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

514 Abstracts ThPeD7707-ThPeD7711

XIV International AIDS Conference

Conclusions: The delivery format of HIV prevention programs for young seropositive persons must be tailored to the preferences of the youth. To retain efficacy
while tailoring is a challenge. Substance abusing HIV+ persons are likely to need
drug treatment prior to any successful HIV prevention program.
Presenting author: Dallas Swendeman, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los
Angeles, CA, 90024, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7707 HIV related knowledge and behaviour of patients
attending a specialised HIV clinic in South Africa -
interim survey results
J.J.C. Potqieter1, M.E. Botes1, J. Levin2. lKalafong Hospital, PO Box 250,
Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; 2Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South
Africa
Background: In South Africa disease education and a change in sexual behaviour are important interventions in HIV. The Kalafong Hospital HIV clinic has
lay counsellors who educate and counsel patients in groups and as individuals.
Methods: The efficacy of counselling and education in HIV infected patients at
the concerned clinic, was evaluated as a means to enhance their knowledge
of HIV, and facilitate change in their behaviour. This study was conducted as a
cross-sectional quantitative questionnaire-based survey. Questions about (1) demographic information; (2) the patient's self perceived support; (3) behavioural
information; and (4) patients knowledge on HIV were included in the questionnaire. A control group from the general outpatient clinic of the same hospital
completed the demographic information and knowledge on HIV sections of the
questionnaire.
Results: 108 patients were in the study group and 171 in the control group. Actual
scores on the knowledge section of the questionnaires for the study and control
patients were compared. The level of knowledge of the study group was statistically significantly better. 74.1% of HIV infected patients disclosed their HIV status
to at least one person, but only 36.8% of patients told their partners of their HIV
status. In the study group 6.5% of respondents consistently used condoms before
HIV diagnosis and 70% after diagnosis. 22.1% had casual sex before HIV diagnosis and 2.2% after diagnosis. The amount of sexual partners declined statistically
significantly after diagnosis.
Conclusions: This study clearly demonstrates the efficacy of counselling and
education in HIV positive patients by showing that they have a better knowledge
on HIV than the general out patient population control group. Regarding the modification of life styles because of HIV, at least two criteria of life style changes
(increase in condom use and the reduction of casual sex) have significantly improved.
Presenting author: Maridtte Botes, PO Box 250, Auckland Park, 2006, South
Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected].
ac.za
I ThPeD7708 What I mean is...:The content of HIV risk
counseling sessions with gay/bisexual men
C.J. Godfrey1, H.M. Koegel2, H. Yi3, A. Shidlo4, B.J. Dalit5. 1St Vincent's
Catholic Medical Centers of NYManhattan, TalkSafe - SVCMC/NY, 412 6th
Avenue, Ste. 401, NY, 10011, United States; 2St. Vincent's Catholic Meical
Centers of NY/Manhattan, New York, United States; 3TalkSafe Program, New
York, United States; 4Private Practice, New York, United States; 5Private
Practice, New York, United States
Background: Peer-based HIV risk reduction counseling for gay/bisexual men is
widely practiced. There is limited knowledge about the content of counseling sessions, particularly when the counseling is centered psychosocial issues related to
HIV risk behavior.
Method: Prior to beginning a multi-session HIV peer-counseling program for
gay/bisexual men, TalkSafe, 350 clients indicated topics they wished to discuss
with a counselor, ranging from 'compulsive' sexual behavior and substance use
to aging and self-image. Using thematic content analytic techniques, counseling
session notes from 450 counseling sessions conducted from 1997 to 2002 were
analyzed for themes and then compared to clients' sets of presenting issues.
Results: While session often included the topics clients listed as important to
them at the start counseling, other issues outside of the arena of HIV risk such as
work and employment, experiences of sexual orientation and ethnicity/race based
discrimination, mental health, family and social support were common themes in
the counseling sessions. Many of these were related to clients HIV risk in complex
manners. In counseling sessions clients were able to link indirect (e.g., unemployment) with proximate (e.g., greater number of partners) issues related to their HIV
risk. For many men reducing their HIV risk was often a trigger for beginning to address a range related of psychosocial issues.
Conclusions: Gay/bisexual men face a many psychosocial issues that must be
considered in HIV risk reduction counseling sessions. Counselors need training

in helping clients to begin to identify and address direct and indirect life issues
that may impact individuals' ability to reduce their HIV risk.
Presenting author: Christopher Godfrey, TalkSafe - SVCMC/NY, 412 6th Avenue, Ste. 401, NY, 10011, United States, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: ccgodfrey
@aol.com

