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

286 Abstracts WePeF6823-WePeF6827

XIV International AIDS Conference

form offers plwha and their friends/carers a favourable environment to socialize
and share concerns about issues in common. Techniques include personal story
telling, a survey (with instant feedback), and questions from the floor. Opportunities for service referrals, and forming personal, professional and doctor-patient
relationships also occur.
Lessons learned: A social setting and information provision provide a popular
and effective vehicle for education. The setting provides a space where plwha
feel comfortable and have a strong sense of ownership and engagement.
Recommendations: Educational interventions using informal settings and "popular" community figures as educators, in conjunction with healthcare workers, in
an entertainment format bodes well for sharing and accessing treatments information, health management strategies and outreach support for plwha.
Presenting author: Brent Beadle, P.O. Box 876, Darlinghurst, 1300, NSW, Australia, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected].
au
WePeF6823 Establishing initial peer support and services for
migrant African Women in Birmingham, UK
D. Takura1, L. Power2. 1 Terrence Higgins Trust, 788a A/cester Road South,
Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 5EZ, United Kingdom; 2Terrence Higgins Trust,
London, United Kingdom
Issues Generalist HIV support services in Birmingham were not seeing the numbers of African migrant women expected through epidemiological data. Investigation showed that women needed services but were reluctant to access them for
fear of identification.
Description An African woman worker was employed and a single peer volunteer
identified who was prepared to help. Through personal contacts and home visits,
a group of women were offered a residential weekend visit to meet with other
African women with HIV in two established groups in London and gain support
and encouragement from their experiences. This initial group of women, organised by the peer volunteer and supported by the worker, then set up monthly
meetings and other events at THT's centre in Birmingham. One year later, the
group has grown and developed itw own operating framework. It provides social
and emotional support, information and services including outreach in African
community settings. Many initial members are now active volunteers in other service areas. In this presentation, the original peer organiser will outline how the
group has become self-managing and self-funding and has increased access to
services.
Lessons Learned Access to services and information for African women can be
hindered by fear of stigma. Peer experiences and positive role models are a vital
part of empowering women to gain access to and take control of their HIV support and care.Once a start was made, women who were afraid to participate in the
initial visit came forward after hearing positive reports from those involved. Peer
support services for African women living with HIV in the West Midlands have
grown and enabled women to live well with HIV, developing training opportunities
and informed services.
Recommendations African migrant women living with HIV must be involved from
the start in determining appropriate support and services and peer experiences
are a vital part of this.
Presenting author: Dawn Takura, 788a Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 5EZ, United Kingdom, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
946 441, E-mail: [email protected]
WePeF6824I Water Water everywhere and hardly a drop to drink
the Heterosexuals as a HIV+ minority: Lessons
learned in the formation and maintenance of a
specialist service and support group
M.J. Rogerson. Straight Arrows, 44 Bishop St, Kingsville, Vic, 3012, Australia
Issues: The Australian HIV epidemic, like many in developed countries, started
in the gay male population. Overall, only about 20% of all identified infections are
in heterosexual males and females. Services and support, despite being generic
in nature, have effectively been run by, targeted at and almost exclusively used
by, gay men. There are significant cultural differences between gay and heterosexual communities, and there are a number of lessons to be learnt in creating a
service and support group which aims at what is effectively a fringe group (HIV+
heterosexuals) within a minority population(the Australian HIV+ community).
Description: This paper looks at the issues of establishing a support and service group within an already well established sector which has not catered for,
or recognised, a significant minority. There are a number of lessons which have
been learnt, including: establishing a need; critical mass; perseverance; dealing
with bureaucratic, funding and legislative barriers; identifying needs, and maintaining relationships within the general positive community.
Lessons learned: There is a strong need for a united front on the part of positive people. Nonetheless there is also a need to recognise diversity within the

