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

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThPeF8133-ThPeF8136 619

communication in the media, continuous evaluation and material, time and costs
control.
Presenting author: Marcio Tadeu Francisco, Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 524,
salaT100 Maracank, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +55
21 21 22040442, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF8133 OASIS electronic information center: a learning tool
for HIV/AIDS prevention
R. Mavorga, K. Amaya, J. L6pez Sologaistoa. OASIS, Ciudad de Guatemala,
Guatemala
Issue: OASIS is an NGO in Guatemala that works with HIV/AIDS prevention for
gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). In recent years there has
been an increase in attention to impoverished, adolescent and young gay men
with little schooling. Classical prevention methods designed for more educated
gay men have not been effective.
Description: An electronic information center was installed in mid 2001 to improve the educational abilities and work opportunities, as well as improving the
understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention and how HIV/AIDS affects them. Young
gay men learned about the use of the internet and basic computer software and
skills. They then searched for subjects of their interest, such as transvestitism;
AIDS prevention needs in young gay men; human rights for sexual minorities; religion and homosexuality; homophobia and networks of information for gay groups.
Weekly discussions of these issues were started. One of these young men was
hired by the project and has created a web page for the group that will help them
exchange information and dialogue with other, similar groups.
Lessons learned: Information about HIV/AIDS learned by these young gay men
is a first step in increasing AIDS awareness. Increased perception of vulnerability has been facilitated. Condom use and safer sex has not been one of the issues of spontaneous interest. This project has facilitated the participation of these
young gay men in a seroprevalence study for HIV among gay men and MSM in
Guatemala City.
Recommendations: The electronic information center needs to promote further
gathering of information about HIV/AIDS to help design adequate prevention
methodologies among young gay men. These methods will use self-education
in order to promote a higher sense of vulnerability and help identify which contextual factors also need to be changed (i.e. human rights abuses, poverty, little
formal education, social exclusion), in order to focus other institutional strategies.
Presenting author: Ruben Mayorga, 6 Avenida 1-63 Zona 1, Ciudad de
Guatemala, 1001, Guatemala, Tel.: [phone] or 253-3453, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF8134 School based health education program for
adolescents in preventing HIV/AIDS
M. Pal1, A. Purohit2, A. Haag3. 1FXB India Society - Kolkata Unit, Kolkata,
India; 2World Wide Director, AFXB, Boston, United States; 3Medical Director,
FXB US Foundation, Boston, United States
Issues: Sex education classes for all young people in the schools of Kolkata, India, are still a far reaching possibility. Yet, young populations are largely exposed
to mass media which encourages them to experiment with new behaviors which
may expose them to STDs and HIV.
Description: The 'School Health Education Program' was launched by the AFXB
Kolkata Unit to provide children and young people with sex education. This program provides basic information about HIV /AIDS transmission and prevention,
encourages a positive attitude toward HIV prevention, and provides the motivation to perceive positive social norms for prevention, as well as issues specifically related to adolescence. This program is classroom based. At the beginning
of the program, a questionnaire is given to the students to assess their level of
HIV/AIDS awareness. Then, discussions on the subject take place with the students. In these sessions, students are encouraged to talk on a particular issue
raised by a facilitator. This program also uses videos and I.E.C. materials chosen
specifically for this age group. After each session, students are encouraged to
come up with questions. A question box is left for the students who do not want
to disclose their identity but do want to ask questions related to sex and other
subjects which the students consider important. An 'end term' questionnaire is
used to measure impact.
Lessons learned: Open discussion about sex and sexuality helps adolescents
to clarify the myths and misconceptions about these topics. Appropriate I.E.C.
materials are also very effective in reaching out to the adolescent population.
Recommendations: Teachers, who at the initial stages are difficult to convince
regarding the importance sexual education at schools, must be involved to a large
extent in order to guarantee the success of any HIV prevention program.
Presenting author: Manisha Pal, FXB INDIA SOCIETY - Kolkata Unit, 2/1,
Loudon Street, Kolkata, 700016., India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]

7604, E-mail: [email protected]

