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

516 Abstracts ThPeD7716-ThPeD7720

XIV International AIDS Conference

Presenting author: Dirk Taljaard, P.O. Box 2039, Bromhof, Gauteng, 2154, South
Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7716I Community Mapping and Theatre Creation in
HIV/AIDS Interventions
E.J. Tuiu. Christian, Box 434, Mwanza, Tanzania
Background: HIV/AIDS is now the main cause of mortality in sub-Saharan
African countries. At the end of 2000 UNAIDS estimated that 75% of the the 36.1
million people living with HIV/AIDS globally were in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the
epidemic begun, 21.8 million people have died. Programmes developed earlier
concetrated their activities for the vulnerable groups, hence they were selective
and had limited coverage and impact in combating HIV/AIDS spread.
Methods: Community Mapping and Theatre Creation in HIV/AIDS interventions
is a newly developed approach to intensify the fight against the epidemic. This approach involves the entire population at community level by analysing their local
situation on HIV/AIDS and develop relevant interventions to intensify the response
in their locality
Results: Maps are drawn to indicate risk areas and places where people get
information about HIV/AIDS and other STDs. Group of animators list down risk
behaviours which lead to vulnerability to HIV infection. The community produces
village action plans on HIV/AIDS including By-laws which are implemented to intensify the response. Two districts have started the approach to be scaled up to
other districts in 2002 in Tanzania
Conclusion: Community Mapping and Theatre Creation in HIV/AIDS Interventions is and effective tool for mobilizing and empowing the community at village
level to intensify the response on HIV/AIDS.
Presenting author: Emmanuel Tuju, Box 434, Mwanza, Tanzania, Tel.: +255 028
2500372, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeD7717 Creating a unified HIV prevention effort among
men who have sex with men and the transgendered
population
A.R. Dulin. HIM 100 Concerned Men, 850 Barret Avenue, Suite 301, Louisville,
Kentucky 40204, United States
Issues: The "ism's"; racism, homophobia, violence, drug & alcohol addiction, suicide, incarceration, diminished self esteem, and infection with HIV, are evidentiary
of the need for African American MSM to aggressively pursue avenues to mobilize
men within the targeted population to relieve some of the intense pressure. The
need for establishing a positive sense of self, and an accurate image, is pivotal to
that process.
H.I.M.-100 Concerned Men is one such effective program. Using guided discussions, event reviews, and summaries of collected data, the workshop will assist participants in developing programming which will include and mobilize the
African American MSM community into communities that are inclusive of the multiple sub-populations, including trans-gendered, non-identifying MSM, sex trade
workers, HIV+ community members, and college age MSM. The participants will
openly discuss the methods, which were used in Louisville, Kentucky, to access
the closed pockets of MSM activity.
Descriptions: The exploration of an effective community mobilization model for a
historically disenfranchised population which actively engages and merges subpopulations within the African American MSM (AAMSM) community into an ongoing dialogue of a fundamental nature in efforts to enhance HIV education and
ultimately to reduce the high rates of infection in the targeted community.
Lessons learned: Creating self-generated programming, which includes the various subpopulations in the targeted population, is essential to successful intervention. Ongoing discussions with members of these groups within the group allows
for clear understanding of the subgroup(s). Forging a unified group consciousness is key to successful prevention in the AAMSM population.
Recommendations: Successful intervention programming utilizing the creative
talents of each member results in an innovative range of awareness activities.
True community mobilization is thereby achieved.
Presenting author: Rick Dulin, 850 Barret Avenue, Suite 301, Louisville, Kentucky 40204, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
adulin @co.jefferson.ky.us
ThPeD7718 Intervention amongst MSMs at surface railway
stations in Mumbai Metro
A. Aher. The Humsafar Trust, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Background: Majority of the MSMs (Men Having Sex with Men) covers large
distance searching for same-sex everyday. This mobility gives them access to
multiple partners, especially with casual irregular sexual contacts. The Humsafar
Trust started a major intervention among MSM at selected sites in Mumbai metro

to prevent and control STIs and HIV/AIDS in this sector.
Methods: Various sites were observed for MSM socialization, cruising and sex
activities. Based on volume and intensity of these, the sites were categorized as
Star sites, Beats, New beats.
Description: Recruited Outreach Workers (ORW), allocated specific sites, was
given. Intensive training on all aspects along with rapport building. This enabled
ORWs to modify client's sexual practices into health seeking behavior and direct

