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

612 Abstracts ThPeF8101-ThPeF8104

XIV International AIDS Conference

stigma and discrimination due to the moral connotation linked with the infection.This has resulted in the general public especially the youth completely restricting themselves from accessing information about HIV/AIDS.The approach
towards people living with HIV by the youth has been negative due to the moralistic link and fear about HIV/AIDS.
Description: To combat this scenario,women living with HIV have been trained to
act as positive speakers inorder to correct the wrong perception prevail among the
youth.The women selected for training is based on their commitment in prevention work and their openesss about their status.The elements that are included for
training consists of basic facts on HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS management,Disclosing
and communicating skills.The trained women have conducted 2 college programmes thus far. The programme included a pre test survey to check the level
of awareness followed by input on HIV/AIDS by the trained members and professional social workers.The observations has been based on my understanding on
working as a social worker in a self help group for women livng with HIV.
Lessons learned: A change in attitude towards HIV/AIDS and about people living with HIV/AIDS has been noticed.This has been clearly noticed through their
volunteering support and active involvement in the activities of the self help group
for women living with HIV PWN+.The myths and misconception of HIV/AIDS and
people living with HIV has been corrected through one's disclosure of their status.
Recommendation: Involvement of PLWA'S yields a better understanding, therefore an integrated efforts would definitely yield great results.Programmes involving
PLWA's have greater approachability thereby it has been suggested more effective than without PLWA's.
Presenting author: Mary Julie Augustine, 2074, Z block, 5th Cross St, 13th Main
Road, Anna Nagar, 600040 Chennai, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +_, E-mail:
[email protected]
ThPeF8101 The role of teachers in HIV/AIDS prevention among
teenagers
L. Priimagi, A. Raudsepp, RP. Kaldmae, E. Valjaots, M. Grintchak. Estonian
Association Anti-AIDS, Assotsiatsioon Anti-AIDS, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
Issues: Teenagers and young people are the main target groups for HIV/AIDS
prevention for Estonian Association Anti-AIDS. Teenagers are more ready to
make healthy choices if they feel confident about the environment they behave.
Supportive atmosphere created by teachers at school may increase their selfesteem and direct to healthier behaviour.
Description: During last five years health promoters of the Estonian Association Anti-AIDS met 2478 teenage students on interactive HIV/AIDS prevention
sessions. The environments influencing students behaviour were explored. The
strong pressure was felt from mass media to sell products through exploitation
of sexual feelings or the nude body. The school environment was investigated
through group interviews with teachers about their knowledge, attitudes and description of behaviour. The project was supported by PHARE Access programme
of European Community Most of teachers had difficulties to connect their knowledges about HIV/AIDS/STDs with behaviour of their students, the role of low selfesteem in adopting unsafe sexual behaviour and demonstrative expressions of
sexuality; the latter was treated restrictively Some teachers wanted to find the
cure for homosexuals. Knowledge about safer sexual behaviour and professional
services for teenagers was superficial.
Lessons learned: Teachers need professional help to create school environment, conductive to healthy sexuality. They are previously dealt only with teaching their own subjects. Up to now the teachers as target group for HIV/AIDS/STD
prevention were not effectively reached by prevention specialists.
Recommendations: To ensure that school HIV/AIDS/STDs prevention and
healthy sexuality promotion would be applied in systematic and progressive way,
the teachers should be introduced with methods of teaching health skills and
modeling teenager's attitudes
Presenting author: Ljudmilla Priim&gi, Assotsiatsioon Anti-AIDS, Hiiu 42, 11619
Tallinn, Estonia, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: dr.priimagi
@mail.ee
ThPeF8102 Global Feasibility Study (GFS): life skills alongside
business skills integrating AIDS and business
education
B.C.L. Lester. U.S. Peace Corps, b. p. 817, yaounde, Cameroon
Issues: Developed over 2 years in rural Cameroon, the Global Feasibility Study
addresses youth delinquency and risky behavior alongside issues of financial
management, information asymmetry and adult unemployment. The informal sector, especially post-adolescent youth, is often segregated from formal institutions
such as banks and community-based sensitization. Presented with complex personal decisions that call on life-skills, it is daunting for these youth to engage in formal sector activities (small business start-up) without adequate business skills especially if risky activities that are acceptable culturally or within the shadow econ
omy seem easier (prostitution, contraband transport). The latter examples, over
time, set a pattern for the youth that disengage critical thinking, self-awareness
and other life-skills. This in turn bears on sexual health (AIDS susceptibility) and
thereby forms its intersection with work capacity.
Descriptions: While instructing business classes for two youth categories (200+
club members & young professionals) the GFS was conceived as a framework
by which social, health and career concerns could be discussed in an integrated

