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

214 Abstracts WePeE6518-WePeE6521

XIV International AIDS Conference

more than half (56%) of the respondents knew about AIDS, their information was
incomplete and full of misconceptions. About 49% women had heard about AIDS.
About 35% respondents said that mosquito bite could spread HIV, whereas about
23% believed that sharing toilets could cause AIDS. About 15% respondents said
that AIDS could be cured by taking medicines. They had poor knowledge about
preventive measures also. About 10% said that one can be protected from AIDS if
his/her whole blood is changed. Only 12% respondents said that they were at risk
of acquiring HIV, rest of the respondents said they were not at risk. They further
felt that AIDS is not a big problem in India.
Lessons learnt: The knowledge of the slum people was very poor and full of
doubts. Women had worse knowledge as compared to men. The findings shows
that the respondents had many knowledge gap, which needs to be bridged urgently, otherwise this could put them at risk of acquiring HIV
Recommendations: There is an urgent need to educate slum people about
HIV/AIDS. There should be ongoing programmes to improve their knowledge.
There is an utmost need of their behavior change.
Presenting author: Intazamul Haque, 181/20 A, Zakir Nagar, New Delhi, India,
Tel.: [phone], E-mail: intazamh @yahoo.co.uk
WePeE6518I The sexual behavior in peri-urban communities:
how young adults think and live about sex in the
city of Lima
M.E. Vera, A. Vivar. Quarantine, Inc, Carlos Gonzales 251, Urb Maranga, San
Miguel, Lima 32, Peru
Background: The assessment of sexual behavior is a useful tool for the prevention of HIV transmission in Lima, a city in which more than 90% of HIV/AIDS
cases in Perua re concentrated
Methods: A prospective survey to assess the sexual behavior in a periurban
community A sample of 700 people aged 19 to 24 years old (350 males and
350 females) were randomly selected and interviewed through door-to-door visits. Questions about demographics, socioeconomics, reproductive health, sexual
behavior and knowledge of STDs were asked by a interviewer in a confidential
and anonymous basis.
Results: In the study population, more males than females reported penetrative
sexual practices (77% vs. 51%). First sexual intercourse was most commonly reported with a stable partner (46.9% in males, 89% in females). Over 270 sexually
active males 12.3% reported that they had once forced women into having sex;
also, 5.5% reported having sex with other men. In the 181 sexually active females
7.2% reported having suffered a rape. Males reported more occasional partners
than females (78.8 vs. 33%); penetrative sex among females and their occasional
partners was very unusual. Alcohol consumption negatively influenced safer sex
practices in males, 38.5% reported not using a condom with occasional partners
when drunk, this trend was higher in the case of men having sex with men. Alcohol consumption was low in females. Reported mean of lifetime sexual partners
was 4.5 in males and 1.3 in females. Mean age of first intercourse was 16.3+1.9
in males and 17.7~2.3 in females. Males reported more knowledge about STDs
than females (76.9% vs, 54.9).
Conclusion: Males are involving in high risk sexual behavior. Male sexual practices, lack of empowerment and poor knowledge of STD prevention are putting
females at high risk for acquisition of STDs and HIV.
Presenting author: Maria Elena Vera, Carlos Gonzales 251, Urb Maranga, San
Miguel, Lima 32, Peru, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6519 Urban African youth's first and subsequent sexual
experiences
P. Remes1, F. Kaona2, L. Kanhonou3, C. Njue4, S. Abega5. 1'Institute of Tropical
Medicine, STI/HIV Research & Intervention Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine,
Centre, Ndola, Zambia; 3Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et
Demographie, Cotonou, Benin; 4E cole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales
(Marseile), Kisumu, Kenya; 5 Universite Catholique d'Afrique Centrale, Yaounde,
Cameroon
Background: The multicentre study on the heterogeneity of HIV epidemics
showed a high vulnerability to STI and HIV among urban African youth, especially among young women. In order to better understand youth's sexual behavior,
we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with youth in Yaounde (Cameroon),
Cotonou (Benin), Ndola (Zambia) and Kisumu (Kenya).
Methods: In the 4 cities, in-depth interviews, based on an open-ended question guide, were held with 75 young women and 75 young men aged 15 to 20.
Questions treat current and past sexual experiences and contextual risk factors.
Alongside, we also conducted interviews with 75 adult men in the general population and with 50-100 clients of CSW, to explore the role of men in the sexual
networks of young women. Interviews are analyzed using qualitative-data analy
sis software.
Results: Sexual experiences of urban youth continue to be associated with risk.
Although there is educational, economic, and cultural variation, a large number
of youth in all 4 cities have had more than one sexual partner by age 20; a number have multiple concurrent partners. Most do not consistently practice safer sex.
Young women usually have relationships with older men. First sexual experiences
are mostly initiated by men, with women often yielding to their boyfriends' pres
