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

296 Abstracts WePeF6871-WePeF6874

XIV International AIDS Conference

riences with parental HIV/AIDS, and (b) to explore how parental HIV/AIDS affects
adolescents' psychosocial functioning, particularly in the home and school environments.
Methods: Given the exploratory nature of the research question, qualitative
methodology was utilized. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nine
adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed for emergent themes.
Results: Major themes highlighted by adolescents included loss, transitions, disclosure, coping, school implications, uncertainty, paradoxical situations, and support networks. Also of importance were the impact of parental attitudes and behavior, AIDS education and awareness, and adolescents' cognitive capabilities.
Each of these issues affected adolescents' psychosocial functioning and adjustment to their parents' illness.
Conclusion: Emergent themes yielded numerous hypotheses that are valuable
for future quantitative and qualitative research studies. Findings also provided
a plethora of information for parents, schools, and community liaisons to better
serve the needs of affected adolescents.
Presenting author: lori woodring, 24 huckleberry hollow, stamford, connecticut,
6903, United States, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeF6871I Hidden needs of children: Psychosocial support
for children affected by HIV/AIDS
S. Fox. Centre for A/DS Development Research and Evaluation (Cadre), p.o. box
1126, roosevelt park 2129, johannesburg, South Africa
Issues: To date, worldwide, over 13-million children under the age of 15 have
lost either one or both parents to AIDS and some 95% of these children live in
sub-Saharan Africa. Whilst these children have very real and urgent needs for
support in the form of food, clothing and school fees, an often overlooked aspect
of care is that of psychosocial support. The lack of information on the needs of
children affected by HIV/AIDS, both by children themselves and by organisations
that assist them, above and beyond material support indicated the need for further
investigation.
Description: Research was conducted in Zimbabwe, Tanzania and South Africa
with the aim of identifying the psychosocial needs of children affected by
HIV/AIDS and how to best address these needs. A literature review was conducted, as was a series of interviews and focus groups with children and adults
who are either affected/infected by HIV/AIDS or involved in related organisations
in these three countries.
Lessons learned: Children whose parents are HIV positive or who have died
are affected in complex ways. Issues related to the provision of the psychosocial
needs of children include: painful choices to be made in relation to the disclosure of parental HIV status or cause of death; consequences of orphanhood; and
loss of childhood due to overwhelming household responsibilities. Possibilities for
theoretical development are also extracted from the research findings.
Recommendations: There are several elements that can be considered crucial
to the success of programmes dealing with children, including involving children
in decisions and programmes targeted at them, and providing them with the opportunity to express their emotions and experiences with other children in similar circumstances. This paper concludes with recommendations for AIDS organisations, both those organisations with established psychosocial support components and those interested in implementing such programmes.
Presenting author: susan fox, p.o. box 1126, roosevelt park 2129, johannesburg, South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: susan
@cadre.org.za
WePeF6872I The role of a support group for HIV affected
couples in sharing disclosure issues within the
family
M.K. Karemba. NGO, 4 Aberdeen Road, Avondale, Zimbabwe
Title The role of a support group for HIV affected couples in sharing disclosure
issues within the family.
Issues: Mother to child transmission is the cause of 90% of HIV infections in
children in Zimbabwe. MTCT programmes are more effective if the baby is not
breastfed or is weaned off at an early age. However local culture expects a mother
to breastfeed her baby for up to two years. Partners of an HIV+ woman are seldom involved in facing disclosure issues related to alternative feeding methods.
HIV+ couples need to discuss and share strategies concerning disclosure linked
to alternative infant feeding.
Descriptions: In the psychosocial support project for pregnant women/mothers
who have tested HIV+ in the MTCT programs ongoing in Chitungwiza, conducted
by ZAPSO in collaboration with WHO, the involvement of partners in the sharing
of responsibilities has been emphasized. Members of women's support groups
requested a workshop for themselves and their partners. This evolved into a support group for couples. Among the issues discussed the problem of explaining

alternative methods of infant feeding in the family was frequently brought up. Different strategies found to be effective were discussed by the couples and led to
decisions being taken together.
Lessons learned: 1. It is easier for a couple to discuss issues concerning disclosure in a peer support group than at home. 2. Discussion in support groups helps
to unite the couple in facing pressure from the extended family 3. Support groups
involve the husband/partner in sharing responsibilities.

