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

626 Abstracts ThPeF8167-ThPeF8171

XIV International AIDS Conference

I ThPeF8167 Integrating intimate partner and sexual violence
services into a comprehensive HIV care center: an
innovative cross-departmental approach
V. Sharp1, V. Frye1, S. Xenarios2, C. Berlin3, A. Blank4, D. Hien5. 1Center for
Comprehensive Care, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1000 10th Avenue,
Room 14A36, New York, New York, 10019, United States; 2Crime Victim's
Treatment Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY United
States; 3NiteStar, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY United
States; 4Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine, Bronx, NY United States; 5The Women's Health Project,
St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY United States
Issues: Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence (IPV/SV) is a significant source of
morbidity in the United States.
Connecting HIV+ patients, who are at high risk of IPV/SV victimization, with services is an important public health goal.
Description: The Center for Comprehensive Care (CCC), of St. Luke's-Roosevelt
Hospital Center, has developed a project to deliver IPV/SV services to HIV+ patients. The project builds CCC staff capacity to respond to
IPV/SV using theater-based training and education methods and improves access to IPV/SV services by offering referrals in Phase 1 or by integrating IPV/SV
services into the CCC in Phase 2. The process and outcome evaluation will assess the impact of each phase on patient and staff outcomes.
Lessons learned: The project has experienced the great challenges and rewards
of integrating several distinct perspectives and disciplines into a single servicedelivery project. Integrating the empowerment orientation of a community-based
organization and the biomedical orientation of a HIV care center has been one
challenge. Another has been considering how and whether to provide IPV/SV
services to the
HIV+ individuals in care, some of whom abuse drugs and perpetrate violence.
Increasing access to services while researching those services, which may act
as a disincentive to participate, constitutes another challenge.
Recommendations: Despite these challenges, the project reflects the diversity
of approach and the richness of knowledge that is being brought to bear on the
project and promises an innovative design that can serve as a model for other
HIV-care centers. We recommend to others that are considering such projects to
be aware of the following: a commitment to practices does not always reflect a
shared philosophy or paradigm, institutional change is a long-term process, honest and open communication is critical to the process, and such daunting projects
require commitment and flexibility.
Presenting author: Victoria Sharp, 1000 10th Avenue, Room 14A36, New York,
New York, 10019, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [email protected]
ThPeF8168 HIVM/AIDS, gender based violence and reproductive
health: integrating prevention and assistance for
adolescents
N.F.P. Costa, P. Castro, P. Simoes, M.G. Almeida. BEMFAM, Av Republica do
Chile, 230/170 andar, Centro - Rio de Janeiro - RJ, CEP 20031-170, Brazil
Issue: Adolescents victms of gender based violence form a high vulnerability
group to HIV/AIDS. BEMFAM, a non governmental organization acting in the reproductive health area has integrated HIV/AIDS prevention and assistance to violence victms in its reproductive health services.
Description: In the 1990's, BEMFAM developed a wide sexually transmitted
infections attendance and HIV prevention integration process for reproductive
health services, through professional training, adequacy of structure, educational
actions and access to preservatives. In 2000, implemented a similar process to
integrate assistance to gender based violence victms, with screening reproductive health clients to identify violence cases. In 2001, at Rio de Janeiro Clinic,
with thr Ministry of Health support, 120 adolescents victms of violence were identified, 34% of them had a sexually transmitted infection. They had treatment, access to condoms and pre HIV test counseling. Moreover, educational activities
for HIV/AIDS prevention and gender equity promotion for 1.50 adolescents were
carried out.
Lessons learned: the high sexually transmitted infections prevalence among the
adolescents point to the need to identify and treat the cases; it is feasible, starting from providers training and adequate facilities, to reduce the consequences
of gender based violence, specially reducing HIV/AIDS vulnerability.
Recommendations: to sensitize health, education, social and legal assistance
providers for the importance of the correlation between gender based violence
and the vulnerability to HIV/AIDS; to replicate the model developed by BEMFAM
to other primary care services.
Presenting author: Ney Costa, Av Republica do Chile, 230/17~ andar, Centro
- Rio de Janeiro - RJ, CEP 20031-170, Brazil, Tel.: [phone], Fax: +55
22204057, E-mail: ncosta@ bemfam.org.br

ThPeF8169 GRIP - Rape intervention project
B. Kenyon. GRIP, po box 12197, steiltes, ne/spruit, 1213, South Africa
Issues: GRIP is a non-profit, community based organization established to provide support, counseling and crisis care facilities for the increasing incidents of
rape survivors of all ages.

