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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts WePeE6522-WePeE6526 215

Presenting author: Larry Brown, Rhode Island Hospital, Middle House Rm 203,
593 Eddy Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6522 Evaluating skill-focused strategies for the
negotiation of safe sex behaviours among female
adolescents in Lima, Peru. * * Project funded by
the World AIDS Foundation
F. Perez1, A. Quintana2, C. Hidalgo2, D. Dourojeanni2. 1 ISPED- Universite
Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France; 2lntitute of Education and Health, ISPED - Case
11 - Universite Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, 146, rue L6o-Saignat, 33076,
Bordeaux, Peru
BackgroundThe HIV/AIDS epidemic in Peru is increasing and affecting more
women and young people. We present here the results of the evaluation of an
educational model aimed to develop negotiation skills and safe sex behaviours
among adolescents in an urban-marginal district of Lima, Peru.
MethodsThe education model consisted of a training of trainers strategy on sexuality and STI/HIV prevention issues aimed at 30 health professionals, 85 health
promoters and 1200 adolescent girls. Evaluation was undertaken through prepost intervention data collection. Instruments used included knowledge and attitude surveys on adolescent sexuality, observational techniques on quality of
health care for adolescents, a survey among adolescents (n=300) on satisfaction of health care services and intention of sexual behaviour change.
ResultsSurvey results among female adolescents showed a significant increase
in knowledge related to the prevention of STI/HIV in 58% (p<0.001); a 30% increase related to favourable attitudes to practice safe sex behaviours (p<0.001),
a 47% increase in their intention to use a condom (p<0.001) and a 17% increase
of their intention to negotiate with their partner on issues related with sexuality (p<0.001). Observation of health professionals performance when attending
adolescents and the survey among youth showed an improvement in the quality of health care for them. Nevertheless, the evaluation highlighted the need to
reinforce counselling topics related to condom use and the mutual benefit for prevention of STI/HIV and unwanted pregnancy.
ConclusionsStrategies focused on young people's abilities to negotiate safe sex
relations are important preliminary steps to consolidate a change in risky sexual
behaviours. The application of this educational model promoted the adoption of
safe sex behaviours in adolescents and improved of health professionals capacities to better respond to adolescents' needs.
Presenting author: Freddy PEREZ, ISPED - Case 11 - Universite Victor Segalen
Bordeaux 2, 146, rue Leo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France, Tel.: [phone]
15 29, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6523 Brazilian teenage girls' conceptions of HIV/AIDS
sexual risk: blending gender and neoliberal
discourses-lessons for health promotion
DL. de Oliveira, D.L. de Oliveira. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, porto
Alegre, Brazil
Background: We have witnessed in Brazil the heterosexualization of the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a continuing increase of the rates of women's infection. Such a phenomenon has contributed to the awareness about the importance of the social aspects of women's sexual risk-taking to HIV/AIDS prevention.
Nevertheless, this area of investigation is still underdeveloped. That is the case
of health promotion's theories on women's responses to HIV/AIDS sexual risk,
where teenage girls' accounts have usually been absent. Health promotion's approach to the subject has often looked for data about the (ir)rationality of risky sexual behaviour, with an interest in the evaluation of what is wrong in girls' ways of
thinking that make them decide to take risks. The research reported here was exploratory, rather than judgmental. It aimed at exploring the ways by which Brazilian
teenage girls see the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual relationships. It was an
attempt to study the 'HIV/AIDS sexual risk' from the perspective of its subjects,
extending our understanding of the meanings of HIV/AIDS sexual risk. The study
was based on sociological theories of gender, health and risk.
Method: The paper draws on focus groups data gathered in twenty-four group
meetings with teenage girls from a big city of Brazil. The data analysis follows the
traditions of grounded theory.
Results: It suggests that by being socially constructed Brazilian teenage girls'
conceptions of risky/safe sex are informed by the knowledge that organize their
everyday life, specially that concerning gender norms and the ideal of individual
accountability for personal welfare.
Conclusions: The study concludes that to be able to make a difference, in terms
of girls' protection against HIV/AIDS sexual risk, health promotion needs to redefine the problem of risk-taking, working with discourses and practices that acknowledge the epistemological nature of sexual risk and its dependency on gender and neoliberal ideologies.

