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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeD7702-ThPeD7706 513

ThPeD7702 The impact of AIDS preventive intervention for
israeli adolescents in residential centers: results
over 12-months follow-up
V. Slonim-Nevo. Ben-Gurion University Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion
University of the egev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel, Israel
Objectives: To assess the impact of a cognitive-behavioral program designed to
prevent HIV/AIDS among adolescents in residential centers. The assessment was
based on the participants' self-reported knowledge about HIV/AIDS, self-reported
attitudes towards prevention, self-reported coping with high-risk situations, and
self-reported engagement in high-risk behaviors.
Methods: The sample consisted of 139 adolescents who have been placed
in residential centers in Israel. Sixty-one adolescents underwent an intensive
HIV/AIDS-preventive intervention program (treatment group) and 78 adolescents
did not receive this treatment (control group). Self-report instruments were used
to assess the participants' knowledge, attitude, coping skills, and behavior about
HIV/AIDS before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 12
months later.
Results: The intervention had a significant impact on the treatment group participants' knowledge about HIV/AIDS, attitudes towards prevention, and coping with
HIV/AIDS-related high-risk situations. The changes were still evident at the 12 -month follow-up assessment phase. In addition, at this time it was observed that
the participants of the treatment group were 2.5 times more likely to have vaginal
sex with a condom than the control group participants.
Conclusions: An HIV/AIDS prevention program for maladjusted adolescents
(delinquency, abuse and neglect, conduct disorders, and dislocation from home)
should include the following factors: a cognitive-behavioral approach, spacing the
intervention over several sessions, the inclusion of a booster session, a session
on life options and their relations to HIV/AIDS prevention, and the intervention
should be delivered by professional staff with a background of working with adolescents.
Presenting author: Vered Slonim-Nevo, Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion
University of the egev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel, Israel, Tel.: [phone],
Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7703 Spreading the awareness of HIV/AIDS to teenage
girls through an Innovative approach
RP.K.J. Joshi1, A. Purohit2, A. Haag3, J. Mora4, S.R.S. Shah5, N.S.S. Shah5,
V.J. Dodiya5, R.K. Trikmani5. 1FXB India Society, FXB India Society
317/11,Nirlon CHS, S V Road, Goregaon (W), Mumbai - 400062, India; 2World
Wide Director, AFXB, Boston, United States; 3Medical Director, FXB US
Foundation, Boston, United States; 4 Public Health Specialist FXB US
Foundation, Boston, United States; 5FXB India Society, Mumbai Branch,
Mumbai, India
Background: Teenage girls in Mumbai, India, are vulnerable to get HIV infection
due to lack of sexual and HIV/AIDS education. Only 8% of them go on to higher
education, making them difficult to target after they finish their basic studies.
Methods: After their secondary school exams, teenage girls in Mumbai were subjected to a questionnaire to find out their level of awareness of HIV/AIDS. More
than 72% knew the word "AIDS" but were unaware of its relation to HIV. Based on
the above facts and other answers, AFXB INDIA - Mumbai Branch targeted this
group by offering them cooking, art and dancing classes. During these classes,
experts on HIV/AIDS conducted HIV/AIDS awareness sessions among the participants. The family and friends of these students were also targeted through
special sessions on HIV. Documentary films and other visual aids were used to
attract more girls. One-to-one counseling was also arranged at the time of the
awareness sessions.
Lessons learned: From early January 2000 to date, we have conducted about
30 sessions covering more than 1,521 teenage girls. We have also targeted 2,004
of their friends and relatives.
Recommendations:n In ordeir to reach teenagers, novel approaches are beneficial. The tradition and culture of India demand good cooking, art and dancing
skills for marriage. Most teenage girls like to join the specially designed classes on
these subjects. These classes represent a good opportunity to educate teenagers
and their friends and relatives on HIV/AIDS issues. Continuous efforts should be
made to find new approaches so that those teenage girls, the majority of whom
do not have the advantage to go on to study at the university level, can also be
targeted for education in HIV/AIDS prevention.
Presenting author: Padma Joshi, FXB India Society, 317/11,Nirlon CHS, S V
Road, Goregaon (W), Mumbai - 400062, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +91
22 877 31 44, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7704 Rural women and their vulnerability
M.S.L. Huang. Malaysian AIDS Council, Serdang, Selangor

Background: The past 10 years has witnessed an exponential increase of infection among women in Malaysia. This is despite great efforts to check the spread
of the infection. This paper summaries the findings of five reproductive health
(including HIV/AIDS) studies among rural women.
Method: Women (married, and between the ages of 20 - 50 years) from five villages were randomly selected and were interviewed with the help of a structured
and pretested questionnaire.

