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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts WePeE6504-WePeE6507 211

levels of sexual risk taking throughout adolescence, including an increased number of sexual partners and potential exposures to HIV and other STDs.
Methods: African American and Latino urban youths were followed from an average age of 12.2 to 16.1 years. 849 respondents were asked "Have you ever had
sexual intercourse" at 7th, 8th and 10th grade. Theory-based, culturally tailored
scales assessed sex norms and outcome expectancies, sexual responsibility, and
refusal attitudes at 7th grade fall. The influence of norms and attitudes in early
adolescence on timing of first reported sexual intercourse was examined using
ANOVA controlling for gender.
Results: At fall 7th grade, 30.7% of boys and 7.7% of girls reported sexual intercourse; by 10th grade spring, these figures are 74.8% and 56.4%, respectively.
Youths reporting greater peer involvement in sex and more positive sex outcome
expectancies were more likely to have initiated sex by 7th grade; the higher the
score on peer norms (f = 41.08, p<.0001) and outcome expectancies (f = 5.87,
p=.002), the earlier the timing of initiation. Higher scores on sex responsibility
were correlated with delayed sexual intercourse (f = 7.36, p<.001), as were refusal attitudes (f = 15.62, p<.0001). While gender is associated with variations in
scale scores and timing of initiation, these relationships are similar for males and
females.
Conclusion: Findings suggest the importance of addressing sexual norms and
attitudes in interventions that aim to delay early sexual initiation. Interventions
must begin prior to middle school and continue through mid-adolescence.
Presenting author: Carl O'Donnell, EDC, 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA, 2458,
United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: codonnel
@caregroup.harvard.edu
WePeE6504 Rural couple's sexuality and HIVAIDS: Applying
knowledge & commitment
V. Shankpal1, S. Navagale 2, P. Shankpal3. 1Garud Colony Dhule, India; 2SBH
Medical College, Dhule, India; 3, Dhule, India
Objectives: To assess how often HIV/AIDS talks are involved into household conversations in the one hand, and to assessment of HIV-screening is to couples in
rural background.
Methods: In order to assess the impact of /awareness programs/counseling
about HIV-screening among seropositive couples, a feedback questionnaire was
made available to all consultants of rural tribal area of Dhule city whose agegroup
ranges 16-40, having an active sexual live and living together as couples for >2
years.
Results: A total number of 35 consultants were addressed for the study, 68%
allopathic, 20% Ayurvedic & 12% traditional healers. Among couples screened
21% were reported to often talk about HIV/AIDS affection in their intimate conversations with partners. Yet 79% kept silence about their affection for various
reasons. However 78% of them agree to be screened after counseling. Among
them only 11% were found couple seropositives. Out of these seropositive couples 21% were both seropositives and 2 serodifferents. Only a few 8% however
agreed to break the silence about their affection by informing their partners.
Conclusion: HIV/AIDS affection often comes into private conversations of many
couples [68%]. Although a considerable number of consultants show positive approach, a great number (79%) remain silence about their affection only to reveal
it too much late. We need to apply strong efforts through permanent sensitization
and information and adequate care taking of the already affected.
Lessons learned: Rural/tribal population has emerged as an iceberg phenomenon. We need to share knowledge & commitment for better action to achieve
good results in prevention and fighting against HIV/AIDS in rural areas of developing countries. We need to shift our focus form urban to rural areas where AIDS
epidemic is silently spreading its tentacles.
Presenting author: Vaishali Shankpal, 41-a, Purnanand, Garud Colony, Deopur, Dhule - 424002, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
WePeE6505 Low HIV prevalence and high risk behaviours:
adolescents in urban Bangladesh
L. Muna, J. Cleland. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medine, 124
Kemang Raya, Jakarta, 12730, United Kingdom
Background: Bangladesh has been called an 'epidemiological mystery' in the
HIV context, combining low HIV prevalence (0.1%) with a high STD rate (60%).
The research aims to explore the personal and social context of sexual behaviours
that pose risk of contracting HIV in order to understand the present risk status of
HIV epidemic in qualitative standpoint.
Methods: Data were drawn from author's doctoral research. It includes qualitative methods - in-depth interviews, key-informant interviews, and informal observation. 56 school-going adolescents (28 boys and 25 girls) ranging in age from
14 to 22 years took part in the study.
Results: Both positive and negative sexual risk behaviour and social aspects that

may account for the present status of HIV in Bangladesh are follows. Adolescents
reported liberal attitudes regarding premarital sex (60%); and sexual intercourse
(45%) with multi-partners in romantic, casual, and paid-sex relationship. Coercive
sexual experiences were described by both sexes (homosexual experience for
boys). Use of condom was found irregular or non-existent especially in first-time
sexual experience. None of the adolescents received any sex-related information from any formal (e.g. school) or informal (e.g. parents) sources. Adult movies

