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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts WePeE6531-WePeE6534 217

ceptive use, and fifteen of the 25 barrier method users were also using hormonal
contraception (dual method use). In terms of knowledge of emergency contraception (EC), only 16.6% had ever heard of EC and of these only 5.3% in GP and
8.3% in KZN had ever used it. These respondents report to have obtained the
emergency contraceptive pills from a private sector pharmacy.
ConclusionsAlthough hormonal contraceptive method use was high, the low
prevalence of barrier method use is a concern in this HIV era. EC was rarely
used. Efforts to increase the levels of awareness of clients regarding the benefits of dual protection, and increasing promotion of barrier methods, with EC as
a back-up, could positively impact on increasing barrier method usage among
young women.
Presenting author: Mmabatho Mqhayi, Reproductive Health Research Unit,
Chris-Hani Baragwanath Hospital, PO Bertsham, 2013, South Africa, Tel.: +27
11 9331228 Ext 218, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6531 The strategy of fighting sexually transmitted
infections and HIV/AIDS among sexually active
young people and young sex workers
R.S. Ngwina Mofoza, A.M. Mbamfu, J.E.A. Temmene, R. Foundje. GTZPSR/JA,
GTZ PSR/JA, PO Box 7814, Yaounde, Cameroon
Issues: The rate of sexuality among young people in Cameroon has increased to
a point where the strategies formerly adopted have proven its limit, thus the need
to come up with new approaches. This lack of effective strategy has raised the
rate of HIV/AIDS infection among young people to top that of all other age group.
Description: This paper will present the various strategies formerly used and
how far these strategies have gone. It will bring out its loopholes and the effect
that needed change. It will then go further to analyse the strategies adopted to
face the current realities with the hope of reversing the trend of sexually transmitted infections ad HIIV/AIDS. Under this, it will handle new strategies like; the
provision of educative films in video clubs which draw many young people, peer
education with special focus, production and distribution of education material,
the need for carriers to give live testimonies during open sensitation activities in
the community, and the training of young mothers to give testimonies in schools
on their situation, and advocacy toward sex workers to use condoms.
Lessons Learned: The new strategies adopted have shown its effectiveness
from preliminary evaluations, and has made easier and practical to be executed.
It draws young peoples attention.
Recommendation: This paper therefore advocates that practical strategies attractive to young people should be well documented and used the fight HIV/AIDS
among young people.
Presenting author: Reine Sarah Ngwina Mofoza, GTZ PSR/JA, PO Box 7814,
Yaounde, Cameroon, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6532 Broadbasing and integrating HIV prevention in the
South Asian MSM community
S. Rakesh. Author, D-45, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi-110049, India
Issue: Given that the cultural invisibility, ignorance and insensitivity on issues
around homosexuality in South Asia, how to make NGOs and CBOs include 'Men
who have Sex with Men' issues into their HIV Prevention work.
Description: The primary tool to be used during the Workshop is the MSM Training manual developed by Naz Foundation (India) Trust over the last 2 years. The
project was supported by the HIV/AIDS alliance of U.K. This is the first and as
yet, only manual of it's kind for South Asia.
Objectives: of the Project:
1. To sensitize organizations to issues facing MSM in South Asia.
2. To impart training and skills building tools for HIV prevention work.
3. To develop new HIV intervention programs targeting MSM
4. To take trainers in organizations through a Training of Trainers (TOT) module
Lessons learnt: The Paper will share lessons under the following categories:#
How to overcome organizational and institutional obstacles while helping organizations to include MSM related issues in their work.# How to incorporate cultural
and regional sensitivities around homosexuality in HIV Prevention Programs#
How to work around issues of language and communication on sexuality related
issues in sexually repressed cultures.# How to distinguish between 'behavior' and
'identity' issues in cultures where homosexuality is not a political issue like it is in
the West.
Recommendations: The paper will make pointed recommendations in the following areas:# The dos and donts of training organizations while incorporating
MSM issues in HIV Prevention work# Different Strategies that NGOs and CBOs
can follow# How to select appropriate organizations for Training on these issues#
How to formulate Short-term Action plans for organizations.
