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

540 Abstracts ThPeE7799-ThPeE7803

XIV International AIDS Conference

ThPeE7799 Social capital as a predictor of HIV/AIDS risk
behaviors
M. Hasnain1, EK. Mensah2, J.A. Levy2, J.M. Sinacorel. 1Department of Family
Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL,
United States; 2School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago,
Chicago, United States
Background: Curtailing HIV infection and its sequel -AIDS- is an important public health challenge. Efforts have focused mainly on the biomedical aspect of the
disease; limited attention has been paid to the social, economic and cultural factors that influence risk behaviors. This study explores the role of social capital in
predicting sex and drug-related HIV risk behaviors among active injection drug
users (IDUs) in an impoverished area of Chicago, US.
Methods: Snowball sampling techniques using neighborhood outreach strategies
were used to recruit 1095 active IDUs for HIV testing and counseling. Logistic regression examined the relationships between social capital and HIV risk behavior
using data from structured interviews collected prior to HIV counseling and testing. Social capital was defined by seven constructs: social relationships, companions' drug-use habits, housing, mobility, perceived concentration of HIV-infected
people in the neighborhood, drug-shooting location, and ethnicity. Risk behaviors
were five unsafe sex and drug-related practices.
Results: Living with a non-spousal partner predicted exchanging drugs or money
for sex. Those living with drug-using companions were more likely to share injection paraphernalia. Homelessness increased the risk of unprotected sex. Those
who usually shot drugs at their own homes were less likely to share injection equipment. Length of stay at current residence was negatively associated
with having sex with someone having HIV. Perceived density of HIV+ people in
the neighborhood was positively associated with risk behaviors. Compared with
Whites and Hispanics, African Americans were more likely to engage in risk behaviors.
Conclusion: Results support the hypothesis that variations in social capital predict risk behaviors for HIV transmission; hence, the need for AIDS interventions
that go beyond individualistic approaches to acknowledge and address the role
of social capital in conditioning HIV risk behavior.
Presenting author: Memoona Hasnain, Dept of Family Medicine, College of
Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612,
United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: memoona
@uic.edu
ThPeE7800 Health Promotion Programme (HPP) directed to
Immigrants in vulnerable socio-sanitary situation
(IVS): 8 years of intervention in community health
M.A.R. Ros. umtivi/acsar, 17-21,Avinguda Drassanes, Barcelona, Spain
This programme was started in 1994 and pretends to facilitate access of IVS to
health resources and information.
Description: The programme has six main orientations:
1- Investigating the social and sanitary situation of ISV.
2- Support work at the socio-sanitary level.
3- Interventions to increase awareness of, information about and development of
abilities with individuals and groups of IVS.
4- Development of health networks for ISV.
5- Community mobilisation activities.
6- Development of educational material with immigrant communities.
Different programs were designed for ISV of various origins: sub-Saharan Africa,
Maghreb, Latin America, Pakistan, Eastern Europe, and also for women and
younger immigrants. Interventions were carried out through community health
workers originating from each of these communities. The team participated at
a European and national level in various work groups on health programmes for
ISV. Support and teaching tools were developed targeted either at ISV (games,
videos) or at professionals (manuals, workshops). During these eight years, we
have accomplished 727 group interventions or sessions, 2419 individual consultations and distributed 22 000 preservatives (condoms).
Recommendations: In order to guarantee a universal and equalitarian access
to primary health care, it is necessary to complement the public health system
in a manner that allows to manage the diversity of needs of its clients. Because,
amongst other things, of immigrants' lack of familiarity with a health system like
ours, this adaptation cannot take place only in primary care clinics; public health
must also take an active role through health promotional programmes culturally
adapted and specific for each community. It is necessary to include in the elaboration of our strategies the immigrants themselves as much as the civil society
through non governmental organisations, to unite the efforts of all.
Presenting author: Marisa Ros, 17-21, Avinguda Drassanes, Barcelona, Spain,
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: cvmti01 @sapbcn.scs.es