served as source of information on sex. Most of the respondents, irrespective of
their sexual status, believed they were not at risk of contracting HIV and did not
regard AIDS as a disease that could harm them. Factors that reduce the risk include strict social attitude towards premarital sex and less frequent chance of sex.
In addition, all male respondents reported to be circumcised.
Conclusions: While it may be only matter of time before Bangladesh has a high
HIV prevalence rate, adolescents should be aware and ready to face a potential
epidemic. Together with improving access to information and availability of condom; the gender related imbalance has to be addressed to reduce the risk.
Presenting author: Lazeena Muna, 124 Kemang Raya, Jakarta, 12730, Indonesia, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6506 HIV knowledge, attitudes, and practice risk factors
among young people in Hanoi, Vietnam
A.N. Tran1, H.T. Nguyen2, D.E. Morisky3, I.W. Huang4. 1Baylor College of
Medicine, 8300 El Mundo #306, Houston, TX 77054, United States; 2Hanoi
Medical College, Department of Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3UCLA School
of Public Health, Los Angeles, United States; 4Houston Center for Quality of
Care and Utilization Studies, Houston, United States
Background: Spread of HIV among Vietnam's youth is impending, and there is
lack of in-depth data regarding mainstream youth's HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). The purpose of this study was to establish a baseline
level of HIV KAP among young people 14-21 years of age in Hanoi, Vietnam
in order for public health officials to develop and customize effective HIV/AIDS
education campaigns for mainstream youth.
Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized an 87-question self-administered
questionnaire to obtain data (N=486) along with post-survey focus groups. From
local high schools and universities, 390 students were recruited. Another 96 nonstudent participants were recruited from the community from cafes, factories &
vendors.
Results: Overall, KAP was unpredictable based on age. Regarding practices, 5%
of participants reported having had sexual intercourse and 8% were willing to do
so in the next 6 months. Another 8 sexual activities along a continuum scale were
also reported with varying frequencies, depending on activity. Non-students were
more likely than students to engage in higher levels of sexual activity. Of those
sexually active, 55% did not use condoms. Nearly 1/3 of the non-condom users
either used the withdrawal method or no barrier method at all. Variables associated with higher levels of sexual activity include the following: gender (male);
older age; not living with both biological parents; more positive attitude towards
sex; less communication with parents about sex. The knowledge level for students
was higher for students than non-students. Females reported less positive attitudes towards sex than did males. Recommendations: One should not assume
HIV KAP based on age when planning programs. Age and gender-specific outreach are recommended for future HIV prevention programs. Increased outreach
efforts to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education should be devoted to youth who
are not in school.
Presenting author: Anh Tran, 8300 El Mundo #306, Houston, TX 77054, United
States, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6507 Sexual behaviour and risk for HIV/STD
K. Ramstedt1, C. Herlitz2. 1National Institute of Public Health, Stockholm,
Sweden; 2Dalarnas research centre, Falun, Sweden
Background: Since the end of the 1980s, mail surveys have been conducted every 3 - 5 years to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices
relating to HIV/AIDS (KABP) in the Swedish general population. The period of
time for this study is 1989 - 2000.
Methods: The study is based on four mailed questionnaire surveys carried out
in 1989, 1994, 1997 and 2000. Each sample consisted of 4.000 - 6.000 subjects
aged 16-44 years, stratified into the age groups 16-17, 18-19, 20-24, 25-34 and
35-44 years. The response frequency was 70 percent, 64 percent, 64 percent and
60 percent, respectively.
Results: Public knowledge of the spread of HIV continues to be good, and the
attitude to HIV-infected and risk groups has improved. Diminishing engagement in
the AIDS issue has gone hand in hand with increasing pessimism about the possibility of controlling the epidemic. Despite good awareness that HIV is spread by
sexual intercourse and that AIDS is a very serious disease, an increasingly liberal
attitude to sexual contacts outside stable relationships has taken hold. However,
this is not fully reflected in actual sexual habits. Regional differences in public
KABP are limited and have decreased during the study period.
Conclusions: The 2000 survey primarily pinpoints men around and slightly over
age 20, and women in their upper teens, as groups most prone to risk behaviour
in relation to HIV and STD. This fact appears in a steep increase in the incidence of chlamydia in these groups. The failure of these and other groups to use
condoms to an adequate extent during casual sexual contacts is a challenge in

current health policy in Sweden.
Presenting author: Kristina Ramstedt, National Institute for Public Health, S103 52, Stockholm, Sweden, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]