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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeE7904-ThPeE7907 563

bravely litigate, they still face bias from a judiciary that is ignorant and prejudiced
about issues around HIV/AIDS.
Description: I worked as a Auxilliary Nurse in private clinic in Lagos, Nigeria from
1991 - October 1999, when I was sick and pregnant, I was tested for HIV without
my consent and without counseling about the test. As a result, my appointment
was terminated, and followed with refusal to provide healthcare.
After a legal counseling, I decided to challenge my boss for wrongful termination
of my appointment through the Social Economic Right Action (SERAC) center,
an NGO in Nigeria. The case was before a high court Judge in Lagos who ruled
that my entry into the courtroom would be dependent on expert evidence to show
that people in the court room will not be contaminated with HIV. The case is now
in an appeal court awaiting hearing. I have done my bit by going public; letting
the whole world know about the reality of the infection. I am now working as a
counselor to give hope to other PLWHA.
Lesson learnt: It is not easy living with HIV/AIDS, people react negatively, even
your own family. It is not easy for PLWHA to assert their rights in an unfriendly
and prejudiced environment even at the judiciary.
With support, PLWHA can be productive care for themselves and their families.
HIV is definitely not the end of the world; a person with HIV can make positive
contribution to society and development.
Our judicial systems need to be sensitized and equipped to respond humanely to
the pandemic specific laws should be enacted to protect the rights of people living
with HIV/AIDS. PLWHA are also encouraged to be brave, stand up, sacrifice their
privacy and fight stigma and discrimination.
Presenting author: Georgiana Ahamefule, Center For The Right To Health, 3,
Obanle-Aro Avenue, Off Coker Road Roundabout, Ilupeju, Lagos, Nigeria, Tel.:
[phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7904 Sexual Orientation: Critiquing the theories, looking
at the realities and their effects on prevention
strategies, especially among youth in Jamaica
L.M.B. Browning1, M.D. Scott2. 1Seropositive, c/o Jamaica Red Cross, N.H.Q
Central Village Spanish Twn., St. Catherine, Jamaica; 2 Youth Peer Educator,
Kingston, Jamaica
Issues: Recommendations are brought to the table to lighten the laws regarding gross indecency allowing sexual intercourse between consenting homosexual
adult men and women in Jamaica, without fear of prosecution and discrimination.
This has opened doors for dialogue and discussions to take place in Government
and civil society The buggery and gross indecency laws basically sanction discrimination against homosexuals, especially gay men. This impedes Information,
Education and Communication activities as it relates to the prevention of HIV and
the spread of other Sexual Transmitted infections.
Descriptions: This paper will look at theories surrounding sexual orientation and
how civil Society has responded in the Jamaican Context. This abstract will also
briefly examine the realities of same sex relationships and how they affect prevention strategies, especially among young people. Major concerns expressed about
various theories which have been posited, have all come up wanting. They are
inconclusive with respect to understanding sexual orientation.
Lessons learned: For an impact to be made on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Jamaica, all issues surrounding sex and sexual orientations must be examined.
Prevention strategies, especially for youth must be developed with standards that
are non-judgemental /discriminatory and must focus on the proliferation of facts,
dispelling myths and seek to create an environment that fosters tolerance with
persons of different sexual orientation.
Recommendation: This small scale research strongly recommends that prevention strategies target the proliferation of facts, dispelling of myths and total development of the individuals who will assess his or her own risks, irrespective of
ones sexual orientation.
Presenting author: Lightford Browning, c/o Jamaica Red Cross, N.H.Q Central
Village Spanish Twn., St. Catherine, Jamaica, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +1
876 984 8272, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7905 Advocate participation of vulnerable groups in
HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. Contraceptive
choices and sexuality education for the
marginalized Roma population in Bulgaria
D. Georgieva, R. Stamenkova. Bulgarian Family Planning Association (member
of the International Planned Parenthood Federation - European Network),
Bulgarian EPA, 67, Dondoukov Blvd., Sofia, Bulgaria
Issue: Roma people are among the most deprived and segregated ethnic minorities in Bulgaria The Roma minority is often particularly vulnerable to sexual transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions,
early marriages. Providing accessible and high quality sexual and reproductive
health services, counseling and information is still unmet need.

Description: Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA)
has successfully completed Roma targeted project in the period 1998 - 2001 and
succeed to assure the sustainability of the main project activities - services and
information provision in the field of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Lessons learned: The best way to define and address the real needs is the
mixed teams approach where Roma and non-Roma work on partnership base
together.

