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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeF7936-ThPeF7939 577

Description: The experience took place in 18 secondary schools in Santa Fe
(Argentina), for 8 mounths. The project included 4199 students, 217 teachers
and 300 parents. The workshops were carried out to clarify knowleges, myths
and fantacies around the HIV/Aids and the critic analysis and production of prevention strategies with free election of forms, materials and broadcasters. It was
perfomed a commun staging by regionals circuit and one general staging.
Lesson learned: *It was obtained 248 original group productions. * The knowledges had important modifications and they broke up prejudices deeply established. *The youngs stated their intention of changing attitudes. * The question
was installed as a permanent discussion theme at the school community * The
students were formed as leaders in their own communities, the teachers replayed
the experience and we obtained links with other community organizations.
RECOMMENDED: The inclusion of the youngs as leading character in the prevention strategy design, makes possible the building of messages that respect
codes which this population identify itself, making easier to own knowledge, so it
operates as a tool for the own perception of the HIV exposition risk.
Presenting author: Juan Jose Carabajal, Cerrito 1944, 2000-rosario, Santa Fe,
Argentina, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: juancarabajal
@ infovia.com.ar
ThPeF7936 Expansion of the AIDS prevention education
programme (APEP) in secondary schools of
Mumbai from 51 municipal schools to 743 schools
in 8 years
T. Segueira. Public Health Department, Mumbai, India
Issues: The expansion of the APEP in schools of Mumbai from 1993 till date.
Initially done by doctors of Public Health Dept, now expanded by the Education
Dept. Teachers now conduct the programme.
Description: APEP was started in 1993 in 51 municipal schools of Mumbai. This
was a Public Health Dept Project in collaboration with UNICEF Doctors from the
Public Health Dept were conducting 4 sessions for students of 9th std. Prior to the
students sessions, a teachers & parents meeting is arranged. The purpose being
- 1) To spread awareness of HIV / AIDS. 2) To inform about APEP to children,
parents and school staff. Good response from them urged us to reach out to private schools in 1995. Thus in 1995 / 96 - 200 schools,1996 / 97 - 280 & 1997 / 98
- 309, 1999 / 2000 - 520 schools were covered. In 2000 / 2001 - 638 and in 2001
/ 2002 - 447 schools. It was seen that 100 trained doctors could not cover 1274
schools in Mumbai. Hence teachers training programme started in 1998. Trained
nodal teachers conducted sessions from June 1999. The training was done in 3
languages - English, Hindi and Marathi, since other medium teachers could not
follow English. 14 workshops were conducted in 2001 - 2002. A total of 1589
teachers from 743 schools are trained till date.
In 1999 - 2000, it was decided to cover night schools also. Now 57 out of 150
night schools, were covered in 2001 - 02.
Lessons learnt: Doctors alone cannot sustain the programme. Involvement of
the Education Department is most important for success of the programme in the
schools, support from the Public Health Department and rapport between the two
departments is essential for the continuance of the programme.
Recommendations: Our vision is to form APEP Ward support network. We
formed APEP SUPPORT GROUPS like: Parents, Teachers and Students Support APEP since the year 2000. We want to reach the non-school going youth by
means of the community outreach component of APER
Presenting author: Dr. Thelma sequeira, G / North Municipal Office, 3rd
Floor, Room No 311, Near Plaza Cinema, Dadar, Mumbai - 400028, India, Tel.:
[phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7937 A school prevention intervention project affects
condom related attitudes, confidence, and behavior
among Mexican students
M. Givaudan1, I. Leenen1, D. Walker2, S. Pick1. IlMIFAR Instituto Nacional de
Salud Publica, Ave Universidad 655, Col. Santa Maria, Cuernavaca, Morelos,
Mexico; 2population Council, Cuernavaca, Mexico
Background: A primary aim of a school-based HIV education intervention was
to effectively and lastingly improve attitudes and confidence related to condoms,
with the ultimate goal to increase condom use.
Methods: This quasi-experimental longitudinal study included a total of 2064 students, at baseline, in 4 schools. Questionnaires were designed to measure attitudes toward condom use, confidence in getting and using condoms (among
all students), and condom use at last sexual intercourse (for those reporting
sexual intercourse). Questionnaires were administered at baseline 3 times postintervention over 15 months. A scale (1-5, with 5 being desired attitudes) using 5
questions was developed to measure changes in attitudes. At baseline, the mean
age was 16, with overall 16% reported having had intercourse.
Results: Attitudes toward condoms increased significantly and persistently in the

intervention schools from 3.9 to 4.2 on the scale. Confidence increased from 38%
at baseline to over 74% immediately post intervention and peristed throughout
the following measures. Neither increased in control schools. Condom use rates
showed no significant changes in either the intervention or control group. However, changes in condom use rates would be expected to have their greatest impact among newly sexually active students. There were only 13% newly sexually
active students over the observation period.