Description: GRIP serves an area of 3000 square kilometers with approximately
one million residents. 75% of this community lives below the poverty level. Due to
the myth that HIV can be "lost" by sleeping with a child, child rape incidents have
significantly increased since January 2001. GRIP handled 477 rape incidents during 2001 of which 45% of victims were younger than 15 years old. 23% of rape
victims, including children, were HIV positive prior to the incidents. Post rape assistance includes transport to medical facilities, private examination rooms, preAIDS testing, HIV counseling, care packs, administrative assistance, pre-court
training and assistance during court proceedings. Approximately 160 volunteers
have been trained as defusers. Field workers operate in rural areas to follow up
on 3 month and 6 month finger prick tests for sero-conversion.
Lessons learned: Some victims, not eligible for Anti-retroviral post exposure prophylaxis (PEP), have sero-converted. GRIP is the only non-profit organization in
South Africa funding Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to rape survivors. To date, approximately 112 women and children have received the PEP for HIV. By supplying
this life-saving medical intervention, GRIP has defended two court cases against
the Provincial MEC of Health. Forbidding doctors to prescribe medicines is contrary to International Medical Regulations and GRIP will uphold this. GRIP relies
solely on our community's participation for funds and volunteers. Current dependency on funds limited expansion of present operations, plus the antipathy of the
Government's stance on ART
Recommendations: Our model can be applied in every area of RSA and will
prevent a large number of women and children rape survivors from contracting
HIV/AIDS.
Presenting author: barbara kenyon, po box 12197, steiltes, nelspruit, 1213,
South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: kenyons
@ soft.co.za
ThPeF8170 Crossing borders: A cross and inter cultural
innovation to strategies on reproductive health
issues of children and youth
R.L.C. Concepcion. Non-governmental Organization, Center for Promotion
Advocacy and Protection of the Rights of the Child, c/o 618 Jose Abad Santos
Drive, Little Baguio, San Juan, Metro Manila 1500, Philippines
Issues: The sensitivities that go with HIV infection and AIDS poses a great toll on
peoples? creativity and a nation?s resources.
Description: This paper will illustrate how alternative art forms used by two communities were integrated in order to develop advocacy materials to initiate discussions, work out solutions and address HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health concerns of children, youth and their parents. Available local materials i.e. traditional
sounds, movements, visual arts and other forms were explored to facilitate transfer of relevant information, skills and change practices.
The paper will be accompanied by brief demonstrations and presentations of materials produced.
Lessons learned: Art does not only lift the spirit. It is also an instrument for illuminating Human conditions. The use of cross border and intercultural art forms has
provided very safe venues for sensitive concerns surrounding HIV infection and
AIDS, including Reproductive Health to be explored and continuously discussed.
It has given children, youth and their adult counterpart tools to arrive at solutions? at very minimal human and material cost.
Recommendations: Culture based alternative art forms are cost effective advocacy tools for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in all sorts of communities and
populations.
Presenting author: Maria Rosalia L. Concepcion, Center for Promotion Advocacy and Protection of the Rights of the Child, c/o 618 Jose Abad Santos Drive,
Little Baguio, San Juan, Metro Manila 1500, Philippines, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeF8171 IThe holey bullet proof vest: how the shortfalls in
the law in Botswana relating to protection of
females from sexual abuse and violence
contributes to their high rate of HIV/AIDS Infection
M.E.S. Baffour-Awuah. Bonela, p.o.box 72, gaborone, Botswana
Issues: Violence against women is an area in the law of Botswana which is not
adequately addressed. This involves not just traditional types of violence but also
economic and social violence, this paper addresses the various forms of violence,
the laws dealing with those forms of violence and the obvious short falls in those
laws being wholly effective in addressing the issue. Close attention is paid to how
this short fall puts females at all stages in life at higher risk than thier male counter
parts of falling prey to HIV /AIDS infection.
Descriptions: Botswana has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world,
and as such has come underfire that the behavioural norms of its peoples are
what contribute to this high rate of infection. This paper describes clearly how
much of the hiv/aids infection in females is as a result of violence against women,

and how some of the laws in the country and the way those laws are applied by
law enforcement officers such as the police and the courts,do not do an effective
job of protecting females from HIV/Aids infection.
Lessons learned: The lessons learned are simple and frightening. Our actual
system of law through its in adequacy is cotributingto the spread of this killer
ephidemic. the question remains, whay are we to do about it?
Recommendations: Various reviews have been done on the laws in Botswana