht Ave., Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran, Tel.: [phone],
Fax: [phone], E-mail: mohammadrezaattari @ hotmail.com

WePeE6445I Organizing A candelight memorial
C.A. Obina. California HIV Advocacy Coalition, San Diego, CA, United States
Issues: A Candlelight Memorial is designed to honor the memory of those lost
to HIV/AIDS, show support for those living with HIV/AIDS, raise awareness of
HIV/AIDS and mobilize community involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Description: You will learn how to organize a Candlelight Memorial in your community, act as the liaison between your committee and community, participate
in the development of your theme, auxiliary programs and media press release,
oversee your committees and participate in the actual Candlelight Memorial.
Lessons learned: Organizing a Candlelight can be the most fulfilling reward a
person can do for those with effect/affected with HIV/AIDS and those that have
died of this dreaded disease. We should never forget the long path we have traveled and need to continue to travel.
Recommendation: Everyone should have the opportunty to organize a Candlelight Memorial at the local level and be rewarded with its lasting memories.
Presenting author: Charles Obina, 4054 Louisiana Street 2, San Diego, CA
92104, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: espsandiego @yahoo.com
WePeE6446I Arts and cultural policy: what are the links
between policy framework of health improvement
programs, community regeneration and
community cultural development strategies?
K.A. Triffitt. People Living With HIV/AIDS[NSW]Inc. & University of Newcastle, 4
Adelaide Place, Surryhills, NSW, 2010, Australia
Issues: As a strategic response to h-i-v and aids, the community arts action 'selfdocumentation, self-imaging: people living with h-i-v and aids (ongoing)'has highlighted the ways the community cultural development model has made a significant contribution to the development of effective models of translation - from
community based knowledges to the formulation and implementation of cultural
policy and action.
There is a need to promote policies that recognise the central role of culture in
development. In a study the author facilitated between 2000-01 research findings
revealed that the reciprocal relationship between cultural values and behaviours
and the actual practice and impacts of community cultural development programs
continues to be an under-explored field in h-i-v and aids.
Description: In this paper I conceptualise the theoretical and practical frame of
'self-documentation, self-imaging: people living with h-i-v and aids' and consider
the inventive and creative means that participants have employed in order to respond to and manage a positive diagnosis, to renew the self and its sexualities,
to mobilise the common sense practices of erotic survival and the everyday and
to survive within a sometimes hostile social environment.
Lessons learned: Research found that participation in the arts is an effective
route for personal growth, leading to skills-building and educational developments; it can contribute to social cohesion by developing networks and understanding, and building local capacity for organisation and self-determination; it
brings benefits in other areas such as health promotion and it represents a flexible and cost-effective element of a community cultural development strategy.
Recommendation: This research recommends the development and implementation of policies and practices that foster links between policy framework of health
improvement programs, community regeneration and community cultural development strategies.
Presenting author: Kathy Triffitt, 4 Adelaide Place, Surryhills, NSW, 2010, Australia, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: kathiet@ozemail.
com.au
WePeE6447 Volunteerism or activism?: Community
involvement in HIV/AIDS among Latino gay and
bisexual men
D.I. Garcia, J. Ramirez-Valles. University of Illinois at Chicago, University of
Illinois at Chicago, Health Research & Policy Centers, 850 W Jackson
Boulevard, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Background: The project aimed to investigate the protective effects of community involvement in HIV/AIDS-related organizations for sexual risk behavior among
Latino gay and bisexual men. One primary goal was to describe the construct of
community involvement, specifically defining volunteerism and activism.
Methods: Eighty in-depth individual interviews were conducted using a life history
method with Latino gay and bisexual men in Chicago and San Francisco, U.S.A.
All participants have been involved in HIV/AIDS-related organizations as volunteers and/or activists. Themes explored include general community involvement
as well as community involvement specifically related to HIV/AIDS. Barriers to,
facilitators of, and consequences of community involvement were also explored.

Results: The data illustrate participants' experiences with HIV/AIDS community
involvement, specifically, motives for involvement and types of activities in which
participants engage. This information was useful to refine the concept of community involvement. We developed three levels of involvement: high, moderate, and
low. We also categorized the type of activity, length of involvement, and frequency
of work.
Conclusions: Community involvement may include volunteerism and/or activism
in HIV/AIDS work. Whether one is a volunteer or an activist may have implica