Presenting author: Shaleen Rakesh, D-45, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi-110049,
India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: shaleen2000@hot
mail.com

WePeE6533 The pitfalls of safe sex in steady relationships:
HIV-testing, sexual agreements and the predictors
of sexual risk among younger gay men
U.E. Davidovich1, J.B.F de Wit2. 1HIV & ST/ Research Unit, Department of
Infectious diseases, Amsterdam Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands; 2Department of Social Psychology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht,
The Netherlands
Background: Steady partners were found to be a prominent source of HIVinfection among younger gay men. We studied barriers for engaging in safer sex
behavior between steady partners.
Methods:The examination included 362 gay men who participanted in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies between 1998 and 1999, of whom 249 were in steady relationships. Mean age was 27 years (SD=3.6, range:18-34). Questionnaires were
used to measure the practice of, attitudes towards, beliefs about and perceived
control regarding: condom use, HIV-testing and the making of sexual agreements
between steady partners. Sexual risk behavior was defined as having unprotected
anal intercourse (UAI) without practicing negotiated safety (i.e. without knowing
each other's HIV status and agreeing to be monogamous or to have only safe sex
outside the relationship).
Results: Of men in relationships, 23% (57/249) had risky UAI with their partner,
and 65% of these men already engaged in risk-taking in the first three months
of the relation. Of the couples engaging in risky UAI, 44% lacked valid HIV-test
results, 33% lacked sexual agreements and 24% lacked both. Of the 134 respondents who had tested HIV-negative, 20% had risky UAI during the 6 months prior
to that HIV-test, possibly rendering the test results invalid. Multivariate analysis
showed that risky UAI with the steady partner was independently associated (all
p's < 0.05) with longer relationship duration, low satisfaction with sexual agreements and difficulties in signaling to "keep it safe" during sex.
Conclusions: Results suggest that it is necessary to promote and guide the establishing of valid HIV-concordance in relationships. Furthermore, prevention activities should target communication between the partners to promote that they
reach sexual agreements they are satisfied with. Above all, however, prevention
should intervene timely since patterns of sexual risk behavior are formed early in
relationships.
Presenting author: Udi Davidovich, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam Municipal Health Service, PO Box 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: udavidovich@gggd.
amsterdam.nl
WePeE6534 Motivating safer sex behavior for STI / HIV
prevalence in the MSM sector in Mumbai metro
S. Shroffs. ASHA Project,BMCAIDS Cell, Municipal Eye Hospital,
M.S.Ali.Rd.,Mumbai, 400008, India
Issues: - The question of determining the "volume" of men-having-sex-with-men
(MSM) is an important one in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. It forms the very
backbone of the rationale for this intervention. The problems arise mainly because of
The hidden nature of MSM behavior.
The fact that it is "free" in most such interactions.
That it is not even considered as sex but as "masti" (mischief)
New sub-populations were discovered in the rapport building programmes. Work
is on going among them for rapport building and confidence boosting measures
through personal interactions,
Descriptions: - a Recruitment peer leaders within these sub-populations, a Provide syndromic charts and provide common drugs through community efforts for
opportunistic infections (OI) for MSM sector. a When asked whether they have
sex in exchange of cash or kind, no one came out clearly with a response. They
indicated more recreational than commercial sex.
Lessons learnt: - Project has learnt several lessons over the years of working
within community -It is an invisible and volatile sector Sites, people and gatekeepers can change very rapidly.
- Any NGO/CBO working in this sector must be prepared to deal and denial in
this sector, Gatekeepers, peer-leaders and even various groups sometimes work
at cross-purposes and have different agendas.
- It has low priority in any government programs because it's pervasive invisibility
and refusal to view men-having-sex-with-men as a valid form of sexual expression.
- It is the highest radiation zone for HIV/STI transmission in the country, if the
indicators for high-risk behavior are taken into consideration
Conclusion: - Each of these lessons has been learnt the difficult way. We have
had many setbacks which we have tried to deal with self-discipline, evolving a
code of conduct for staff and community workers.
Presenting author: Seema Shroff, ASHA Project,BMCAIDS Cell, Municipal
Eye Hospital, M.S.Ali.Rd.,Mumbai, 400008, India, Tel.: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]