Conclusions: School-based programs are limited in the short-term in increasing
condom use when few students are sexually active. The study showed significant
improvements in both condom related attitudes and confidence among students
receiving the intervention. It is premature to conclude that they will not use condoms as they become sexually active. With additional follow-up, behavior changes
may become apparent.
Presenting author: Dilys Walker, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Ave Universidad 655, Col. Santa Maria, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, Tel.: +52 77
73113783, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7938 Development and evaluation of systematically
developed (safer) sex education that is sensitive to
gender and ethnic-cultural issues for secondary
school pupils in the Netherlands
J.T.M. Poelman', I. Vanwesenbeeck2, H. Schaalma3, D. Butte4. iThe
Netherlands' Foundation for STD Control, Utrecht, The Netherlands;
2Netherlands Institute of Social Sexual Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands;
3University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands; IMunicipal Health
Service, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Issue: The teaching pack Long Live Love, an AIDS/STD course for the first years
at secondary schools, was implemented in 1993. The programme was based on
research into psychosocial factors of condom use among schoolchildren. The
teaching pack proved to be effective. It needed updating, particularly with more
differentiation in relation to gender and ethnic background.
Description: The existing programme was systematically revised. The revision
specifically addressed the different educational needs of girls versus boys, and
of pupils of Dutch versus non-Dutch origin, in learning how to protect themselves
from sexual risks. The new programme consists of a video, pupil magazine and
teacher manual. Main themes are STD prevention, preventing pregnancy, the prevention of coercive sex, knowing how far to go with sex, communication, negotiation and refusal skills (boys: improving empathy, girls: increasing assertiveness).
The curriculum was developed through multidisciplinary co-operation between researchers and method and material developers. Theories and insights from information, communication and social sciences were applied. The material was
extensively pretested among pupils and teachers.
Lessons learned: Research indicates that the teaching pack Long live love was
well received. At this moment the Netherlands Institute of Social Sexual Research is evaluating the new package concerning the effects on relevant cognition, self-efficacy, skills and (the intention of) protection behaviour. The value of
pre-implementation teacher training is also being investigated.
Recommendation: Systematic implementation of this intervention is needed.
That's why the project is linked up and in tune with systematic national implementation of the programme Long live love. The aim of this project is to enable
municipal health services to systematically implement Long live love in secondary
schools in their region.
Presenting author: Jos Poelman, Postbus 8198, 3503 RD, UTRECHT, The
Netherlands, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7939I Development and implementation of a novel
voluntary counseling and testing curriculum in a
rural South African secondary school
C.W. Carter', E.A. Gustafson', D. Coppockl, M. Krauthamer', P. Pronyk2,
I. Wong'. ' Yale University, New Haven, United States; 2Health Systems
Development Unit (Tintswalo Hospital), Acornhoek, South Africa
Issues: The emergence of a highly vulnerable adolescent population with inadequate access to HIV/AIDS education and related medical and social services
was identified from analysis of clinic attendance data in the Northern Province of
South Africa. Subsequently, the feasibility of expanding access to HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing services for at-risk adolescents was investigated
by implementing a broad-based life skills curriculum in a rural South African secondary school.
Description: A three-week curriculum was developed to enhance adolescents'
awareness of the social factors contributing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South
Africa, to educate about the biology of HIV/AIDS, and to provide an opportunity
for individual counseling and referral for HIV testing. Integration of PLWAs and
other community members as co-educators was a critical component of program
design. The project was conducted at Mabarhule High School in July 2001.
Lessons learned: This pilot program demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a comprehensive HIV/AIDS curriculum in a rural secondary school. Its success can be attributed to: (1) facilitation of community entry by cultural brokers,
(2) enthusiastic acceptance of the intervention by key stakeholders in the school
system - both administrators and students, and (3) the existence and/or establishment of adequate support systems (i.e. adolescent-friendly health services and

community-based HIV/AIDS awareness and support groups).
Recommendations: Future goals for this project include: (1) extension of the
curriculum to incorporate a "train-the-trainer" model in which students become
peer educators, (2) dissemination of the standardized curriculum among school
administrators for widespread implementation in schools throughout the region,
and (3) formal assessment of the long-term effectiveness of the intervention in
modification of HIV-related risk behaviors in the targeted adolescent group.