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

606 Abstracts ThPeF8072-ThPeF8076

XIV International AIDS Conference

ThPeF8072I Trade union capacity building on HIV/AIDS
prevention and care
I. Miraikar. Solidarity Center, A-204, Shivalik, New Delhi, 110 017, India
Issues: Trade unions have traditionally provided voice and identity to labour at the
workplace, and in society individual employers, business associations, the State,
and the public at large. The main mechanisms of achieving this have been collective bargaining and negotiations at enterprise level, industry/sector level and at
times even at national and political level and are ideally placed toprevent discrimination, stigmatizing and dismissal of workers by initiating HIV/AIDS prevention
education at workplaces that will promote-solidarity among workers in different
sectors and occupational groups; provide-special services on HIV/AIDS prevention activities to members of unions; Serve as an anchor for a broad-based social
movement on HIV/AIDS prevention.
Description: A training program was organized and focused on 3 issues
HIV/AIDS basics, gender, sexuality, workers rights and HIV/AIDS-including policy development issues at the workplace. Participants from a national trade union
center took part in the training. It was the first time ever that national trade union
center had incorporated HIV/AIDS into the workers rights issues they address. A
training manual, on the issue was field tested and developed through this training
process.
Lessons learned: Although designed as a 'training of trainers' workshop it was
more of an awareness raising and sensitization exercise. Limited participant number and longer training duration enables personalization of issues; allows for the
time and space to deal with biases and values around sexuality and gender; an
effective advocacy tool for education of workers and management
Recommendation: Develop a comprehensive program networking between
trade unions, NGOs, business associations and government agencies to provide
support systems for HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Develop IEC package with
special emphasis on gender and sexuality
Presenting author: I. Mirajkar, A-204, Shivalik, New Delhi, 110017, India, Tel.:
[phone]/6673128/9, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
I ThPeF8073 Implementing the ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS
and the world of work: workplace policies and
programmes for prevention and care
F Lisk, O.B. Alli, C. Mulanga, S. Leather, S. Haworth. International Labour
Office, 4, Route des Morillons, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Issues: Over 25 million workers in their productive prime (15-49 years of age) are
infected with HIV. The epidemic cuts the supply of labour and slashes income for
many workers. Increased absenteeism raises labour costs for employers and, as
illness forces workers to leave their jobs, valuable skills and experience are lost,
and productivity falls. In many countries the epidemic is undermining decades of
development gains and constitutes a real threat to social and economic progress.
HIV/AIDS threatens fundamental rights at work and undermines efforts to provide women and men with decent and productive work in conditions of freedom,
equity, security and dignity.
Description: The ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work provides practical guidance to the ILO's tripartite constituents, as well as other stakeholders, for developing national and workplace policies and programmes to combat the spread of HIV and mitigate its impact. The implementation of this code is at
the heart of the ILO's programme to extend the capaciy of its tripartite constituents
to contribute effectively to national campaigns against HIV/AIDS at all levels. At
country and sub-regional levels in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, twenty-three workshops have been held with the constituents to mobilise
their commitment and establish plans of action.
Lessons learned: The code works well as the basis for workplace policies and
programmes on HIV/AIDS in a range of different settings, and is also a useful
framework for the revision or development of national labour laws and policies on
HIV/AIDS.
Recommendations: The next steps in the ILO's strategy focus on training for employers, workers and governments authorities-including labour inspectors, health
and safety officers and labour magistrates-in the application of code, and projects
at the workplace.
Presenting author: Lisk Franklyn, 4, Route des Morillons, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF8074 Involvement and empowerment of Belgrade
dentistry students in HIV/AIDS prevention and care
through peer education
M.D.S. Stoanovic. Youth of Yugoslav Association against AIDS, Belgrade,
Yugoslavia
Issues: The last decade in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was in a way under
lined by low standards of living, war and political instability leading to large number
of IDPs. H/A prevention in the field of dentistry in FRY could be regarded as insufficient and inadequate. The result was a big number of newly infected persons.
Having in mind that PLWHA are in need of dentist help, they address Dentistry
University in Belgrade for medical help. Not acknowledging the problem and lack
of information in the field of H/A prevention serve as a standing point for a wide
problem in H/A transmission within the work performed by a dentist in a dentistry
facility.

