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

548 Abstracts ThPeE7835-ThPeE7839

XIV International AIDS Conference

ThPeE7835I AIDS as hidden highrisk zone for Gujarat with
women as a fore core for HIV/AIDS prevention in
Jamnagar District in Gujarat
J. Cicily, E. Rebecca, R. Janarathinam, J. Bernice Pooja. Pastoral Prosperity
Evolution Society (PPES), Jamnagar, Gujarat State, India
Issues: India's National AIDS Control policies have focussed on high risk target communities alone leaving the vulnerable women at stake. Rural women are
vulnerable & are at greater risk of getting infected by HIV. Local cultural beliefs
& norms does not support women to access information on HIV/AIDS. HIV incidence among rural women is on the steady rise.
Description: Pastoral Prosperity Evolution Society (PPES) works closely with rural women in 15 villages in Jamnagar district in Gujarat considered for prevelence
of HIV/AIDS unknown so far. Village action committes formed with village leaders
supporting HIV/AIDS as any other general health issue after intensive sensitising
efforts made. HIV care is linked with prevention through general health camps,
daily home visits of health workers, follow-up treatment through community clinic.
Women groups formed for senstising the issue & capacity building of the women
folks. Income generation schemes started among women groups to bring out
women from vicious vulnerability circle. Traditional Birth Attendants Sensitised &
trained to handle HIV deliveries. Barefoot counselors posted at village sites for
couseling regarding HIV testing. Strong linkages established among government
health services & motivating their efficient functioning.
Lessons learned: HIV/AIDS addressed along the development & gender perspective alone can prevent HIV/AIDS spread in Gujarat state where there exists
ignorance, social stigma, discrimination & denial to AIDS.
Recommendations: A strong advocacy & awareness campaign to be emerged
to get the participation of both the government & international bodies for focussing
on Gujarat State considered to be away from the purview of highrisk zone for AIDS
Presenting author: Cicily Josephine, Reliance Greens, Sector 6, Door no,
6, Motikavadi, Jamnagar, Gujarat State, India, Tel.: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeE7836 HIV/AIDS outreach programs for gay men in St.
Petersburg as an effective tool for prevention
A.V. Morozov. Regional Charity Organization "NAMES+", Novatorov, 84-2-239,
198215, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Issues: To overview the St Petersburg experience with outreach working in outdoor and indoor hot spots for men who have sex with men, to reflect on these
experiences and to underline the utmost importance of these projects as a very
effective way to prevent the spread of HIV among the gay men.
Description: Through the years outreach projects have been developed in 4 areas: 1. Outside cruising places (parks, toilets). Several techniques have been
used to approach visitors of outdoor hot spots: talks and handing out of condoms
by trained volunteers; organizing the coffee table outdoors; recruiting regular visitors as volunteers, a play of cards with sexstories. 2: Bars, discos and clubs.
In these areas, too, several techniques have been used to approach customers:
safe sex promotion teams; dating and talk shows, stands. 3. Saunas. In this area
a lot of experience has been acquired with the so-called Intervention Evaluation
Method: the method places customers of the saunas by using the eye-catcher. 4.
The beach. Staff members of gay commercial venues on the beach have been
recruited to speed the safe sex message and to distribute some products among
the visiting men, pointing at safe sex.
Lessons learned: Approximately 10 000 people have been approached on inside
and outside cruising places. Some of the outreach projects have been evaluated
like the outdoor hot spots project: It appeared that the talks are very effective.
The visitors who have been approached did use more often condoms than the
ones who were not approached, and their risk perception of insertive anal sex
was higher, too. Due to the results of this evaluation the project has been implemented in the prevention strategies of the local Health Authorities.
Recommendations: The outreach has been proved to be quite effective. It is well
possible to educate and to inform men who have sex with men in small-scaled
project, on locations through the whole country, with only few financial means.
Presenting author: Artem Morozov, Novatorov, 84-2-239, 198215, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7837 Constructing masculinities in the Philippines:
STD/HIV/AIDS and health seeking behaviour of
male sex workers
L.I. Hernandez, R.H. Imperial. Ceneter for MultiDisciplinary Studies on Health
and Development, 1068 LH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Background: Recent interest in constructing the ramifications Filipino masculinity has been borne out of the changing configurations in the study of HIV/AIDS

by medical anthropologists, public health practioners and health social scientists.
This interest has been directed at determining how perceptions and behaviour of
men are fundamental in determining health behaviour modifications in the light
of the infections. This study assumed that male sex workers' vulnerability to the
infection has been due to their constructed sexual meanings related to the symbolic dimensions of their body, how he communicates with his body and how his
body is controlled by others.
Methodology: Ten sex workers were interviewed using the rapid assessment