Presenting author: dora de oliveira, travessa marrocos, 85/301, vila ipiranga,
cep 91370-240, porto alegre, rs, Brazil, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: dora@enf.
ufrgs.br

WePeE6524 Walking on two legs: sexual partnerships and
condom use among youth in Winterveldt, South
Africa
P.N. Jama, R.K. Jewkes. Medical Research Council, Medical Research Council,
Private Bag X385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Introduction: Understanding youth sexual partnerships is critical to understanding how their risk of HIV is shaped and what must be addressed in HIV prevention
activities. This paper describes the nature of sexual partnerships among youth in
Winterveld, South Africa.
Methods: Ten men and women were recruited from HIV prevention workshops
and had one to one in-depth interviews on four occasions, data from the initial interviews is presented here. A lifeline visualisation technique was used to discuss
partnerships and enabled data to be collected on 50 sexual partnerships.
Results: In this sample, as in the broader group of workshop participants, relationships were very diverse: some of over a year without sex; monogamous
sexual relationships; and multiple concurrent partnerships. Relationship patterns
were influenced by age, religion, ideas about masculinity, and love, wanting to
finish school, relationship experience, and 'sex drive'. Teenagers had more stable
relationships than older youth and were more likely to not have sex. The casual
partners included a 'hit and run' on a woman met in a shebeen, a male friend's
girlfriend, boyfriend's best friend, and the other parent of a child. Duration ranged
from one night to many years. Condom use was reported erratically in many relationships. In some they were used for sexual initiation, but often not consistently
thereafter. They might also be used for protection from menstrual blood, or from
a 'high risk' woman. Even frequent users would sometimes not use them when
drunk, because of 'trust', not having them at the place of intercourse, etc.
Conclusion: These sexual relationships were more diverse than is often reported
in South Africa. This demanded considerable flexibility in both the design of the
evaluation and the delivery of the health promotion workshops. Whilst much
health promotion focuses on initiation of condom use, this group demonstrated
that there is a need for emphasis on consistency of use.
Presenting author: Nwabisa Jama, Medical Research Council, Private Bag
X385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6525 HIV knowledge and risk behaviors of Ghanaian
street children
A.K. Wutoh1, E.K. Kumoji2, G. Campusano1, R.D. Wutoh3. SHoward University
School of Pharmacy, Washington, DC, United States; 2Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States; 3African Futures
Forum, Inc., Washington, DC, United States
Background: Studies have suggested that street children have higher rates of
HIV compared to other children. As part of a larger study, a pilot survey was
conducted among 50 street children living in Takoradi, Ghana to assess the HIV
knowledge and risk behaviors of Ghanaian street children.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted consisting of structured
interviews with 50 street children.
Results: 37 participants were male (74%) and 13 (26%) were female. The participants ranged in age from 11 to 19, with a mean age of 15. These children had
been living on the street for an average of 2 years, with 68% (n=34) reporting
ever having had sex. Of that number, seven (20.5%) reported being forced into
initial sexual activity, while 24 (70.5%) reported having initial sexual activity for
pleasure. Of the sexually active, 26 (76.5%) reported having sex in the previous 3
months. Further, 26.8% of the sexually active (n = 9) reported ever having sex to
earn money. Forty one percent (n = 14) reported ever having sex with a stranger.
While only two participants reported ever being tested for HIV, 23 (46%) believed
that they were at risk for HIV infection. When asked about HIV knowledge, the
vast majority (94%) had at least minimal knowledge regarding HIV risk behaviors,
but 21 (42%) also reported that they were doing nothing to prevent HIV infection.
Conclusion: Results of this survey suggest that the majority of street children in
Takoradi are at least minimally knowledgeable of HIV risk factors. However, the
majority of these street children reported previous sexual activity. Further, many
of the sexually active street children did not report regular condom use. This study
reemphasizes the challenge of promoting behavioral change in an often ignored
segment of the population. The data also suggest that new and innovative methods are required to increase abstinence, improve condom use, and promote HIV
prevention among Ghanaian street children.
Presenting author: anthony wutoh, howard university, school of pharmacy, 2300
4th st. nw, washington, dc 20059, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: awutoh@ howard.edu
WePeE6526 Sexual initiation and condom use among
adolescents in the grass fields, west province of
Cameroon

J. Kemmegqne1, E.C. Kiawi 1, A. Touko2. 1University of Yaounde 1/Cameroon
Psychology Forum, POBox: 8030, Yaounde, Cameroon; 2Cameroon Psychology
Forum, Yaounde, Cameroon
Background: The need is pressing for a better understanding of the characteristics of the first sexual intercourse (FSI) in attempts to design appropriate programme for adolescents.