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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeF7983-ThPeF7988 587

ThPeF7983 Weaving stories against prejudice: A Mexican
experience
O.F.M. Feliciano. La Manta de Mexico, Guanajuato 131 depto 302, Colonia
Roma D.F C.P 57000, Mexico
Issues: La Manta de Mexico, the Mexican affiliate of the Names Project, has as
its main goal to create and strengthen a culture of prevention. The experiences
represented in the quilts are shown not only in displays but also in workshops
where a single quilt tells its story
Description: The fieldwork of La Manta de Mexico has been in the area of
HIV/AIDS education and prevention through workshops and quilt displays. The
quilt's stories constitute the major support for the educational experience. The
fear produced by VIH/AIDS due to the association with death and with the stigmatized behaviors is an obstacle in HIV prevention. With the quilt, the taboo of
death can be overcome. Our strategy has been to contrast death with the memories woven into every panel. Our strategy in the conservative schools has been,
after speaking of AIDS, to show clearly its relationship with gender inequality,
homophobia and discrimination in general.
Lessons Learned: The cultural resistance to making quilts in Mexico does not
always represent an obstacle to discussing death. In fact, in the workshops, the
best way to overcome the fear of death is by presenting the quilt. Raising the
awareness of conservative educators through a quilt allows them to understand
clearly why it is necessary to deal with issues like homosexuality, teenage pregnancy and premarital sex. The quilt helps us to reduce such prejudice because
it is a harmless abstraction but at the same time a living memorial of the AIDS
crisis.
Recommendations: Working with the quilt in workshops is not difficult because
it generally speaks for itself. However, following the workshops, further training is
required for educators and others who work with youth.
Presenting author: Omar Feliciano, Guanajuato 131 depto 302, Colonia Roma
D.F, C.P. 57000, Mexico, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: info
@ lamanta.org
ThPeF7984 Knowledge on HIV does not eliminate stigma on
HIV: Care givers' problem
H. Hanum. NGO, House # 63/d (1st floor), Road # 15, Banani, Dhaka - 1213,
Bangladesh
Issue: Incidence of HIV infection in Bangladesh is very very low. The three successive sero-surveillance conducted between in 1997/8 and 2001 by Government
of Bangladesh in collaboration with ICDDR,B confirms the fact. But the co-factors
responsible for high out break of HIV is also high in Bangladesh. One of such
cofactor is stigma and rigid socio-cultural practice.
Description: Confidential Approach To AIDS Prevention (CAAP) is an Education
Center on HIV/AIDS information and Counseling, Action Research (Hotline). It
provides anonymous voluntary counseling and testing through Hotline telephone,
Mailbox, Out reach education program, Voluntary Counseling and Testing and
Care and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS. Care and Support for HIV infected person is one of the major focus of activity and is provided by a team of
counselors and health educators at the clinic and at the door step of HIV infected
person. The paper high lights some of the problems faced by CAAP in providing
care and support to infected persons. Some of CAAP's HIV infected persons were
denied services at the time of their extreme need by the professional doctors and
even by HIV infected persons and missionaries.
One pregnant HIV infected mother was denied safe delivery in hospital setting by
the doctors. One husband being HIV infected himself and passed on the infection
to his innocent wife, physically tortures the wife because of her HIV status.
Lessons learnt: It is difficult to disseminate knowledge on HIV/AIDS, difficult to
create awareness on HIV/AIDS but to eliminate stigma is far more difficult.
Presenting author: Halida Hanum, House # 63/d (1st floor), Road # 15, Banani, Dhaka - 1213, Bangladesh, Tel.: [phone],, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7985 Stigma and ignorance related to AIDS disease
among the affluent in Kenya
M.A. Awuor, PA. Achieng, C.O. Oduor, D.O. Onyango. TAPWAK, Ro. box 30583,
00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Issue: Despite the availability and efficacy of Voluntary Counselling and Testing
(VCT) programme in Kenya, many wealthy urban residents continue to present
with advanced HIV disease at TAPWAK Clinical Support Center (TCSC) in Nairobi
West, jeopardizing their own health and increasing the risk of HIV transmission.
Description: To determine the courses for not receiving Voluntary Counselling
and Testing (VTC) in time among the urban rich who can access it in terms of
availability and costs.
TCSC conducts research on HIV sero prevalence, ARV therapy, and care for the

