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

588 Abstracts ThPeF7989-ThPeF7992

XIV International AIDS Conference

lose their children who take care of them and the financial support, while they
are left with orphans who they need to take care of. In the rural areas, families
are without a middle generation as the productive generation is lost to HIV/AIDS.
In the USA, the migration pattern to Florida may reflect that some people with
AIDS are moving to seek support from the elderly parents.The HIV/AIDS tend to
be looked at as something only that young people get. However, older people are
also at risk. More than 10% of HIV cases in USA, UK, India and other countries
are reported from those aged over 65. The incidence rate is twice as fast in older
people as in younger people in the USA. The transmission routes vary: sexual
contacts, blood transfusion, and intravenous drug use. Older people are biologically and medically more vulnerable to infection, especially women. But they are
more likely to escape the HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Older people are often outside the
target for HIV prevention programmes. They are less likely to use a condom because they no longer worry about pregnancy and because it is more difficult for
older people to change their behaviour. They tend not to think of HIV/AIDS as a
problem to their own age groups. When older people are infected, they are even
more isolated and feel no support. Humiliation to older people, especially to older
women's sexuality, is more serious. Older people need not to be excluded from
the HIV/AIDS programmes. Prevention and education programmes of HIV/AIDS
need to include older people. Community care needs to be developed for the older
people who are affected by HIV/AIDS both directly and indirectly
Presenting author: junko otani, WHO China office, dongwai diplomatic office
bldg. #401, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100600, China, Tel.: [phone],
Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7989I Elimination of discrimination and separation
through mobilizing community and family members
C. Venkateshwara Rao. Mahila Mandali, Mahila Mandali, Station road, Chirala,
Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh
Issue: Despite number of IEC activities through government non-governmental
organizations there is still discrimination and separation towards HIV/AIDS positives in Chirala and surrounding villages.
Description: Mahila Mandali Chirala, non-governmental organisation had been
developed and initiated a discrimination and separation elimination multi pronged
strategy, from the help of Vasavya Mahila Mandali lead partner India HIV/AIDS Alliance in the areas of technical managerial and financial with the components of
community volunteers services, awareness meetings, advocacy with local interested and influential persons, NGOs, CBOs, The activities included in the strategy
linkage referrals, skill development activities, non prescribed medicines, funeral
activities, education to the affected children, food for the bedridden, PLH, home
care development, home visits, emotional care.
Results: In the six months of the experience in HIV/AIDS home and community
based care and support program the Mahila Mandali chirala has observed the
following things as results. Family members taking care of the HIV positives with
out any separation. Community members also rethinking about their behavior towards the infected and affected persons with HIV/AIDS. Most of the infected and
affected persons started getting invitations from other members of the community
for social ceremonies
Lessons learned: Involvement of the community members as volunteers was
major plus point in the HIV/AIDS care and support program and it doubles the
strength of the program. Making a PLHAs as volunteer is grant relief for the PLHA
who leads the life with positive thoughts. Advocacy is a multidimensional instrument for the HIV/AIDS care and support program.
Recommendations: It is recommended in addition to the community and home
base care and support programProvision of nutritious food, ARV drugs, Financial support for income generation programs, Tailoring programs for home care
takers.
Presenting author: Venkateshwara Rao Chintaginjala, Mahila Mandali, Station
road, Chirala, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India, Tel.: [phone],
Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7990 Using the media - a synergistic approach to
providing information about sexuality, HIV/AIDs and
STDs
S. Ajok. Straight Talk Foundation, Kampala, Uganda
Issues: Talking about sexuality and sexual health to young people in Uganda
has for long been difficult because it used to be taboo. Now with the realization
that young people are vulnerable to HIV/AIDs and STIs, openness and precision
through different media avenues has been the approach taken by Straight Talk
Foundation.
Description: Straight Talk Foundation started as a newspaper in 1993 and became a Non Governmental Organisation in 1997. Its overall objective is to improve
access to adequate and appropriate information on adolescence, sexuality and
reproductive health through the following media interventions.

