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

558 Abstracts ThPeE7881-ThPeE7885

XIV International AIDS Conference

Recommendations: Safe injecting rooms must be considered a key strategy for
risk and harm reduction among excluded IDUs. They must be integrated into a
multi-sectorial approach, in which health care, IEC and psycho-social services
and basic needs such as a canteen, hostel, showers, and a recreation room be
included.
Presenting author: Celia Roman, Las Ramblas 64, 8001, Spain, Tel.: +34 93
412 5252, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7881 Sexual behaviors among male current and exopiate users in northern Thailand
P Sawanpanyalert', S. Moolphate 1, P. Saksoong2, S. Piyaworawong2,
S. Supawitkul', H. Yanai'. 1 TB/HIV Researh Project, TB/HIV Research Project,
1050 Satarn Payabarn Road, Muang District, Chiang Rai, Thailand; 2Mae Chan
Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Background: Sexual behaviors and drug use, especially through injection, have
been recognized as major risk factors for HIV transmission. However, sexual behaviors among current and ex-users might be different. This study reports sexual
behaviors among the two groups of opiate users in northern Thailand.
Methods: This study was conducted in the substance abuse treatment facility of
a district hospital in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand. During
January 1999 and December 2000, male opiate users who were being treated at
the time of the study were approached and invited to join the study. Opiate users
were defined as "current users" if they used drugs at least once in the past 3
months. Otherwise, they were defined as "ex-users" Both groups of opiate users
were interviewed for demographics and behavioral risk factors. Female opiate
users were not included in this study.
Results: There were 208 male opiate users being treated at the hospital at the
time of this study who agreed to join the study. Of the 208 opiate users, 89 (42.8%)
were defined as current users. Current and ex-users were comparable in terms
of age, educational level, income, ethnicity, and religion. Current users are more
likely to have no formal education, and be of non-Thai ethnic group than ex-users.
No differences were found between current and ex-users in terms of number of
regular sex partners in the past 3 months (0.58 vs. 0.66, p=0.8), having at least
one regular sex partner in the past 3 months (37% vs. 40%, p=0.7), average
monthly frequency of sex with female non-commercial causal sex partners (0.1
vs. 0.2 p=0.2), average monthly frequency with female commercial sex workers
(0.1 vs. 0.1 p=0.7)
Conclusions: This study does not shoe appreciable differences in sexual behaviors among male current and ex- opiate users. The importance of sexual behaviors as a means for HIV transmission among male ex- opiate users should be
given equal attention as among the current users.
Presenting author: Pathom Sawanpanyalert, TB/HIV Research Project, 1050
Satarn Payabarn Road, Muang District, Chiang Rai, Thailand, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: hyanai @ loxinfo.co.th
ThPeE7882I Achieving success - the military response to
HIV/AIDS in Cambodia
G.A. Manthey', S. Tan2. 1UNAIDS, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 2Ministry of
National Defence, PO Box 877, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
In 1997, estimates of HIV infection among the military was already over 7%. In
1999, 60% of military reported buying sex from sex worker in last six months.
Military personnel are considered an at-risk group.
Project activities: Establish HIV/AIDS prevention committees (HAPC) at the military's regional levels; Sensitize military commanders (MC) on HIV/AIDS through
meetings & professional attachments (study visits); Conduct training workshops
for technical group of HAPC on needs assessment & basic work plan development; Organize meetings in the Regions & provinces to introduce the project &
the need to implement utilizing the military hierarchy; Orientation workshops for
MC on HIV/AIDS, its micro & macro impact & the role of MC in sustaining project
activities; HIV/AIDS education sessions implemented for every unit in the Regions with special sessions & integration. Condoms distributed at these sessions;
Development of a situation & response analysis of the military & HIV/AIDS in
Cambodia; Drafting of a strategic plan on the military & HIV/AIDS.
Results: HIV/AIDS prevention committees have been established at regional &
provincial levels; 256 MC have been sensitized on HIV/AIDS; HIV/AIDS sessions
have been integrated into the existing military training program nationally; 12,000
military personnel have received HIV/AIDS education & condoms; MC have accepted HIV/AIDS as their responsibility & are supporting HIV/AIDS activities;
Fund raising for HIV/AIDS activities have been organized by the regional commanders; Situation & Response Analysis has been completed; Strategic Plan for
the Military's Response to HIV/AIDS will be released in 2002.
Lesson learned: Military commanders play very important role to have the activities conducted. Using military structure can ensure the sustainability of the
project including the integration HIV/AIDS into the existing military training pro
gram. Spent less money than other non-military structure approaches.
Presenting author: Geoff Manthey, PO Box 877, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