technique which touched on their perceptions of masculinity and how these translates to their sexual behaviour. An ethnographic assessment of their responses
were made using theories used in medical anthropology studies.
Results: The study revealed that perceptions on masculinity established the essential link between individual sexual behaviour and individual psychology in
preventing HIV/AIDS infection. The mind-body symbolic interactionist paradigm
showed that regarding their bodies as merchandise for the highest bidder has
coached them to utilize overt and subtle approaches in enticing their paying customers or lovers. They view their bodies as tools in their profession and as such
view the same as their most important possessions.
Conclusion: More broad based prevention techniques and strategies can be utilized using as entry points perceptions on body-mind and symbols. Whike the
domain of sexuality remains private, it can be socially shaped or constructed
based on the meanings that they are assocxiated with. These are important if
key messages on prevention and safer sexual practices are to be implemented
and sustained.
Presenting author: Laufred Hernandez, Meer en Vaart 388 Kr4, 1068 LH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeE7838 Psychocultural barriers of Venezuelan men to
practice safe sex
L. Barrios. Universidad Central de Venezuela, Comsalud, a.c., Av Las Palmas
Res. Rocar, PH, Caracas 1050, Venezuela
Background: 80 % of HIV-AIDS cases in Venezuela are men. It is obvious that
many of them still reject the safe sex practices; therefore it is necessary to know
the psycho cultural reasons for such resistance. For that matter men's knowledge
about HIV, beliefs about HIV-AIDS transmission and sexual practices, beside the
reasons which lay the foundations of those practices are explored in this study.
Method: Exploratory research carried out through one survey to a representative sample of 400 men, 18-54 years old, living in Caracas, Venezuela in 2001.
As instrument of data gathering a self-administered questionnaire was used. The
SPSS Program for Windows was used for quantitative data analysis.
Results: Almost 80 % of the interviewed know that sexual relationship is the
main way of HIV transmission. Nearly three quarts of them have taken some risk
of HIV infections because they did not use condom constantly in their last three
sexual intercourses. The most frequent reason for no using condom is partner
confidence and 15 % because use other kind of anticonceptives. Most of those
men are confused about risks of oral sex. 12 % has have sex with other man
and the majority did not use condom due partner confidence. Almost half of the
interviewed believes that condom diminishes sensibility, but 70 % trusts it and is
disposed to use it.
Conclusions: Venezuelan men living in Caracas are aware about HIV risks However for most of them the preventive practices are little internalized being the low
use of condom in a consistent and effective way, and partner confidence the main
reasons of HIV infection risks. It is necessary to strength campaigns addressed
to men, both those who have sex with women as well as those who have sex with
other men in order to break the barriers that hinder the efforts for prevention.
Presenting author: Leoncio Barrios, Av. Las Palmas Res. Rocar, PH, Caracas
1050, Venezuela, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: leobar7
@hotmail.com
ThPeE7839I Masculinities in Peru: Discourses do not reflect
practices
P. Fernandez Davila1, C.F. Caceres2, A.M. Rosasco3, X. Salazar2, P. Aggleton4
1 Redess Jdvenes, Lima, Peru; 2Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima,
Peru; 3Redess Jdvenes, Lima, Peru; 4 Thomas Coram Research Unit, London,
United Kingdom
Background: The importance of gender constructions in the shaping of sexual
health problems is well documented. In a study on gender, an analysis of masculinity constructions was carried out.
Methods: An ethnographic study was conducted in 5 contexts: Lima/working and
middle class, fishermen in the Northern coast, peasants in an Andean city, and
drivers in an Amazonian town. Individual and group interviews were conducted
with young adult males and women. Accounts were analysed with regard to gender discourses/practices.
Results: A broadly egalitarian but tokenistic discourse exists among men in all
sites, which condemns machismo and traditional gender roles. However, practices normally contradict such discourses and reinforce traditional norms. Variations across sites occur: Men in the fishing town and the Andean city enact
typically patriarchal roles. Among fishermen, the father represents authority even
in daily activities. In the Andean city, women must always serve their spouses.
Among the Lima working class, ownership of the street space and the domain of
the biological (instinct, aggression) coalesce in the image of a macho man whose

role is problematic because of unemployment and social exclusion. In the Amazonian town, while predominance of the domain of the biological leads into abuse
of power, violence and parental irresponsibility, women interact with men more
equally. In the Lima middle class, a more equitative discourse on gender prevails,
but in practice women experience a tension between the norm to support their
partner's professionally and another growing norm, that of working for their own
progress.