Description: Youth of Yugoslav Association against AIDS has, along with professors and peer educators from Dentistry faculty, designed H/A peer based education pilot project. The proposed project is aiming at enhanced education of the
students of Belgrade Dentistry University according to the prior edification in clinical or pre-clinical work within the University curriculum. The students should work
in teams, within workshops with expert lecturers and peer educators thus in an
overall gaining the last and up to date information regarding the H/A transmission
and prevention in dental practice.
Lesson learned: This project of raising awareness of dentistry students would
serve both as a tool for revealing the problems already existing and not yet dealt
with in the field of H/A prevention as well as improving the existing level of knowledge and experience exchange.
Recommendation: Obtaining communication between the NGOs dealing with
H/A prevention and the governmental bodies in FRY in charge of education and
improving the standards of living. This project will be realized throughout the Dentistry Universities of FRY thus creating the network of educators working on this
issue with professors.
Presenting author: Milos Stojanovic, 3, Duvanjska street, 11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
misjah0ol1 @yubc.net
ThPeF8075 Work-based programmes: Do peer educators really
practice what they preach?
T. Marais1, F. Davids2. 'University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa;
2 Siyakhana AIDS Training and Empowerment, Cape Town, South Africa
Background:This study forms part of a continuing investigation started in 1999
to look into the effects of education on staff members of a supermarket chain in
the Western Cape Province, South Africa. 156 members of staff from 28 stores
received a 5-day HIV/AIDS training programme and were followed up at 6 monthly
intervals for 12 to 24 months. At these times their knowledge was tested and implementation of education and training among their colleagues and community
was assessed. The present study addresses whether i) the knowledge of the educators had been sustained, (ii) the attitudes and behaviour of the peer educators
and other staff had been influenced by the educational programme and (iii) the
store managers felt that the staff had benefited.
Methods: Peer educators were asked to complete the same questionnaire about
HIV/AIDS and to comment on whether they had changed their attitudes or behaviour. Randomly selected staff members (not peer educators) were asked
whether there had been any change in their attitude or behaviour as a result
of the programme. Managers of each store were asked whether they supported
the programme and whether they thought that their staff had benefited.
Results: At the beginning of 2002 the peer educators were interviewed; 3% had
left the company and 15.5% had withdrawn from the programme for a variety of
reasons. In terms of the educational aspect, the majority of the peer educators
remain interested and up to date with regard to the information. However, they
seem to be able to exclude themselves from the need to change their own behaviour and this message is unfortunately picked up by the colleagues that they
are training.
Conclusions: These data suggest that peer education with regular interest and
diligent follow up was a successful means of assisting members to alert their
peers to the facts about HIV/AIDS, but falls short in changing behaviour. Personal
risk needs to be emphasized.
Presenting author: Thea Marais, P O Box 13008, Mowbray, 7705, Cape Town,
South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: theam
@global.co.za
ThPeF8076 Eucating educators. Taining in the use of internet
as a tool in courses of prevention of STDs and AIDS
C. De Armas J. Rodriguez-Franco, A. Gutierrez, R. Morales, E. Garcia-Ramos,
L. Haro, D. Nunez, L. Capote. Direccion General de Sa/ud Publica. SCS, C/San
Sebastian 75, 38005 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canarias, Spain
Background: The familiarisation of the youth population with new technologies
converts the Internet in a new source of interpersonal relationships and information. However, it is necessary to learn how to select quality and truthful information. With this objective this theme has been introduced in our courses.
Description: The courses are directed towards professors, health workers and
educators. They are imparted from the Regional Program of Prevention of STDs
and AIDS, which is dependent on the Public Health Service of the Canary Islands since 1995. In these courses, many themes are touched upon such as:
Fertility and Birth control methods, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS,
Tolerance, Solidarity and Coexistence, Study of Risk Behaviour and developing
Prevention Behaviours. Starting from 1998 the theme, "Internet as a source for
information about ETS and AIDS and Criterions of Quality Information" was introduced. The course objectives are to know and understand the importance of

digital communication systems, concepts, resources and their applications in ETS
and AIDS research and education. Furthermore, to understand search engines
and filters for information gathering and basic criterions in selection of quality information from the Internet. This module consists of two parts: one theoretical
where the contents are explained and the other a practical one where the participants examine the quality of web pages through analysing and exploring in
groups.