sure to have sex. In Zambia, alcohol use and material gifts (from men to women)
very often accompany sexual relationships. In all cities, many youth mention exposure to pornographic magazines or films. Youth in West Africa appear to be
better informed about sexual and reproductive health. A minority abstains from
sex, citing religious beliefs and/or furthering education as their motivation.
Conclusions: Youth's sexual activity continues to be associated with risks. Interventions urgently need to address the reality of young people's sexual experiences.
Presenting author: Pieter Remes, STI/HIV Research & Intervention Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6520I Associations between disturbances of emotion
(internalizing disorders) and sexual risk behaviors
among high-risk adolescents
C.M. Lescano, L.K. Brown, K.L. Puster, H.L. Hunter. Brown University/Rhode
Island Hospital, Brown University Medical School, RI Hospital- Middle House
203, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, United States
Background: Previous research indicates that sexual risk behaviors are common
in youth with various forms of psychopathology. While the association with disturbances of conduct (externalizing disorders) has been most clearly demonstrated,
disturbances of emotion (internalizing disorders) may also put adolescents at risk
for HIV. This study examined associations between HIV risk and internalizing behaviors among adolescents receiving mental health treatment.
Methods: Fifty-six adolescents in mental health treatment programs were assessed with the Adolescent Risk Inventory (ARI), a brief measure designed to
screen for sexual risk behaviors, emotional and behavioral symptoms (e.g., history of sexual abuse and IV drug use), and a variety of related attitudes (e.g.
self-efficacy for condom use).
Results: Seventy percent of these high-risk adolescents reported a history of
sexual activity. Among those, 53% reported recent sex without a condom and
34% reported recent alcohol or drug use during sex. Sexual risk behavior was
significantly correlated with emotional disturbance [r = 0.37, p< 0.01]. Those who
reported more emotional disturbance reported more sex risk [t=2.102, p=.04].
Among sexually active adolescents, those who reported higher rates of emotional
disturbance were less likely to report intentions to use condoms in the next three
months than those who reported less emotional disturbance (92% vs. 42% "yes";
x2=8.495, p=.01). A hierarchical multiple regression revealed that, even when
controlling for all other factors, emotional or behavioral disturbance accounted for
almost 10% of the variance in sex risk behaviors.
Conclusions: Adolescents with behavioral or emotional difficulties are at increased risk for HIV. More specifically, clinicians should be aware that adolescents with disturbances of emotion are more likely to engage in sexual risk-taking
behaviors than their non-distressed peers.
Presenting author: Celia Lescano, Brown University Medical School, RI
Hospital- Middle House 203, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, United
States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6521I Unsafe sex: do feelings matter?
L.K. Brown, C.M. Lescano, RP.M. Miller, K.M. Latimer. Brown University/Rhode
Island Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, Middle House Rm 203, 593 Eddy Street,
Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States
Background: HIV prevention for adolescents has focused on skills acquisition
(e.g., condom use) and precursors of those skills, such as self-efficacy. The relationship between emotion regulation and safer sexual behavior has not been well
studied. Studies of symptoms of general emotional distress have yielded mixed
results and have not focused on emotional reactions specific to the time of conmedom use.
Methods: The sample included two hundred and twenty-two adolescents in psychiatric settings, subjects most likely to have difficulty with emotional regulation.
Participants were assessed using measures of HIV risk behaviors and attitudes,
as well as a measure of emotional distress associated with condom use (alpha=0.92). The sample was then divided into tertiles based on distress at the
time of condom use.
Results: Those participants reporting high distress in sexual situations reported
fewer HIV-safe intentions, decreased HIV self-efficacy, fewer pros of condom use,
and greater general risk attitudes than those with low distress. Those with high
distress also reported less consistent condom use (55% vs. 77%), less frequent
use of condoms for the past six months (47% vs. 67%), less likely to use condoms
in the past month (17% vs. 32%), and were less likely to buy condoms in the past
month (33% vs. 52%) (all p's<.05). After a skills-based HIV prevention intervention, 83% of those with low condom use affectivity scores reported consistent
condom use, compared to only 48% of those with high affectivity scores.

Conclusions: Emotional distress regarding condom use is strongly related to
HIV risk behaviors and attitudes among adolescents with psychiatric disorders.
Interventions should teach the use of affect management to control emotional reactivity in different condom use situations. These results have implications for the
significant number of adolescents in all communities that are upset with the reality
of condom use.