them to the STI clinic for prompt treatment of opportunistic infections and HIV
testing. Detailed records of outreach services were kept. The monthly outreach
reports included total old outreach, new outreach, and ratio of client conversion
to clinic.
Results: A KABP study by Humsafar Trust (March 2000) amongst MSMs revealed:
- An average of 11 sexual partners per month.
- 53 % said they had receptive anal sex.
- 58% used condoms but only 34% said they used condoms 'consistently'.
- 17% reported positive for VDRL.
- 14% of a sample of 232 tested positive to the ELISA test.
Conclusion: The intervention was started in 1999. The baseline STI prevalence
was 18.1%. In the first year nine outreach workers distributed 83,469 condoms.
In July 2001, the STI prevalence decreased to 15.69 per cent.
This decrease possibly meant the intervention was successful in decreasing STI
prevalence. However, the HIV prevalence in the same period increased from
13.25 per cent to 26.64 per cent. This reveals incidence of HIV was higher and
hence intervention in this sector had to be vastly increased to control HIV.
Presenting author: Abhijit Aher, 3/8, Muncipal Colony, S.V.road, Khar (w), Mumbai 400052, Maharashtra, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: abhijit99 @ mailcitycom
ThPeD7719 Why female condoms are ignored and really not
used with African women?
C.L.A. Achieng, T.H.R. Otim. The Joint Cinical Research Center, The Joint
Clinical Research center, ROBox 10002, Kampala, East Africa, Uganda
Background: A research was conducted among 300 women to find why condoms were really ignored with African women.
Method: A discussion, one to one interviews were conducted.
Results: Several factors were identified.(a) Cultural issue associated with sex
and sex organs.(b) Condoms needs patience especially the session sexual intercourse.(c) Sizes of condoms are uncomfortable, some arenot easy to get it
on.(d) Condoms failure due to technicalities associated with them.(e) Rare in
most locations here.(f) Relatively expensive to some people.(g) Stigma of existence of HIV/Aids/STDs, therefore no need for condoms.(h) The acceptance of
use of women condoms is still ignored.
Conclusion: Need for increase public education and counseling for both men
and women on the need to use condoms consistently and properly. Acceptance
of female with condoms to be informed everyday in rural and urban. Advocacy for
openness on discussions conerning sexual issues and Aids.
Presenting author: Clare Achieng, The Joint Clinical Research center, P.O.Box
10002, Kampala, East Africa, Uganda, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: claachieng2001 @yahoo.com
ThPeD7720 Empowering community level health workers to
combat STD/AIDS using contemporary knowledge
and creative problem solving
D.B. Wang', D.Q. Ye2, X.J. Zhang3. 'Schoolof Health Services Management,
Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; 2Department of Epidemiology, Anhui
Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Department of Epidemiology, Anhui
Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; 3Anhui Medical Universtiy,
Hefei, China
Issues: This abstract summarizes a ongoing project supported by WAF. The
project uses contemporary knowledge and creative problem solving (CPS)
methodology to empower community level health workers in clinics amid food
piazzas (FPHWs) in Hefei, Anhui, China to combat STD/AIDS.
Description: Firstly, a training course was taught to equip FPHWs with contemporary knowledge concerning STD/AIDS and CPS. Secondly, FPHWs were encouraged to use CPS to tackle STD/AIDS problems in their own communities.
Thirdly, a workshop was held for the FPHWs to exchange experiences. Fourthly,
relevant experts from all over the country were invited to provide on-the-spot guidance. Fifthly, a variety of means were employed to motivate the FPHWs including
local media publicity, provision of spaces for AIDS/STD counseling, opportunities
for advanced study at higher level hospitals within the city etc.
Lessons learned: Although it is at its early stage, there are indications that
the project works. Varied approaches had been initiated by the participants. The
essence of the project is that: (1) Rather than implementing interventions directly
by project team themselves, it challenges community health workers to rethink
their problems and their own role in solving them; (2) It invites active participation
and commitment, and places the responsibility for change squarely upon the individual. (3) It encourages the community health workers to try apply contemporary
knowledge innovatively in their local contexts. (4) It emphases learNing by doing
and long-term sustainability.
Recommendations: When implementing project of this kind, two elements are

key to success: effective training to enable the community health workers to master contemporary knowledge and incentives to keep highly momentum among
them.
Presenting author: Dongqing Ye, 81 Meishan Road, Department of Epidemiology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China, Tel.: +86 551
3665029, E-mail: dbwang @mail.hf.ah.cn