ThPeF8135I Youth zone internet chat counseling: Learnings
gained in integrating Internet Communication
Technology (ICT) with adolescent health concerns
J.N.C. Sescon, P.J. Rada, G. Padua. Remedios AIDS Foundation, Manila,
Philippines
Issues: With the advent of the advances of computer technology, services need
to be packaged in a very innovative manner so as to sustain sexual health promotion campaigns. Health and development issues are now commonly discussed
using emailgroups, listservers, website hosting. A more dynamic and interactive
technology is utilized using free softwares like mlRC and plRCH as medium of
exchange.
Methodology: The Youth zone is a shopping mall based youth center providing
various adolescent health information and direct services to youth ages 10-24
years old. The project provide access to the youth practicing high risk behavior and are at risk in contracting STI along with HIV/AIDS. Part of the project is
the internet chat counseling service which has been running for two years and
a half. For 2000, over 3,000 chat counseling sessions were conducted with the
average of 15-20 regular active chatters daily The #youthzone chatroom is operated by a Channel operator trained in handling various adolescent health issues
as well as basic internet computer skills The #youthzone chatroom has served
as an avenue in discussing sensitive issues. Topics discussed ranged from relationships (boy-girl, parent-child, same sex, reproductive health issues such as
- teenage pregnancy, abortion, family planning methods, self esteem, self confidence and more. The youtzone chatroom has at all times rendered confidentiality
and anonymity among chatters. Should young adults in need of specific medical
concerns, appropriate referral system is being done.
Conclusion: Running innovative strategies such as shopping mall based youth
center and internet chat counseling sessions proved to be effective in reaching
young adults in discussing these issues. Much learning from these initiatives
is worth sharing to other countries in need to demonstrate new approaches or
modalities in changing behavior.
Presenting author: Jose Narciso Melchor Sescon, 1066 Remedios Street Malate
1004, Manila, Philippines, Tel.: +[phone], Fax: +[phone], E-mail:
josescon @ pacific.net.ph
ThPeF8136 Community participation in primary prevention
activities related to STI/HIV and unwanted
pregnancies for young people in Lima, Peru * *
Project funded by the World AIDS Foundation.
F. Perez1, C. Hidalgo2, A. Quintana2, D. Dourojeanni2. I lSPED - Universitd
Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France; 21ntitute of Education and Health, ISPED - Case
11 - Universit6 Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
Issues: In Peru, more then half of all AIDS cases reported (11 512 till end of
2001) have been acquired during the 15-24 age period. In San Juan de Lurigancho, an urban-marginal district of the city of Lima, prevalence of AIDS cases is
among the highest in the country. As part of an intervention to prevent STI/HIV
among young people, community participation initiatives were developed.
Description: Based on the results of a needs assessment on sexuality and
HIV/AIDS prevention youth using participatory and learning action (PLA) techniques, a group of community representatives was consolidated. The group designed a strategic plan of action to conduct IEC activities at the community level.
Lessons learned: PLA techniques favoured discussion among community members on the role they can play as key agents of STI/HIV prevention aimed at young
people: "You feel as though you have designed it yourself, and you're more committed to it because you wanted to, no one told you to do it" (woman community
leader-focus group). Participation of the community in STI/HIV primary prevention activities helps overcome socio-cultural factors that act as barriers for the
adoption of safe sex practices among adolescents: "A taboo has been broken in
our community. To teach about condom use is not to promote sexual initiation"
(male community leader-focus groups). The community group maintained their
motivation to continue undertaking actions one year after the project ended.
Recommendations: Primary prevention of STI/HIV for adolescents needs to include community participation as a essential strategy so as to create a favourable
setting for the adoption of safe sex behaviours among adolescents. Participatory
involvement of the community can become continuous, sustainable and adaptable to local situations when local communities take responsibility for diagnosing
and working to solve their own health and development problems as shown in this
project.
Presenting author: Freddy PEREZ, ISPED - Case 11 - Universite Victor Segalen
Bordeaux 2, 146, rue Ldo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France, Tel.: [phone]
15 29, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

ThPeF8138 Building HIV prevention programmes in Kumi
district; Eastern Uganda through analysis of the
determinants of sexual behaviour among
adolescents
N. Nshakira1, A. Omurangi2, R.S. Ssempebwa3, E. Maraka4, T Ahimbisibwe 2
1Actionaid Africa, Actionaid kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; 2CADS-Uganda, Mbale,
Uganda; 3Actionaid Uganda, Kampala, Kenya; 4CREATE-Kumi, Kumi, Uganda
Background: Understanding the determinants of behaviour is an important pre