PLWHAs between January and may 2001, a total of 130 urban rich (88 men
and 42 women, all adults) patients residing in Nairobi presented at TCSC with
advance HIV disease. 92 of them had not started ARV treatment, but the 38 of
them who were on treatment were not compliant. This contrasted sharply with
the hypothesis that although available in Kenya, Anti Retro Viral drugs are not
easily accessible because of high costs. An interview guide was administered by
a sociologist and a TAPWAK Counsellor to the 130 patients to determine why

those patients could not access VCT early enough, and the interview yielded the
following responses;
Lessons learned: 80 of them exhibited denial for fear of discrimination, 20 of
them had hotels and 30 were running bars and all of them feared losing customers, 10 of them feared divorce, all the 130 (100%) believed that the method
of access to VCT and care had no privacy and confidentiality, the others never
complied because they drank beers every evening (life style), and relied on fruits
and good food which they believed increases immunity.
Presenting author: Mary Alice Awuor, P.o. box 30583, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya,
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7986 One size does not fit all: using peer outreach to
identify & break down barriers & destigmatize
mental health care for HIV+ adolescents and young
adults
C.A.P. Kennedy, D. Johnson, G. Botwinick, R.L. Johnson. UMDNJ-New Jersey
Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
Issues: By using peer outreach & self-report, numerous barriers to getting
needed mental health care & support for adherence to medical recommendations were identified in HIV+ adolescents and young adults attending an urban
primary care clinic (85% Black; 15% Latino). Psychotherapeutic groups were a
confidentiality problem because of pre-existing social networks; gender issues
were important to females; stigma, employment, parenting, educational obligations, fear of disclosure and lack of transportation were other barriers. At time of
enrollment in the health clinic over 40% reported not using condoms during sex.
Description: HIV + peer outreach workers assisted medical clinic attendees in
adjusting to clinic procedures, provided risk reduction education and helped develop strategies for adherence and support. Under peer guidance in the 'Buddy
System' youth supported, assisted and reminded their 'buddy' to take medication,
attend appointments and live a healthy life-style. Peer workers assisted in organizing popular and well-attended recreational, cultural and educational activities
in the community for youth living with HIV.
Lessons learned: It is possible to mitigate the impact of HIV. The clinic attendees reported improved functioning, developed higher levels of trust, less stigma,
more self-efficacy and better self-esteem. A few reported a decrease in maladaptive coping strategies including substance use. In a recent survey of those who
accessed mental health care in the past year, 90% reported using condoms during last sex. Additionally, despite training and staff support, adolescent and young
adult HIV+ peer workers reported needing more than anticipated personal support.
Recommendations: Mental Health Support services for HIV+ youth must be
compatible with needs and accessible to the needy A variety of modalities and innovative flexibility in conceptualizing and delivering services improves outcomes.
Presenting author: cheryl ann kennedy, umdnj-new jersey medical school, dept
of psychiatry ubsb 4th floor, 183 south orange avenue, newark, new jersey
07103, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: kennedy
@umdnj.edu
ThPeF7987 Health workers' attitudes to people living with AIDS
J.G. Wasonqa. 38897 Nairobi, Kenya
Issues: hiv /aids prevention campaigns in kenya initially empasized abstinence
and avoiding multiple sex parrtners. health staff and other prsopns working with
plwas need an open and accepting attitude to the infected persons. for this to
happen, health workers must assess their own individual risks of hiv infection and
their own perceptions about plwas.
Description: based on a training model on attitudes, a total of 75 health workers
underwent a two-day training in 3 groups. training comprised 9 activities facilitated by 4 pre-trained persons. participants were made to assess their own risk
of hiv transmission, take sides on contentious issues and reflect on some case
studies. lessons learned: majority of participants felt at risk of hiv infection (98%)
but surprisingly all of these said their risk was from the workplace! in further exercises all the participants to felt all new infections were from personal behaviour.
it was also shown that even health workers do harbour negative feelings about
plwas just like the rest of society, a moot point revealed was that aids was other
people's problem.
Recommendations: an honest self evaluation and relevant training on favourable
attitudes to pwlas should be an integral part of all hiv / aids care and support programs
Presenting author: John Gregory Wasonga, 38897 Nairobi, Kenya, Tel.: +254 2
570021/5, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7988 HIVIAIDS and older people

J. Otani. London School of Economics, WHO China office, dongwai diplomatic
office bldg. #401, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100600, United Kingdom
This paper is to bring attention to the impacts of HIV/AIDS on older people.
The impacts are two folds. The first is when older people have a family member
with HIV and AIDS. The other is the risk of HIV infection to older people themselves.The first has been reported from Thailand and Africa where older people