Results: Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and modes of transmission were moderate. Although most women knew the major modes of infection there were still
some misconception on now it is spread. In general women were sympathetic
towards PWHAs but when it came to questions related to having to be in contact
with PWHAs women were careful, indicating that perhaps they are not really convinced about how they can contract AIDS. Perhaps what is most worrisome is the
fact that more than two thirds of these women do not feel that they are vulnerable even though they admit that they have not or dare not discuss the issue of
HIV/AIDS nor family planning with their husbands. Regression analysis found that
education was significant at p=<0.05 in contributing to an increase in knowledge
about HIV/AIDS and their own vulnerability among the rural women.
Conclusions: Rural women should be provided with knowledge about HIV/AIDS.
Not only should they be given basic information but more importantly they should
be equipt with the ability to discus it with their husbands. Rural men, especially
those whose work entails periods away from their wives should also be the informed of the ways of protecting themselves and their partners (including their
wives).
Presenting author: Mary Soo Lee Huang, 10th Residential College, Universiti
Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: huang@ medic.upm.edu.my
ThPeD7705 Gipa initiative in the caribbean region
C.E.C. Castellanos1, 0.0. Olugbemi2. I UNAIDS, Calle San Francisco de
Macoris, 99, 2da. Planta, Apto. 2-C, Sector Don Bosco, Santo Domingo, D.N.,
Dominican Republic; 2UNAIDS, Pto. Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Issues: The Caribbean Region has the second highest growth rate of HIV/AIDS
in the world. A region varied in culture, language and governmental systems also
differs in its approaches to HIV/AIDS mitigation. Being one of world's renowned
tourist destination (for North Americans and European) contributes to the rate of
spread.
Descriptions: Articulated by six Country Projects to create and/or strengthen
PLWHA national networks, turning them into sustainable self-help groups. UNAIDS Caribbean Team facilitated regional transfer of national strengths (e.g. Dominican Republic's established Seropositive network and Cuba's sound medical approach to HIV/AIDS). Using participatory approaches, GIPA has promoted
methodologies to support/create self-help groups and develop their capacity for
identifying and implementing initiatives to improve the conditions of Seropositive
individuals, their families and their communities.
Lessons learned: These approaches increased the PLWHA groups' advocacy,
legal literacy and preventive medical understanding, thereby empowering them to
take a more active role in reducing the rate of spread of HIV/AIDS and to create
a supportive environment for PLWHAs in their communities.
Recommendations: It is possible for PLWHA to get organized around concrete
actions joining national efforts to mitigate the impact of the AIDS epidemic. It is
very difficult to maintain the support groups in our culture maybe because the
priority in our countries still continue to be material wealth. Social empowerment
should be reached at the same time as PLWHA participates in the problem solving process. Technical assistance has proved to strength the efforts of PLWHA by
modeling strategic behaviors and transferring "how to" skills.
Presenting author: Cesar Castellanos, Calle San Francisco de Macoris, 99, 2da.
Planta, Apto. 2-C, Sector Don Bosco, Santo Domingo, D.N., Dominican Republic,
Tel.: +[phone], Fax: +[phone], E-mail: [email protected].
do
ThPeD7706I Prevention for young positives: Individual,
telephone, and group interventions
D.T. Swendeman, W.S. Comulada, M.J. Rotheram-Borus. UCLA Center for
Community Health, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90024,
United States
Background: Reducing transmission behaviors among HIV+ persons is the most
cost-effective strategy to impact the HIV pandemic. Small group, telephone, and
individual formats were evaluated for delivering interventions with HIV+ young
people. Three modules aimed to reduce sexual risk acts and substance use, and
improve medical care adherence and quality of life.
Methods: HIV+ young people aged 14 to 29 years (mean=22.9) were assigned
to intervention or delayed control conditions. Youth were recruited in 17 clinics
and over 30 service providers in 4 AIDS epicenters; Los Angeles, San Francisco,
New York, and Miami. Most were male (72%), gay/bisexual (64%); 30% were
African-American, 39% Latino, and 18% white. An intervention that was highly active, skill-based, and designed on social cognitive theories was delivered to 70%
of those randomized to intervention conditions. Assessments were conducted at
randomization, 3, 6, 9, and 15 months later. A case control sample that matched
for substance use and sexual risk was examined (n= 300 youth).
Results: At recruitment, 76% of youth used hard drugs, with a mean of 4 drugs

used in the last 3 months. Youth reported using condoms for about 54% of sex
acts and disclosed serostatus to 63% of partners. There was high variability in
reports of both substance use and sexual risk over time; 50% reported high rates
at each follow up. The small group intervention resulted in significant reductions
in unprotected risk acts and substance use, and improved of quality of life. Telephone and individual sessions appeared to have less impact; there were only
intervention effects on a subgroup of youth.