ThPeE7883 Combining forces to meet the needs of uniformed
services: the role of the uniformed services task
force
C. Larivee', S. Kingma2, J. Paige3, J. Jordan4, R. Shaffer5. 'Family Health
International, Family Health International, 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700,
Arlington, VA 22201, United States; 2Civil-Military Alliance to Combat HIV &
AIDS, Rolle, Switzerland; 3UNAIDS (consultant), Geneva, Switzerland; The
Futures Group/POLICY Project, Washington, DC, United States; 5Naval Health
Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
Issues: It is widely accepted that uniformed-service personnel have greater risk
behaviors than the general public, which is reflected in higher HIV and STI rates.
To support uniformed services, a coalition of military and non-military institutions
formed the Uniformed Services Task Force on HIV/AIDS (USTF), which works
with military, police, prison, customs and immigration personnel around the world
to develop HIV/AIDS programming. The USTF includes the Civil-Military Alliance
to Combat HIV & AIDS (CMA), USAID, Family Health International, The Futures
Group/POLICY Project, Population Services International, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Naval
Health Research Center and UNAIDS.
Description: The main USTF objective is to develop a package of tools to assist
uniformed services in integrating HIV/AIDS into their systems and ensure networking among members. Toward this end, uniformed-service staff from Eritrea,
Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia met with the USTF in Accra,
Ghana to develop, adapt, update and review tools for peer education, basic and
in-service training (e.g., HIV Prevention and Behavior Change in International Military Populations: A Training of Trainers Curriculum, by CMA), behavior-change
communication and monitoring and evaluation. The USTF drew on its resources
and networks for this work. One resulting tool is the Uniformed Services HIV/AIDS
Peer Leadership Guide, which is being used in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria (after pre-testing in Eritrea, Ghana and Nigeria). The guide has been translated into French for use in Francophone Africa; related tools have been finalized
for pre-testing and further joint efforts are planned.
Lessons learned: The USTF demonstrates the value of coordination and networking in ensuring synergy of efforts and effective use of financial and human
resources.
Presenting author: Carol Larivee, Family Health International, 2101 Wilson
Blvd., Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7884 A medico-legal perspective on HIV/AIDS in the
South African national defence force
J.J. Crouse. South African National Defence Force, PO Box 935, Wierdapark,
0149, South Africa
Issues: A South African medico-legal perspective on HIV/AIDS and HIV testing
for members in the South African Military.
Descriptions: The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) is a division of
the South African National Defence Force of South Africa (SANDF). The Medicolegal section of the SAMHS, as part of Military Legal Services, deals with all
medico-legal issues of the SANDF, including HIV/AIDS issues.
It is essential to deal firstly with the most relevant sections of applicable legislation
inter alia the Constitution, the Employment Equity Act, the Defence Act, International Law, Agreements and Treaties, which have a direct effect on the SANDF
Members in uniform in the SANDF are not subject to labour legislation
HIV/AIDS in the Military requires a brief discussion on the following:
Unique occupation of a member of a Defence Force compared to other occupations;
Deployment requirements of a soldier;
Comprehensive Health assessments required, including serological testing;
Basic Medical rights of the South African military patient;
South African Cabinet decision;
HIV/AIDS policy of the SANDF;
Healthy soldier as a critical issue, and
Confidentiality issues
Lessons learned: Comprehensive Health Assessments are essential for the
health management and the correct utilization of its members to ensure and maintain an effective Defence Force.
Recommendations: Legislation, Medico-legal principles and deployment requirements must be adhered to at all times.
Comprehensive health assessments and effective HIV/AIDS policies and programs are essential to ensure a healthy soldier.
Presenting author: Johan Crouse, PO Box 935, Wierdapark, 149, South Africa,
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: erikastutterheim@freemail.
absa.co.za

ThPeE7885 HIV/AIDS in the military and institutional response
R.Y. Bazergan. Centre for Defence Studies, King's College, University of
London, 33 Dalmeny road, London, N70DDX, United Kingdom
Background: To investigate the apparent increased risk of HIV in the military and
the response of military institutions.
Methods: The profile of military personnel and the nature of deployments are