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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeD7645-ThPeD7649 501

Presenting author: Lee Klosinski, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #300, Los Angeles,
CA 90010, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeD7645 Persons living with HIV/AIDS: coping, social
support and quality of life relationships
E.M.F. Seidl. University of Brasflia, SQN 403 Bloco J apt~ 206, Brasilia DF, CEP:
70835-100, Brazil
Background: This study main goal was to test a model that describes quality of
life as a function of coping, social support, education, marital status and health
conditions (symptomatic or asymptomatic) in HIV-infected patients.
Methods: The participants were 241 adults, aged 20 to 64, 161 men and 80
women. From those 169 patients were symptomatic and 72 asymptomatic, 208
were on antiretroviral treatment. The variable quality of life was investigated taking
into account four dimensions - psychosocial, physical, environment and overall
quality of life - measured by the WHOQOL-100. Hierarchical multiple regression
analysis revealed that different combinations of predictors variables accounted for
specific dimensions of quality of life.
Results: The emotional support, emotion-focused coping (negative predictor),
problem-focused coping and marital status (living with a partner) were significant
predictors, which explained 61% of the variance in psychosocial dimension. In
the physical dimension, clinical condition (asymptomatic) and emotion-focused
coping (negative predictor) accounted for 24% of the variance. Education, instrumental support, emotion-focused coping (negative) and emotional support explained 46% of the variance of the environment dimension. Emotional support
and emotion-focused coping (negative) were predictors with a 32% of the variance explained in the final model for overall quality of life.
Conclusions: Results showed to the importance of psychosocial variables as
predictors of quality of life, besides the weak predictive value of clinical condition.
This result was connected to the use of antiretroviral therapy, which causes an
almost non differentiation between symptomatic or asymptomatic patients concerning physical functioning. The study presents implications to the clinical practice, for improving social support, adaptative coping strategies, psychological wellbeing and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Presenting author: Eliane Maria Fleury Seidl, SQN 403 Bloco J apto 206,
Brasilia DF, CEP: 70835-100, Brazil, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
203, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7646 Formation of positive action society an outcome of
the gipa initiative in Pakistan
S.A. Ali. Pakistan AIDS Prevention Soceity, 1st floor De/hi muslim hotel,
Arambagh road, Karachi, Pakistan
Objectives: Towards the empowerment of People infected and effected with
HIV/AIDS, and formation of their first ever Network in the southern part of the
country.
Method: Pakistan was still among the countries where networking of PLWHA's
have not attained the right attention. Pakistan AIDS Prevention Society together
with the Support of UNDP Regional project on HIV/AIDS was able to carry out the
GIPA (Greater involvement of people with HIV/AIDS) project throughout the Country. A series of intervention were developed for the empowerment of the effected
population, alongwith motivational exercise. The groundwork was carried out by
Four NGO's in all the four provinces of the country, under the direct supervision
and guidance of the society.
The whole set of training, motivational and exploration exercise brought in
changes and realization enough among the infected population to break the silence and come forward and get networked, for common objectives.
Results: The long period of silence is over and the people infected and affected
with HIV/AIDS were able to form "POSITIVE ACTION SOCIETY " the only Network in the southern part of the country.
Lesson learnt: The GIPA principles are increasingly getting popular and its benefit are getting extended to the effected communities in term of their empowerment
through networking
Presenting author: Shouket Ali, 1st floor Delhi muslim hotel, Arambagh road,
Karachi, Pakistan, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7647 Coping with HIV and AIDS-related bereavement
among HIV positive men and women: Outcomes
from a group intervention trial
K.J. Sikkema1, N.B. Hansen1, A. Kochman1, D.C. Tate1, W. DiFranceisco2,
R.S. Lee1. e Yale University School of Medicine, yale school of medicine, 389
whitney avenue, new haven ct 06511, United States; 2Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, United States