ThPeD7709I Assessment of the efficacy of a
cognitive-behavioral oriented group psychotherapy
program for HIV-infected patients referred to a
consultation-liaison psychiatry department
A. Rousaud1, J. Blanch2, E. Martinez3, J.M. Peri4, J. De Pablo5, E. De
Lazzari 6. 1Fundacio Clinic per a la Recerca Biomedica Institut dInvestigacions
Biomddiques Agustf pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) a, Clinical Institute of Psychiatry and
PsychologyHospital Universitari de Barcelona., Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona,
Spain; 2Clinical Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Barcelona, Spain;
3Clinical Institute of Infectious diseases and Inmunology, Barcelona, Spain;
4 Clinical Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Barcelona, Spain; 5Clinical
Institute of Psychiatry and Pschology, Barcelona, Spain; 6Epidemiology and
Biostatistics UnitHospital Clinic Universitari de Barcelona., Barcelona, Spain
Background: Most HIV-infected patients attending a consultation-liaison psychiatry service show symptoms of anxiety and depression. The present study
sought to evaluate the immediate and long-term efficacy of a structured cognitivebehavioral group therapy in reducing anxiety and depression in HIV-infected patients referred to a consultation-liaison psychiatry department, and to identify
baseline variables predictive of greater improvement.
Methods: Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyse changes on the
Beck Depression Inventory and the state subscale of the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory administered to 39 participants at four time points: Ti (one month before
beginning of the therapy), T2 (during the first session), T3 (during the last session) and T4 (three months after the last session). The therapy consisted of 16
weekly two-hour sessions following a structured time-limited cognitive-behavioral
group psychotherapy program.
Results: During the intervention time (between T2 and T3) an improvement was
observed in depression (F(1,38)=20.430, p=0.000) and anxiety (F(1,38)=13.472,
p=0.001), which persisted after the 3-month follow-up period (between T3 and
T4). No changes were observed during baseline (between T1 and T2). Patients
with higher levels of anxiety at baseline showed greater improvement in STAIstate subscale scores (*= 0.597, F(1,37)= 20.51, p=0.001). Transmission of HIV
infection through intravenous drug use was associated with less improvement on
the BDI (*= -0.460, F(1,37), p=0.003).
Conclusions: This is the first report of an ongoing study which suggests the long
lasting efficacy of a structured cognitive-behavioral oriented group psychotherapy program in a heterogeneous sample of HIV-1 infected patients referred to a
consultation-liaison psychiatry unit.
Presenting author: Araceli Rousaud, Clinical Institute of Psychiatry and PsychologyHospital Universitari de Barcelona., Villarroel 170, 8036, Barcelona, Spain,
Tel.: +34++93-227.54.77, Fax: +34++-227.54.77, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7710 Behaviour change in vulnerable youth through
peer group for HIV/AIDS
R.R. Gade. S.N.D.T Women's Universiy, NCC Department, S.N.D.T Women's
University, Churchgate, Mumbai-400 020, India
Background: Few years back 'AIDS' word was not known to us. We youth of developing country like India were totally unaware of this fast spreading menance.
Sooner we came to know about the ill effects sf this disease & we decided to
fight with it. To bring about the required changes knowledge of the disease is a
must. The combination of facts published are enongh to shake up any conscious
Indian. I came to know about this disease through my friend. Therafter, I was very
much curious to have more knowledge which I gathered from the mass media.
After this I passed on this information futher to my 15 friends. All of us started to
gain more knowledge about it & spread awareness among our friends. More girls
started involving in this awareness project & we then started a club.
Method: 25 members of the board: (1) President of Students; (2) Advisory council: Principal, Teacher, Doctor, Socical Worker & Parent; (3) Other members of the
club.
Strategy: (1) Seminars; (2) Workshops; (3) Road shows, exhibition; (4) AudioVideo shows; (5) Professional meetings.
Result: Started with 15 members 25 members were aware of this disease.
Through 25 members 1,000 students in a year were involved in this awarenss
program.
Conclusion: Peer influence is more than other influences. Awarenss, through
small groups will lead to awareness among large groups & this peer influence will
prevent people from this fast speading deadly epidemic.
Presenting author: rohini gade, NCC Department, S.N.D.T. Women's University,
Churchgate, Mumbai-400 020, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
0000, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7711 Community-level behaviour change interventions
for VCT among youths ages 14-21 years: the case
of Kampala, Uganda

L. Bufumbo, E.K. Kirumira. Sociology department, Makerere university, P 0.
BOX 29396, Kampala, Uganda
Background: Efforts to provide young people, contextually, with opportunities for
learning and deciding for VCT, to increase use of and satisfaction, largely revolve
around facility-based and not community based approaches.
Methods: Youth [agesl4-21] visiting AIDS Information Center (AIC) and Naguru