Recommendations: - The staff and volunteers should be trained to obtain understanding of Roma culture and traditions. Communication between minority volunteers trough the district as a key issue for distributing the information
- Information and counseling should be provided in appropriate level for understanding
- Meetings and working in partnership with Government and nongovernmental
representatives
Presenting author: Dessislava Georgieva, Bulgarian FPA, 67, Dondoukov Blvd.,
Sofia, Bulgaria, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7906 How HIV/AIDS patients dare to suicide?
S.S. Kulkarni, A.S. Kulkarni. s. s. Industry, S.S. Industry, Ganesh Nagar,
Shahapur, Ichalkaranji - 416115 - Maharashtra, India
Issues: Alarming suicide rise in HIV infected persons all around.
Descriptions: A 35 year old man poisoned his wife and son later ended his life.
A decomposed body of a 30 year old found into a well.
An engineer poisoned his wife, 2 minor children and made suicide bid. They preferred to die than face social ostracism later.
Lesson learned: These incidents are a telling comment on the plight of HIV positive and AIDS patients even after 15 years. Recently released report of accidental
deaths and suicides in India shows alarming rise in suicides by hiv/aids patients.
Awareness campaign have not succeded in changing social mindsets. While
these campaigns have managed to tell people what HIV/AIDS is all about, they
have not really been able to stem the negative feelings a patient receives from
family members and society.
Recommendation: Today the disease has advanced to secondary and tertiary
levels with an entire generation of children born with this infection.At this stage
our campaigns should be focusing on rehabilitation and developing support care
systems. Instead they are still aimed at providing basic information about this
disease.
Often it is seen medical and paramedical professionals can not handle HIV positive patients sensitively. The importance of the counselling is always neglected.so
the manner in which the news is conveyed to patient can make difference of life
and death.
In pubic hospitals counselling centers are either understaffed or run by untrained
people.
Private hospitals often offer subtle excuses to transfer the patient to a public hospital.
There is a scarcity of information, counselling centers, care centers about AIDS
not only in India but in the world. So when patient is detected HIV positive, he
feels guilty.
Society, family, friends, doctors behave with him as a culprit or untouchable.
As a result there is a rise in tendancy to sucide in HIV positive patient.
Presenting author: Shriram Kulkarni, S.S. Industry, Ganesh Nagar, Shahapur,
Ichalkaranji- 416115 - Maharashtra, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +91 230
433166, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7907I Social representations of sexuality among gay men
in Santos, Brazil
N. Gravato1, R. Lacerdal, R. Stall2, N. Hearst2. 'Associacao Santista de
Pesquisa, Prevencao e Educacao em DST/AIDS, Rua Paraguacu, 42, Boqueirao
- Santos, Sao Paulo, CEP 11050-020, Brazil; 2 University of California, San
Francisco, San Francisco, United States
Background: For many years,Santos had the highest AIDS rate in Brazil.Even
though homosexual and bisexual transmission accounted for 17% of the city's
AIDS cases through 1999,no organized prevention program directed toward MSM
had yet been undertaken.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in 1999 as part of a baseline evaluation prior to launching a prevention program for MSM.We conducted
four focus (N=40) in Santos and two neighboring cities (Sao Vicente and
Guaruja).Sessions were recorded and transcribed with content analysis in the
following areas:discovery of sexual orientation,acceptance by familyAIDS and
sexualityand spaces for interaction with other gay men.
Results: Ages varied from 16 to 50,with a broad range of social characteristics. Professions included teachersex worker, salesman,hairdresser, businessman, and others. Men discovered their sexuality during adolescence and described seeing it as a disease surrounded by shame and solitude, offen resulting
in denial of desire. Coming out to family was traumaticespecially with fathers,
often causing temporary or permanent estrangement. First experiences of love
were linked to discovery of sexuality, usually accompanied by confusion and efforts to repress such feelings. Sexuality was described as being lived in the moment, without limits. AIDS was seen as a concrete risk, participants had good
levels of knowledge, and HIV testing and friends with AIDS make it part of daily

reality. But this did not always result in avoiding risk, especially in affective relationships where passion overrode protection. Santos has no open opportunity
for gay socializing, obliging men to go to neighboring cities or quasi-clandestine
gatherings in private homes.
Conclusions: This study highlights the marginalization of gay men in Santos.
Prevention programs should focus on safe ways of experiencing sexuality and
affection and must reach gay men on their own terms and in their own spaces.