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

512 Abstracts ThPeD7697-ThPeD7701

XIV International AIDS Conference

ThPeD7697 Partnerships that work. Mobile populations against
AIDS
N.J. Jolinganal1, B. Kgasane2. 1Department of Health, ROBOX 227,
Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; 2Department of Public Works, Roads and
transport, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Issues: Mobile populations particularly truck drivers and construction workers
have limited or no access to health care because of their working hours. These
groups are more vulneralble to STI's including HIV because they services of commercial sex workers who also do not seek health care because of the attitudes of
health professionals.
Description: THe paper will share an approach that is being in the Free State
province of South Africa by involving different partnners in ensuring that mobile
populations inbcluding sex workers get access to health care. The services include: peer education training, condom distribution, treatment of STI and comprehensive primary health care.
Lessons learned: Targeted interventions that are friendly to their target groups
can go a long way in preventing STI and HIV. Involvement of different partners
adds value to interventions in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Commercial sex workers do seek health care when they are not stigmatitised and discriminated against
because of their "professsion".
Recommendations: That target specific interventions be stregnthened.
That interventions target people where they are E.G Hot spots for sex workers.
That employers of mobile populations must for partnerships with Government in
addressing the health needs of their employees.
Presenting author: Nontsikelelo Jane Jolingana, PRO.BOX 227, Bloemfontein,
9300, South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: jolingan
@doh.ofs.gov.za
ThPeD7698 Extensive mixing among mobile populations at
southern Mexican border towns
S. Bassett Hileman1, M. Negroni2, G. Vargas2, C. Martinez2, R. Ortiz3,
M. Bronfman2, S. Weir1. 'Carolina Population Center, University of North
Carolina, 507 Hillsborough Rd, Carrboro, NC 27510, United States; 21nstituto
Nacional de Salud Publica, Cuernavaca, Mexico; 3CONASIDA, Mexico City
Mexico
Background: Migration may play a key role in the spread of HIV. Two towns in
Mexico, Ciudad Hidalgo bordering Guatemala and Chetumal bordering Belize,
were identified by regional stakeholders at a 1999 workshop as places where
mobile populations from Central America and Mexico mix with each other and
locals. The extent of mixing in places where people meet new sexual partners in
these towns is unknown and would be useful for informing intervention programs.
Methods: This study identified where mobile populations in these border towns
meet new sexual partners and the extent of mixing at sites. Key informants identified sites where people meet new sexual partners and a knowledgeable person
on site was interviewed to obtain characteristics of the site and patrons who socialize there.
Results: Data was collected during 4 weeks in 2001. 89 sites were identified in
Chetumal and 42 in Ciudad Hidalgo. Most were bars or restaurants. Over half
of the sites in each town reported that patrons include local residents and people from other states in Mexico and other countries in Central America. At 79%
of sites, patrons come from at least 3 different Mexican states. Truck drivers,
migrant workers, and agricultural workers represented important sub-sets of the
mobile population in each town. In both towns, at sites with patrons from both
Mexico and Central America: over 75% had patrons that include people who regularly travel through the border town; over 60% had patrons that include people
passing through just once; over 70% had patrons who had lived in the town over
a year; and over a third had sex workers onsite.
Conclusion: Social mixing among local and mobile populations was extensive at
sites identified as places where people meet new sexual partners. Sites identified
in this study would be appropriate intervention points to reduce high risk sexual
behavior.
Presenting author: Sarah Bassett Hileman, 507 Hillsborough Rd, Carrboro,
NC 27510, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeD7699 Public migrant and HIV: "Life Story"
H. Zeitoun1, A. Bonnineau2, E. Marvaud2. 'Mss, aides hauts de seine, 10 rue
victor Hugo, 92700, Colombes, France; 2Mr, Colombes, France
Issue: Our structure has been confronted with an explosion of visitors from the
migrant community, especialy african subsaharienne women. These people have
started a medical accompagnement, after having been diagnosed as HIV positif. Many of these women have been isolated and rejected from their community.
They have little or no income and no housing. These women are confronted by