positive population, and allow all voices to be heard and served equally. Legislators and bureaucracies need to equally recognise these factors when considering
prevention, care and support programs.
Reccomendation: Care and Support programs be designed to cater for the full
spectrum of the positive population.
Presenting author: Michael Rogerson, 44 Bishop St, Kingsville, Vic, 3012, Aus
tralia, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeF6825 Care and support of plwha-The challenges of a
support group empowerment
B.C. Oyebola. Center for the Right to Health, Center For The Right To Health, 3,
Obanle-Aro Avenue, Off Coker Road Roundabout, lupeju, Lagos, Nigeria
Issues: The twin epidemic of Stigma and discrimination associated with
HIV/AIDS has made it difficult for people living with HIV/AIDS to cope with the
impact of HIV/AIDS. Many are unable to benefit from the emotional support of
loved ones, friends as well as from social services, that would have improved the
quality and length of their lives, and enabling them to protect other members of
the society.
Description: Center for the Right to Health, a non governmental organization in
Nigeria, is committed to mobilizing and empowering people living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHA) to assert their rights. Consequently, care and support of PLWHA forms
a major plank of our work and one of our major strategies is peer group empowerment, which was inaugurated at the Center on Friday, 15th June 2001. At inception, the group comprised of only four PLWHA, who were meeting at the center on
a monthly basis for experience sharing, group counselling, training, and needs assessment. Within six months of establishment, membership has grown to twelve.
Most of the PLWHA coming to us are unemployed or underemployed and had no
sure means of livelihood. Thus part of the strategy to raise their dignity and fighting spirit was to build in skills acquisition and income generating activities into the
program. Some were able to recieve skills while others were given seed money
to start trading. Three of the members are now involved in public speaking.
Lessons learnt: Members have benefited greatly from interaction with one another. The weak has been strengthened by the experience of other people. It has
also afforded them to be empowered economically. Their human dignity has been
restored, as many have been able to fight stigma and engaged in public speaking.
Recommendation: People with HIV/AIDS need to be empowered as a group to
fight stigma and discrimination. If they are not supported and empowered to face
the challenges, they would hide and fuel the spread of HIV infection.
Presenting author: Bolanle Oyebola, Center For The Right To Health, 3, ObanleAro Avenue, Off Coker Road Roundabout, Ilupeju, Lagos, Nigeria, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
I WePeF6826 Self-perception; HIV+ intitutionilized homeless
people
W.D. Villegas. Integral Attention Center for the Homeless, Resd, El/ Encanto,Edif.
Caracas, Piso 4, Apto 4B-6, Los Teques, Edo. Miranda, Venezuela
Background: Venezuela lacks of policies for assisting HIV+ homeless. Furthermore, there is no useful methodology for addressing psychosocial issues towards
a more just comprehension of a problem that alarmingly grows by the day.
Method: Research/Actions of a psychosocial scope with qualitative methodology
(Strauss and Corbin approach, 1990), using recorded open-ended interviews,
and revising clinical charts during six months (2001) from four HIV+ male indigents, ages raging from 26 to 47
Results: Primary chronological categories:
A.- Detoriation (prior to diagnostic) extra-institutional period, unawareness of own
diagnostic, a constant "loss" factor was observed, precipitating drug and/or alcohol addiction. Self-perceived as irresponsible, irreverent, promiscuous, violent,
untrusting, unworthy family member, solitary, and without a reference family.
B.- Death (during diagnostic) self-perceived as doomed, loss of life span selfexpectancy, physical abandonment, soliloquy, accentuated depression, frequent
weeping, sadness, isolation, anorexia, absence of goals, resentment towards self
and others, and a feeling of imminent death.
C.- Life (after diagnostic) Medical assistance implementation, antiretroviral
change motivation, high self-esteem, better life appreciation, statement of goals,
of the opinion that the State must guarantee quality of life.
Conclusions: It is observed from this study that the homeless address the situation/problem from their own perspective. Thus, obtaining information that allows
different health-care entities and the homeless themselves to design and implement policies, models and methodologies coherent to the social realm.
Placement was evidenced in three categories (A, B, C) which constitute key moments for due psychosocial intervention. It is thus how an effective approach is
obtained, therefore obtaining: awareness of own problem, self-empowerment.
Presenting author: Waiver Villegas, Resd, El EncantoEdif. Caracas, Piso 4,
Apto 4B-6, Los Teques, Edo. Miranda, Venezuela, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: [email protected]

WePeF6827I Effectiveness of peer support In the issue of
treatment adherence
L.C.F. Low. PT Foundation, Selangor, Malaysia
Issue: Inexperience in the use of anti-retroviral drugs & non-compliance is an issue for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Malaysia. There is a fear to discuss the
issue openly outside clinic & there is a lack of information on the toxicity of the
drugs due to language barriers & reading material available only in medical terms.