forum. This framework emphasizes the commonality of skills used for addressing
these diverse, yet interrelated concerns. The GFS shows feasibility to be a life
skill and a business skill encouraging youth to strategically approach decisions
that concern their sexual health just as they would if they were doing business.
Lessons learned: The GFS workshop turned theory into practice with apprenticeships demonstrating both income-generating options and community-based
health campaigns.
Recommendations: Youth need access to funding via micro-lending institutions.
This access will come when credibility increases, as they move from the informal
to formal sector. The GFS is a concrete tool that can bridge this gap. Career success will then legitimize the use of feasibility as a criterion for personal decisions.
Presenting author: Bethany Cole Lester, b. p. 817, yaounde, Cameroon, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF81 03 HIV/AIDS Prevention for developmentally disabled
people through their own sexuality perception
M.P.S. Pont Sabata D.P.S. Paricio Salas. Sida-Studi, Sant Pere mes
Alt, 17-bajos, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
Issues: In order to answer the petition of carrying out an HIV/AIDS workshops to
developmentally disabled persons and the non-existence of known previous experiences, the NGO Sida-Studi made a project which basic point was the conviction
that sexual education is necessary and needed before the HIV/AIDS prevention
work.
Description: We carried out education and sexual health HIV/AIDS oriented
workshops among developmentally disabled young people (>16) in Employment
centres of Barcelona which main aim was to offer an exchange where it's possible
to talk openly about sexuality and HIV/AIDS; for many of these participants it was
the first time they could talk about it.
Important methodological aspects to consider: the previous coordination work
with the supervisors of each group; to restrict and form participant groups with
similar characteristics; to reduce the theoretically contents, to use an easy language and to work with graphic teaching supports materials for every workshop
issue.
After an unsuccessful bibliography research we based our methodology and previous analysis in the fieldwork with parents, educators and participants and the
results were:
- Emptiness in the education from parents which in many cases ignore the sexual
dimension of their children.
- Educators assume this role but they put up with a lack of resources and they
suffer anguish in the presence of that excess of responsibility.
- The developmentally disabled people have their own way to live their sexuality: polarization between "good and bad", genital sexuality, and exclusive view of
sexuality in a reproductive way.
- Negation of the HIV/AIDS problem.
Lessons learned: We stand out the need to develop prevention programmes
adapted to developmentally disabled people. A previous work in sexual education
is necessary. The teacher/expert should not consider anything as thing understood or beforehand assimilated, extrapolated to any kind of workshop and/or
group.
Presenting author: Montse Pont Sabata, Sant Pere mes Alt,17-bajos, 08003,
Barcelona, Spain, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: ss_form
@suport.org
ThPeF8104 A focused ethnographic study in KwaZulu-Natal,
South African to inform the adaptation of the
National Institute of Mental Health funded Chicago
HIV/AIDS Adolescent Mental Health Project
(CHAMP) in South Africa
Z. Paruk1, C.C. Bell2, A. Bhana1, M.M. McKay3, I. Petersen1, R. Hibbert3
1University of Durban-Westville, Community Mental Health Council, Inc,
Executive Administration, 8704 S. Constance, Chicago, lIlinios 60617, South
Africa; 2Community Mental Health Council, Inc., Chicago, United States;
3Columbia University, New York, United States
Background: CHAMP is transporting to the Bronx, NY, Chicago's Westside,
Trinidad & Tobago, and Durban, South Africa. To effect community transfer, a collaborative partnership between academic researchers, community-based organizations, community parents & members, and school staff oversees all aspects of
the project. A manual guides academic/community teams to strengthen parentchild communication, child supervision and monitoring, support for parenting, and
understanding of HIV/AIDS in multiple family groups. This study's objective is to
develop an understanding of the transmission dynamics underpinning the spread
of HIV/AIDS among the youth in a semi-rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa, with specific focus on the role of the family.
Methods: A focused ethnographic study was done, using qualitative focus group

and individual interviews. A volunteer convenience sample was drawn from the
targeted community school. We conducted five adult and four youth focus groups,
each with 8-10 participants. Guiding questions were used to elicit thick descriptive data, and through the process of inductive analysis, emergent themes were
followed up through in-depth individual interviews with both adults and youth.
Results: CHAMPSA will present the complex and interlocking themes that
emerged: parental disempowerment contributing to a breakdown in established