Newspaper: monthly Straight Talk targeting 14-19 year olds, monthly Young Talk
targeting 10-14 year olds, quarterly local language Straight Talk for out of school
adolescents.
Weekly radio program for older adolescents
Interpersonal communication: workshops with teachers and students
Lessons learnt: Reproductive health information must be backed by life skills
and values education

A synergy of media networks produces maximum results
There is need to use supporting structures like schools and churches
Adults like parents too need HIV/AIDs information to support young people
Recommendations: Networking with other partners working with adolescent
groups
Plans for a newspaper for adults
Presenting author: Susan Ajok, Straight Talk Foundation, PO Box 22366, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeF7991 HIV/AIDS information in a television soap opera,
AIDS knowledge, related behavior change and
characteristics of viewers in Bolivia: a secondary
data analysis
W.J. Conn. Family Health International, Family Health International, 2101 Wilson
Blvd, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201, United States
Background: A secondary data analysis of the evaluation survey of the Bolivia
Social Marketing Program (BSMP) was conducted to compare demographic characteristics of three groups of respondents including those who were familiar with
the television soap opera containing AIDS education messages, those who reported to have knowledge of AIDS, and those who reported to change their sexual
behavior related to AIDS. The primary objective was to determine if any association between familiarity with the soap opera and AIDS related sexual behavior
change.
Methods: A secondary analysis was made of the BSMP evaluation survey of
2385 people in Bolivian cities between the ages of 15-45. A bivariate analysis
was done to obtain chi-square values to determine significance. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine significance of demographic variables of
the three different groups.
Results: Even though the younger and urban segment were more likely to have
seen the soap opera and know more about AIDS, younger (OR=0.37) females
(OR=0.31) and higher SES (OR=0.65) were less likely to report a change in their
sexual behavior since having learned of AIDS. The region of La Paz was also
less likely to report behavior change (OR=0.47) than the Santa Cruz region, and
(OR=0.85) in Cochabamba. The high SES group reported more AIDS knowledge
(OR=5.40) and less likelihood of changing their behavior (OR=0.70).
Conclusions: Considering that a large percentage of the population is below
poverty in Bolivia, social marketing interventions should be directed at that segment of the population. Interventions for the high SES group are also necessary,
as the results indicated that group to have more AIDS knowledge but less likely to
change their sexual behavior. In general, the government of Bolivia should take a
more aggressive stance with respect to AIDS education in Bolivia, particularly in
the lower SES group, less educated, in all regions of the country.
Presenting author: William Conn, Family Health International, 2101 Wilson Blvd,
Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +1 703
516 9781, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF7992I Vernacular media for more effective information
dissemination
R. Biswas. Journalist, CF 11, Sector I, Salt Lake, Calcutta 700064, India
Issues: For the poor and less educated, especially from the rural areas of India,
access to information about HIV/AIDS is still inadequate, despite millions being
spent. An easily understood communication language, in this case, regional language which India has many, in the presentation of news/features, as well as
information material will better bridge the gap.
Description: As a media person, while researching on health issues (in West
Bengal state), it was obvious that in the last few years, even the poorest of the
poor men and women have become familiar with the word AIDS but they do
not know 'how' it happens. They are afraid of it as people were of the Plague
once. Some, like rickshaw-pullers, and peddlers thought AIDS might be caused
by mosquito-bite, or by rats!
Even when HIV/AIDS information material is prepared, adequate attention is not
paid for its suitability to the target audience. For example, a few years back, (I)
came across a WHO literature targetting truck drivers. The translation into vernacular was too sophisticated for the men, and it was obvious that they were not
going to be interested.
Lessons learned: In a country like India with higher education and English
medium education available only to the better off, and where about 80% live in villages the vernacular print/broadcasting media should be used more for HIV/AIDS
information.
The language should be simple and reader-friendly
Recommendations: a) Reporters in the vernacular media in print/broadcasting
should be encouraged to cover HIV/AIDS.
b) Prior to preparing information material, the community should be brought into

discussion so that the material adequately serve the purpose. Due to culture differences, the need /format might have to be different and so enough flexibility
should be there to adopt to these needs, though the basic information must remain the same.
Presenting author: Ranjita Biswas, CF 11, Sector I, Salt Lake, Calcutta 700064,
India, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]