Programme Supplement [International Conference on AIDS (16th: 2006: Toronto, Canada)]

Late Breaker Abstracts

Introduction

genital discharge, itching or ulcer in the last 12 months preceding
the study, however only 40.5% sought treatment at appropriate
facilities, with more married (54%) compared to singles (36%).
82% of respondents knew that HIV could be asymptomatic. 7%
of males compared to 5% of females believe that sharing toilets
with infected persons can lead to infection. Other misconceptions
include sharing eating utensils (5%), kissing (4.5%), mosquito
bites (3%), witchcraft 1.8% and hugging (0.5%) The UNAIDS
indicator on knowledge of prevention methods showed only
15.8% had correct knowledge of preventive methods. 13.9%
of males compared to 17.1% of females did not know any HIV
prevention method.
Conclusions: Even with above average educational levels, less
than half sought treatment in appropriate facilities. Majority knew
healthy looking people could harborthe virus but knowledge about
prevention strategies is still low. The planned Shell-supported
STIs/HIV/AIDS community-based interventions would focus on
educational/preventive strategies.
THLBO406
Parliamentary oversight and accountability for HIV and
AIDS resource allocation: the South African case
N. Ndlovu Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), AIDS
Budget Unit, Cape Town, South Africa
Background: The AIDS Budget Unit (ABU) in collaboration with
the Governance and AIDS Programme (GAP) both of the Institute
for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) conducted a research
project, commissioned by the Africa-Canada Parliamentary
Support Centre, on parliamentary oversight and monitoring of
the budget process from an HIV and AIDS perspective, as well
as parliamentary involvement in government's response to HIV
and AIDS. The project sought to start and focus a debate on the
role that Parliaments and representative oversight institutions
can play in- 'agenda setting' for HIV and AIDS. It also sought tc
provide a series of 'snapshots' of how various Parliaments in
Africa are exercising effective oversight (financial, programmatic,
monitoring) over HIV and AIDS work in the face of very different
country contexts and prevalence rates. Specific objectives will be
outlines below.
Methods: A detailed review of literature on the subject was
conducted, complemented by face-to-face interviews with
members of parliament and committees directly and/or indirectly
involved in resource allocation, oversight and accountability for
HIV and AIDS interventions.
Results: Parliamentary oversight over the budget process for
HIV and AIDS is still key to holding government accountable
for budgeting and spending on the pandemic. Most MPs are not
capacitated to monitor HIV and AIDS budget allocation processes
because they are either non-experts on health issues or do not
have a complete understanding of the budget process itself. This
results in parliament leaving the resource allocation process in
the hands of the executive, which consequently blocks MPs ability
to effectively and actively influence and monitor the budget
process.
Conclusions: Parliament has the ultimate role of ensuring that
delivery of HIV and AIDS services and expenditure match the
policies and constitutional obligations of the government. The
concept "oversight" needs to be redefined to assist committees
better comprehend their role in the delivery of rights.
THLBO407
Identifying ethnic/racial differences on the HIV Stigma
Scale using item response theory
D. Rao1, J.B. Pryor2, B.W. Gaddist', R. Mayer4. 'Northwestern
University, Institute for Healthcare Studies, Chicago, Illinois,
United States, 'Illinois State University, Department of Psychology,
Normal, Illinois, United States, 'South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council,
Columbia, South Carolina, United States, 4Iowa Department of
Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Background: The HIV Stigma Scale is a self-report questionnaire
developed to assess stigmatization perceived and experienced
by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and is considered the
benchmark instrument for assessing HIV stigma in psychosocial
studies of PLWHA. The scale demonstrated good reliability and
validity when examined with classical test theory models. Item
Response Theory (IRT) is a set of statistical models used to
identify differential item functioning (DIF), a situation in which
people from different backgrounds have different probabilities of
endorsing items on a questionnaire. To date, the scale has not
been examined for item bias in this manner.
Methods: The study examined whether the scale contains items
that function differently across ethnic/racial groups using oneparameter IRT models.
Results: Black (N= 224) and white (N=317) PLWHA seeking
treatment in Iowa and South Carolina completed the HIV Stigma
Scale. Eleven items demonstrated DIF across groups. Black
respondents had a higher probability than white respondents
of indicating greater stigmatization on items that described
experiences in which they felt that others judged or discriminated
against them. White respondents had a higher probability than
black respondents of indicating greater stigmatization on items
that described a resolve to keep their status a secret and fears of
others' negative reactions.
Conclusions: These differences indicate that items functioned
differently based on the background of participants, either because
of differences in how participants in the two groups perceived and
experienced stigma or the way in which participants interpreted
items. Blacks living with HIV/AIDS face multiple stigmas, including
those associated with social inequalities, racism, and HIV/AIDS,
which may explain the higher probability of discrimination
reported in this group. The results imply that interventions aimed
at reducing HIV stigma would likely benefit from an approach that
takes into account the distinct perceptions and experiences of
stigma across ethnic/racial groups.THLB0408
Mapping, assessing, and aligning religious health assets
for HIV/AIDS treatment, care, and prevention, Lesotho and
Zambia
Cochrane J.1, de Gruchy S.2, Germond P.3, Jones D.4, Gunderson
G.5, Matimelo S.6, Molapo S.3, McFarland D.', Olivier J.1, Reilly T.3,
Mwiche M.8. 'University of Cape Town, Department of Religious
Studies, Rondebosch, South Africa, 2University of KwaZuluNatal, Department of Theology and Development, Scottsville,
South Africa, 3University of Witwatersrand, Department of
Sociology, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4Emory University, Hubert
Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health,
Atlanta, United States, 5Emory University, Hubert Department of
Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Memphis, United
States, 6University of KwaZulu-Natal, Department of Theology
and Development, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 'Emory
University, Hubert Department of Global Health, Atlanta, United
States, 8University of KwaZulu-Natal, Department of Theology and
Development, Kitwe, Zambia
Issues: Participatory/GIS Mapping and Alignment of the Health
Assets of Religious Organizations to be Mobilized for Universal
Access to HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care, and Prevention in SubSaharan
Africa
Description: The African Religious Health Assets Programme
(ARHAP) is a multi-disciplinary collaboration of public health,
health, and religious scholars and researchers conducting a
systematic study of the tangible and intangible assets of religious
organizations that contribute to health, especially HIV/AIDS
treatment, care, and prevention, in subSaharan Africa. Under a
grant from the World Health Organization, ARHAP has conducted
a series of Participatory/GIS mapping studies in 7 provinces in
Lesotho and Zambia, involving 300 community and regional
interfaith and health leaders and organizations. New tools and
methods, based on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) have been developed and
applied, and a GIS-ready database of Religious Health Assets has

Late Breaker
Abstracts

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XVI INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE * 13-18 AUGUST 2006 * TORONTO CANADA * PROGRAMME SUPPLEMENT