a barrage of red tape, as they have to have permits, to stay in the country. We
organised a workshop with our partners with the goal to create a way to increase
awerness of this issue and a network to change this situation. We came up with
a tool, an excersise, called life stories.
Descritpion: The participants of this interactif game are given a card with an
identity and a life story based on the path of the reality of what these women
go through. Like how to get a residents permit, how to find housing, how to

get money, how to obtain medical care etc. Each participant must find the right
counter at the right office (institutions and associations) to solve the problems
on the identity card. They have twenty four minutes (equivalant of six months) to
solve the problems. Next, the particpant is asked to evaluate what results happened or did not happen and why, then to propose a solution.
Lesson learned and recommendations: This tool is usfull as it permits the
participant to think ahead and also to understand how difficult the access to social rights can be for this population. This tool could also be adapted for other
problematics like populations, traitment adherence etc. The lesson we learnt is
that this excersise must be played by animators who have the knowledge of the
system institutional and associatif.
Presenting author: Hblene Zeitoun, aides hauts de seine, 10 rue victor Hugo,
92700, Colombes, France, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeD7700 Recommendations for effective behavioral
prevention programs for African-Americans
L. Darbes, G. Kennedy, G. Rutherford, G. Peersman, L. Zohrabyan,
L. Fitzpatrick. UCSF San Francisco, United States
Issues: African-Americans have the highest rates of HIV/AIDS among any racial
group in the U.S. To identify the most effective behavioral interventions for this
population, we conducted a systematic review.
Description: We identified 52 HIV prevention intervention trials (1985-2000) from
standard databases. We included trials that had > 80% African-American participants or conducted separate analyses for African-Americans. We divided the
studies by risk groups: Men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users,
heterosexuals and adolescents.
Lessons learned: The most successful interventions utilized a combination of didactic information and reinforcing activities such as role-playing or videos with culturally sensitive and specific messages. In addition, booster sessions appeared
to facilitate maintenance of positive behavior change. Finally, gender and cultural
sensitivity and skills training were crucial components of successful interventions. Unsuccessful interventions were characterized by distributing information
alone and providing counseling alone. We identified a dearth of studies targeting
African-American MSM (n=l). The success of many interventions could not be
measured objectively since outcome measures for most studies were dependent
upon subjective information, such as self-reported behavior change.
Recommendations: Future HIV prevention interventions targeting the AfricanAmerican population should be tailored to specific risk groups and should incorporate components of previously successful programs. When feasible, intervention trials should utilize objective outcome measures such as HIV seroconversion
that do not rely on self-reported changes in risk behavior.
Presenting author: Lisa Fitzpatrick, 1219 Walnut St., Berkeley, CA, 94709,
United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: Ifitzpatrick
@psg.ucsf.edu
ThPeD7701 Counseling in HIV/AIDS: empowerment through
working with the strengths perspective
M. Sarracco, J. Beder. Yeshiva University- Wurzweiler School of Social Work,
Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, 2495 Amsterdam Avenue,
New York, NY 10033, United States
This presentation will explore issues related to the application of the concept
known in the helping professions as the strengths perspective. This perspective
is utilized in working with those dealing with HIV/AIDS.
When a practitioner works from the strengths perspective, a different view of the
client and their environment is adopted. The focus of practice turns towards potential and possibility. The client and the environment are mined as the source of
empowerment, knowledge, and strength. "It is an approach honoring the innate
wisdom of the human spirit, the inherent capacity for transformation of even the
most humbled and abused" (Saleebey, 1997, p. 3).
Working in HIV/AIDS has brought about recognition of the incredible strength of
the human spirit when faced with unbelievable obstacles and the complications
of daily living. This has and continues to be a source of inspiration to practitioners. Therefore, working from this theoretical orientation can be a progressive approach to practice for those touched by HIV/AIDS. This presentation will highlight
the salient issues and techniques involved in utilizing the strengths perspective.
In doing so, it will deal with such issues as supporting strengths, while also allowing for the complex spectrum of feelings and grief responses typical of those with
HIV/AIDS.
Material from individual cases and groups will be used to illustrate these concepts.
Participants wull be encouraged to share their experiences.
Presenting author: Michele Sarracco, Wurzweiler School of Social Work,
Yeshiva University, 2495 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10033, United

States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected].
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