Abstract Book Vol. 1 [International Conference on AIDS (16th: 2006: Toronto, Canada)]

MOPE0852 MOPE0854
Influencing behaviour change interventions through Challenges for income generation and microfinance
behavioural surveillance surveys (BSS) in Malawi initiatives among PLWHA in Rwanda

M. Kaseje', N.D. Kabwazi2, B. Matatiyo', H. Moyo4, D. Zaneras,
J. Aberle-Grasse6, A. Hani'. 'Family Health International, Lilongwe, Malawi,
2Family Health International, Behavioural Surveillance Survey, Lilongwe,
Malawi, 3National AIDS Commission, Research, Lilongwe, Malawi, 4Ministry
of Health, Health Management Research and Surveillance, Lilongwe, Malawi,
5National Statistical Office, Demography, Lilongwe, Malawi, 6Centres for
Disease Control, Epidemiology, Lilongwe, Malawi, 'PostNet Lady Brand, CJ
Centre, Lesotho, South Africa
Background: With a prevalence rate of 14.4% (15-49 years) and over 50%
of new HIV infections occurring among those aged 15-24 years, surveys such
as Malawi's first BSS in 2004, assist with behavioral trend tracking and provide
information on behavioral patterns that can guide interventions for vulnerable
and high-risk groups.
Methods: Following site mappings in nine districts for thirteen target groups
(male and female police officers; primary and secondary school teachers; estate
workers; male truck drivers; vendors; female sex workers; border traders;
fishermen) a standardized survey was administered to 7,660 respondents
from these groups. The survey was augmented and triangulated with twenty
focus group discussions and six in-depth interviews and assessed HIV/AIDS
knowledge, attitudes, transmission, prevention, and risk behaviors.
Results: Survey findings touched on sensitive behaviour issues. Of all male
vendors interviewed, 73% had multiple non-regular sex partners. Three
percent (3%) of married respondents used condoms consistently, while 33%
of all respondents who had boy/girlfriends used condoms. Of all respondents,
54% stigmatized those with HIV/AIDS. Female sex workers and males with
AIDS were highly stigmatized as it was perceived that "they reaped what they
sowed". The high (90%) awareness of confidential HIV testing sites was in
contrast to the low (30%) level of those willing to be tested for HIV and of
these; only 25% accessed counselling and testing services. The findings were
packaged for use by different media and disseminated to the target groups.
Consultations were held with national stakeholders resulting in positive
remedial actions; for example, the police force incorporated HIV/AIDS training
and initiated prevention activities based on the BSS findings..
Conclusions: Appropriate dissemination of sensitive data on sexual behaviour
can result in significant behaviour change interventions among target groups.
Involvement of stakeholders at national policy, coordination and program levels
is key to change.
MOPE0853
Research as a building block to national agendas:
applications of the 2005 national HIV/AIDS
situation analysis in Bangladesh
S. Yansen', S. Sood', M. Shahjahan2, E. Whitney'. 'Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore,
United States, 2Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Issues: Bangladesh is at a critical stage in controlling HIV/AIDS. Overall HIV/
AIDS prevalence is low, however, STI rates among at-risk groups are high;
HIV prevalence among IDUs is 4%; blood transfusions and medical practices
remain unsafe. To combat the problem, coordinated communication and
advocacy strategies are essential among the '-'500 NGOs implementing HIV/
AIDS programs. NASP provided leadership to develop the "National Strategic
Plan for HIV/AIDS 2004-2010" and then mandated a national communication
strategy and situation analysis to follow.
Description: Using qualitative and quantitative means, Johns Hopkins Center
for Communication Programs (CCP) and Bangladesh Center for Communication
Programs (BCCP) conducted the national HIV/AIDS situation analysis to provide
the basis for the National HIV/AIDS Communication Strategy 2005-2010, NGO
communication guides, advocacy tools, and a mass and local media strategy.
With more than 70 stakeholders and 18 ministries providing input, the analysis
is the first of its kind and includes a national baseline, participatory research
and literature review. The analysis covers knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors
among FSWs, IDUs, MSM, Internal and External Migrants; PLHA, the general
population, and health care providers.
Lessons learned: By combining quantitative and qualitative research across
a range of audiences and issues, the work effectively captures an in-depth
look at HIV/AIDs in the country and led to the successful development of a
national communication strategy and numerous communication and advocacy
tools. Key findings suggest that HIV/AIDS awareness is universally high.
However, accurate information about transmission and prevention is low;
social and cultural barriers against condom use persist; and perceptions of risk
are strikingly low. Self-reported STI symptoms appear high while treatmentseeking is low. Stigma against HIV/AIDS exists at all levels.
Recommendations: HIV/AIDS research can serve as a powerful tool to raise
awareness, galvanize support, and create national agendas. The Bangladesh
situation analysis key findings should continue to be disseminated widely and
updated bi-annually.