Background: Little clinical research has focused on ways to meet the psychological needs of men and women with HIV/AIDS who are also coping with the loss
of loved ones to AIDS. A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to evaluate
the effectiveness of a bereavement coping intervention for those living with HIV.
Methods: 268 participants (94 women) diverse with respect to race/ethnicity and
sexual orientation were randomly assigned to a 12-session cognitive-behavioral
coping group intervention or 12 sessions of individual therapy, upon request. Mea
sures of psychiatric distress and coping skills were administered at baseline and
completed by 89% of participants post-intervention. Differences between intervention and comparison conditions across time were evaluated using standard
linear modeling techniques, including repeated measures MANOVA for multivariate effects and repeated measures ANOVA for selected post-hoc comparisons.
Results: Participants reported knowing 27.2 (median of 10) friends and loved
ones who had died from AIDS, with 50% reporting a spouse or partner and 14%
a family member as their primary loss. Elevated grief reaction and lifetime history
of psychiatric co-morbidity were common. Pre-post intervention comparisons revealed a significant gender by treatment condition interaction in both psychiatric
distress (p<.05) and coping (p<.01). Women receiving the group coping intervention reported reductions in grief, depression and hopelessness, and increases in
adaptive coping strategies. Both men and women in the coping intervention exhibited significant reduction in general psychiatric distress.
Conclusions: An AIDS-bereavement coping group intervention was shown to be
effective in reducing grief and distress, and improving coping with loss among
women with HIV/AIDS. Further research is needed to explore gender differences
in response to the intervention and to examine the implications for secondary
prevention efforts.
Presenting author: kathleen sikkema, yale school of medicine, 389 whitney avenue, new haven ct 06511, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +203 562
6355, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7648I Self image and overweight og people living with
HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Cameroon
J.R. Kuate. Po box: 4466 Douala, Cameroon
Hypothesis: Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have permanent tendency
toward overweight and in fact, fear any loss in weight.
Methodology: A study was conducted from November 2000 to August 2001
based on clinical observations and interviews during a nutritional follow-up in
Yaounde and Douala. Two groups of 32 PLWHA with 24 women, were involved.
This study covered their perception (self image) of their bodies, and their attitude
and behaviours vis-a-vis their bodies. The follow-up of their feeding intailed the
monthly monitoring of their weights.
Results: As of the 8th month of the study, 81,25 % of PLWHA showed an increase in weight of at least 4 kg. 37,5 % all of whom were women, had gained at
least 9 kgs. 5 of these women had gained more than 15 kgs in less than 2 years.
Of the 13 persons who had shown skin disorders before or during the studies 8
women had underground skin scruts. 24 % of them said they were afraid of being
identified within their social sphere as PLWHA, whereas 3 of them had already
given public testimonies around the country, felling of their seropositive status.
Comments: Within our Community, the search for symptoms of AIDS has for long
focus on weight loss or thinness and other visible body manifestation. The fear of
being singled out as PLWHA and stigmatised in our community is the mean reason that has led PLWHA to hide behind a mask of overweight or systematic skin
treatment.
Conclusion: Psychological assistance to PLWHA should take into consideration
their tendency to hide from a real or supposed scrutiny of those in their circle.
The psychologist must take these problems into account. The other problems of
Health brought about by skin treatment as well as overweight in a society which
looks upon the latter as a sign of good health and well being should be explained
and discussed with the PLWHA, counselling and nutritional follow up should take
these factors into account.
Presenting author: Jean Roger KUATE, Po box: 4466 Douala, Cameroon, Tel.:
+237/7636970, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7649 Where ails communication for HIV infected persons
S.N. Morankar. Centre for Health Research and Development, B-2/16, Vimal
Vihar, Bibwewadi Road, Pune-411037, India
Background: Counseling to HIV patients and health education to community is
the backbone of the HIV/AIDS control programme. To understand how HIV infected persons utilise their knowledge for prevention of HIV infection the HIV infected patients were interviewed.
Methods: 19 HIV positive males detected at STD clinic in Pune city of India engaged in driving occupation were interviewed in-depth at the place of their choice
such as cabin of truck, under tree, isolated place, etc.
Results: All the HIV infected (19) were aware the use of condom. Of them 15 perceived that condom should be used only when having sex with sex workers in red
light area. They had and continued to have sex with women casual workers and
with their wives without using condom. Only 2 had brought their wives for further
checking. Due to social and community pressure, 2 unmarried persons were married and they were under tremendous psychological pressure. They used false
cultural notions as coping mechanism to use condom while having sex from the
day of honeymoon. Bride requested not to use condom to meet the cultural norm

to bear child within a year of marriage. This also created inter-family (husband
and wife's family) tensions.
Conclusions: Apart from HIV positive person, another family member be disclosed of the HIV status. There is need for in-depth socio-epidemiological studies
on HIV/AIDS.
Presenting author: Sudhakar Morankar, B-2/16, Vimal Vihar, Bibwewadi Road,