Recommendations: The establishment of support groups for couples will facilitate communication within the couple around sensitive issues. This will enable
them to face together problems such as how to present alternative feeding in the
family and ultimately to openly disclose their HIV status.
Presenting author: Masimba Karemba, 4 Aberdeen Road, Avondale, Zimbabwe,
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeF6873 An adjustment training course as a method of
psychosocial support
M. Hyvonen. Finnish Aids Council, Finnish Aids Council, Hietaniemenkatu 5,
00100 Helsinki, Finland
Issues: An adjustment training course is an effective method of psychosocial
support for people living with HIV (PLWH). Sharing experiences with other PLWH
in a safe and relaxed atmosphere is very empowering and helps people to find
their own resources.
Description: In Finland adjustment training is a popular form of rehabilitation for
individuals and families living with a chronic disease. The Finnish AIDS Council
organises every year about 10 adjustment training courses for HIV-positive people. The courses are free of charge and last 2-4 days. They are usually in the
country at a course centre or a spa and have 6-8 clients and 2-3 workers, family
courses 10-20 clients (also HIV-negative family members) and 5-7 workers. They
consist of daily group discussions, where operational techniques may be used,
excursions, often physical exercises or relaxing treatments and leisure time. The
emphasis is on the group process, peer support and empowerment. The working
team's main role is to create a safe and peaceful setting for the clients. The participants are the experts of their own lives, so visiting experts are seldom used.
The courses are goal-oriented: the personal goals defined in the beginning of the
course are evaluated during and in the end of it. The courses give the participants
an opportunity to explore and to define their own situation and needs better, to
find their own resources, when mirroring towards other people in the group, and to
relax. By telling their own stories to each other people strengthen their identities
and learn from each other's experiences.
Lessons learned: The courses are built more and more under certain themes,
like nature, sports or culture. Combining group discussions with pleasurable and
recreational activities done together as a group is empowering and deepens the
processing of living with HIV.
Recommendations: Courses are developed using feedback questionnaires
about each course and our research project of resources of PLWH.
Presenting author: Matti Hyv6nen, Finnish Aids Council, Hietaniemenkatu 5,
00100 Helsinki, Finland, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
WePeF6874 The South African National AIDS Help Line: Using
24 hour telephone counselling to provide
counselling, information and referral
P. Mudhray. National/ AIDS Help Line, PO. Box 32201, Braamfontein,
Johannesburg, 2017, South Africa
Issues: The National AIDS Helpline is over a decade old, and its evolution has
been based on community need and ongoing research. A central counselling
centre using Call Centre technology and team of 75 people provide a national
counselling service
Description: The National AIDS Help Line is:
A toll free, 24 hour, multilingual, HIV/AIDS counselling, information and referral
service. An average 23000 callers per month receive counselling.
Lessons learned: 1.The success of this project has been largely due to the
partnerships, policies, planning and leadership. The continued partnership between government, foreign donors and a National NGO, wherein each invests its
strengths respectively funds, technical expertise and community and counselling
knowledge and expertise, has led to effective and efficient resource usage.
2.Helplines can only be effective if all counsellors are trained to deal with issues
consistently and uniformly - therefore standardised training, and the standardisation of messages are necessary. Support tools such as online directory for referral
as well as websites with key messages are also used to ensure quality.
3.Access to the service has been facilitated by guarantees of confidentiality,
anonymity, respect, no charge for services, 24 hour availability as well as by providing counselling in all 11 official languages
4.Ongoing research is used to develop and refine the counsellor recruitment, and
training as well as all other systems
Recommendations: This paper recommends that the model of the AIDS
HelpLine is examined to show how the various systems of the AIDS Helpline
Counselling Centre, interact to provide effective counselling and support to the
community.
Presenting author: Pamilla Mudhray, RO. Box 32201, Braamfontein, Johannes
burg, 2017, South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
pamillam @ lifeline.org.za