ThPeE7801I High-risk behavior among male textile factory
workers in Tamil Nadu, India
S. Reza-Paul, V. Mangaimalar2, S. Mukherjeel, S. Kristensen',
S.H. Vermund1. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United
States; 2Society for AIDS Awareness and Prevention, Tirupur, India
Background: The state of Tamil Nadu in India is facing a generalized HIV epidemic. Behavioral Sentinel Surveillance (2000) has shown that male factory work
ers are practicing high-risk behavior. Yet the prevention efforts towards this group
are minimal.
Methods: A pilot study was conducted among male textile factory workers in
Tirupur, India to assess their knowledge, sexual behavior and self-reported STDs.
20 factories were selected using stratified sampling technique. A probability sample of 160 men was selected. Trained interviewers collected the data using structured questionnaire.
Results: Preliminary results from 150 workers are presented. Men belong to the
low socio-economic working class. More than 80% knew about transmission and
prevention of HIV. 72% have regular sex partner and among these men 55%
have had sex with other women in the past 6 months.40% were "very confident"
in their ability to use condoms with their regular partner. Condom use was very
low among both regular (5%) and casual sex partners (8%). Reasons for not using the condom with regular partners were "not required for birth control" (21%),
"not required for STD protection" (25%) and "unavailability of condoms" (15%).
30% responded that their regular partners were "very likely" to get STD/HIV by
having sex with them without condoms. 60% of the sample perceived themselves
to be at risk of STD/HIV. 14% had sex with sex worker in the last year and 20%
had practiced anal sex. 30% reported history of STD, higher among men who
had casual sex in the last six months (OR=2.3) and who did not use condoms in
casual sex (OR=2.7).
Conclusions: Male factory workers are practicing high-risk behaviors in spite of
having adequate knowledge and high perceived susceptibility. Research identifying factors preventing condom use is required to enhance the scope of safer sex
among Indian factory workers. A male sexual health intervention to minimize risk
of HIV spread is imperative.
Presenting author: Sushena Reza-Paul, c/o Mr. Sudhamoy Paul, College Road,
P.O. Agartala College, Agartala, 799004, India, Tel.: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
I ThPeE7802 Socio-economic condition acting as determinant
for HIV infection
M. Ghosh, M. Pal. FXB India Society - Kolkata Unit, Kolkata, India
Issue: Women in India are increasingly being affected in direct or indirect ways
by the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. economic context of women makes them further
vulnerable to the risk.
Description: Most of the women in West Bengal socio-economic & cultural constructions pose a formidable barrier to adopting a safe sex stand thus placing
them at high risk. Five sample cases from different community of West Bengal
focus on this aspect. Girls were from different places & communities but the basic similarity that the women possessed were all of them come from the same
economic structure-below poverty line. two were married off to a well off family
They were assured that they would be in a much better position after marriage.
Rumours of "bad characters" of the prospective grooms.
But the real life story was different. Between a span of 4-6 years after marriage
when the husbands frequently fall sick and after long treatment and then testing
were found HIV + things took a bad shape. The things became even worse when
in the subsequent testing of the wives they were also found to be positive.But
soon after their husbands death they were driven out of the in-laws home & they
were forced to go back to their parents place where also they were unwanted.
Even when they came into contact with the NGOs they could not be provided
much help. All programme for the HIV positives either from the Govt or NGOs are
focused on preventive and treatment part. Living the life of a unwanted & a life full
of shame. These women crossing the barrier of community, caste, religion voice
in the same tone 'this was not my mistake can anyone tell me why I have to suffer
then".
Lessons learned: Economic factors determines women's inability to control
themselves from HIV infection by forcing them to choose between two optionssurviving with the disease or death.
Recommendation: Design & planning of HIV prevention, support programme
needs to be reexamined & reviewed critically
Presenting author: Manidipa Ghosh, FXB INDIA SOCIETY - Kolkata Unit, 2/1,
Loudon Street, Kolkata, 700016., India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
7604, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7803 Povrety and vulnerability among teenagers in
slums of Dakar
M. Dia. 4, rue Klebert, 3370, Dakar, Senegal
Issues: High povrety is a currant status of people living in shantytowns of Dakar.
Teenagers are in situations of vulnerability sometimes emphasized by survival
activities like the job of maid. To reduce their economic dependancy, ENDA develops a training program for teenagers from shantytowns. Improvement of their
skills and knowledge about STI and HIV prevention helps teenagers to care and
share benefits with the others living the same conditions by peer education.

Description: In ENDA Ecopole, a space of training for young people (girls and
boys) in popular economic activities we setted up a special program of prevention
of STI and HIV. Facing daily hard conditions in urban area economic survival is
problematic and needs knowledge and skills to ensure to prevent dangerous behaviours. In usual conditions young girls are often vulnerable facing adults laws
in daily working spacesor homes specialy for maids. One way of giving chance to
teenagers is to enable then to tackle the challenge. Peer education permits those