K. Anderson. The Rwanda Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (RRP+),
Kigali, Rwanda
Issues: In Rwanda, civil society and non-governmental organizations are
increasingly implementing income generation (IGA) and microfinance (MF)
programs within associations of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
Communication and collaboration between implementing partners regarding
these programs has been limited. The Rwanda Network of PLWHA undertook a
situation analysis to establish an understanding of the current challenges and
ways forward in MF and IGA for Rwanda.
Description: Ten prominent civil-society and non-governmental organizations
implementing IGA and MF were interviewed. Many similar challenges were
encountered: lack of expertise in IGA/MF program development, lack of
monitoring capacity, lack of financial and human resources, and lack of a
national-level forum for discussion and sharing of best practices. A significant
challenge is the fact that as of 2005, 90% of organizations interviewed had not
completed any impact evaluation for their MF or IGA programs.
A pertinent debate arose surrounding whether MF or IGA is more effective in
terms of poverty reduction for PLWHA. Most organizations are giving grants
with conditionality to PLWHA for IGA projects that do not require repayment. A
select few are implementing long-term MF programs, emphasizing obligatory
savings and gradual loan repayment. These two separate ideologies regarding
economic support and empowerment for PLWHA must be further investigated.
Lessons learned: As there are currently few evaluations regarding the success
of MF and IGA in terms of poverty reduction, it is difficult to determine how to
proceed in balancing MF and IGA.
Recommendations: A concerted effort should be made to formulate
insightful and accurate impact evaluations of IGA and MF programs. These
evaluations should be used to aid in the development of more effective poverty
alleviation strategies for PLWHA. Additionally, the creation of a forum in which
organizations can establish and exchange best practices for IGA and MF would
open these issues to further discussion.
MOPE0855
The fate of all research-based abstracts presented
by UK-based researchers at the 13th International
AIDS conference (IAC) in 2000: publication rate and
the barriers to publication
S. Jones. Thames Valley University, Richard Wells Research Centre, London,
United Kingdom
Background: Abstract-driven sessions at scientific conferences are a critical
forum for the dissemination of new information and as such they form an
integral part of research. However, they cannot equal the extent of dissemination
possible through publication in a scientific journal. Past investigations have
found that, on average, less than half (45%) of all abstracts presented at
conferences are ever expanded into full-length journal articles. The aim of this
study was to examine the fate of all research-based abstracts presented by
UK-based researchers at the 13th IAC.
Methods: A Medline search established whether abstracts had been expanded
into full-length journal articles. Abstract authors were also surveyed using
self-reporting questionnaires to identify the details of any publication and the
reasons associated with any failure to publish.
Results: Of the 139 abstracts that were both research-based and presented
by UK-based researchers, 34% were found to have yielded articles that were
published in peer-reviewed, indexed journals. Articles appeared in 31 different
journals, with 28% of articles appearing in just one journal, AIDS. Mean
journal Impact Factor was 3.908 and average time to publication was 18.91
months. Researchers indicated two main reasons why they had not submitted
manuscripts: (1) 'they lacked sufficient time'; and (2) 'the study was too small
to warrant publication'.
Conclusions: The overall publication rate of all research-based abstracts
presented by UK-based researchers at the 13th IAC is 34%, lower than the
45% average reported by past investigations in other fields. Twenty-nine
percent of unpublished abstracts described studies related to treatment,
adherence or resistance issues - this research has effectively become 'lost'.
Failure to properly disseminate research limits the ability of others to critically
appraise its validity, reliability and generalisability; therefore limiting its use in
clinical practice, and guaranteeing its exclusion from systematic review. Failure
to publish affects quality of care and could potentially cost lives.
M0PE0856
Utilizing evidence to drive program implementation:
how lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) surveys
help districts to target underserved areas in Uganda
S. Kironde', J. Mabirizi', 0. Businge', S. Ssimbwa', N. Oro baton'. 'Uganda
Program for Human and Holistic Development, Kampala, Uganda,
'Independent Consultant, Kampala, Uganda
Issues: For effective implementation at the local level, districts need to have

accurate and representative information to inform decisions about where to
focus resources in order to achieve maximum impact with the often limited
resources at their disposal. Use of routine, low cost data collection surveys can
help achieve this.

XVI INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE * 13-18 AUGUST 2006 * TORONTO CANADA * ABSTRACT BOOK VOLUME 1