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

social mobilization, adherence to treatment and support to people living with
HIV/AIDS, and monitoring of health policies. During 2004 and 2005, ABIA
conducted case studies of Bolivia and Paraguay where most of the first line ARV
medication is made available through donations under cooperation agreements
of the Brazilian government.
Accomplishments: For the case studies, interviews were conducted with
leaders and activists, government officials and health professionals in countries.
Documents and reports were consulted and a Latin American multisectorial
meeting was conducted ( Feb.2006) with the participation of representatives
from Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil to discuss initial results of access to ARV
treatment in the context of international cooperation efforts and the role of civil
society. These actions contributed to the enhancement of networking between
Brazilian civil society organizations and other Latin American countries.
Results will be disseminated through reports, publications and seminars.
The final document analyses the Brazilian donations of ARV in the mentioned
countries and points out the challenges for universal access to treatment and
sustainability issues involved.
Recommendations:
- The project offers a methodological contribution to the analysis of south to
south cooperation;
- Promoted the strengthening of knowledge exchange among countries in the
region;
- Enriched the work methodology for monitoring of public policies related to
HIV/AIDS treatment access;
- Involvement of civil society organizations in the international cooperation
scene enriches and strengthens effectiveness collaboration and partnerships.
MOPDDO4
Voluntary support groups improve the quality of live
of people living with HIV/AIDS
J.H. Mello. Brazilian Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS, Social Studies,
Patos de Minas, Brazil
Issues: To assess the impact of group support formed by PLWHIV/AIDS on
quality of live measures in HIV-1 infected men and women members of the
Brazilian Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS.
Description: Behavioral data were gathered from HIV-1 infected males (75)
and females (25) aged 19-55, using a trained interviewer and standardized
questionnaires. Most of the participants (64%) were homosexuals, 6% were
bisexuals and 20% were intravenous drug users. Six support groups met
weekly for 3 months; discussions focused on knowledge and prevention of drug
abuse and/or sexual risk behaviors, family and social interactions, nutrition
topics and attitude to medical treatments.
Lessons learned: Prior to group meetings, relatively 37% of participants
expressed adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention or nutritional aspects
of disease (5%). 7% of participants were unwilling to accept medical treatment
and positive family relationships were reported by 41% of patients. Following
group meetings, increased HIV/AIDS knowledge and prevention were reported
by 88% of participants; 68% of patients increased their understanding of
nutrition as a cofactor of HIV disease progression, and the importance of
medication adherence. Better social integration and family reinsertion were
reported in 84% of participants. Regarding to acceptance of medical treatment
all of the resistant patients agreed to start conventional treatment and therapy
monitoring during and after the meetings.
Recommendations: Voluntary support groups formed and directed by
PLWHIV/AIDS appear to be an extremely cost-effective method to facilitate
information exchange, enhance of knowledge, and promote self-steem, as well
as foster and expand better social relationships. We intend to implant these
support groups in our branches in order to inhance quality of life of PLWHA.
MOPDDOS
Lesotho and Swaziland: a trade union (civil society)
response to the workplace and AIDS
V. Ndlovu', C. Mariel'. 'Solidarity Center, Swaziland/Lesotho Trade Union AIDS
Program, Durban, South Africa, 'Solidarity Center, Africa Region, Washington,
DC, United States
Issues: The HIV prevalence rates in Swaziland and Lesotho are second and
third highest in the world. For young Swazi women, 15-24, the rate is 47.3%.
However, a trade union partnership - Swaziland and Lesotho's garment workers
unions, the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers Union/Africa,
and the Solidarity Center - is challenging this situation.
Description: Trade unions are driving the AIDS responses in Swaziland and
Lesotho's garment factories that manufacture for international buyers such as
WaI-Mart, GAP, and Target. These factories, which employ 50,000 (nearly all
women), provide meager pay and foster workers' fears of unwarranted job
dismissal, including from perceived HIV+ status. Trust between workers and
management is rare.
Unions are applying their skills in educating and mobilizing workers, defending

human rights, negotiating with business, securing fair policies, developing
safety and health programs, and building coalitions to mount a collaborative
response to AIDS that engages workers, businesses, nongovernmental
organizations, government, and the community. Unions also are grooming new
AIDS leaders. Most importantly, the union-driven efforts are making progress
among the garment workers and businesses where other initiatives have had
minimal success.
Lessons learned: Why are trade unions making these strides in Swaziland
and Lesotho? The nature of these civil society organizations is mass-based,

democratic, ethnically and religiously diverse, membership-focused, and easily
reachable. Also, unions are grassroots, easily link with communities, and have
elected leadership and structures that reach government and business. Unions
offer a known entity that workers trust to advocate on their behalf and a record
that proves this.
Recommendations: Unions must be lead actors in workplace AIDS to leverage
workers'trust and participation, to protect workers' rights, and to build coalitions
that stretch globally and reach across business, government, nongovernmental
organizations, and communities. The lessons learned, relevant to all AIDS
stakeholders, implementers, and decision-makers, are replicable in workplaces
throughout the world.
MOPDDO6
Mobilizing communities for the care and support of
HIV/AIDS affected children and families
A. Tesfaye. Save the Children UK Ethiopia programme, Policy and programme
development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Issues: In Ethiopia, where an estimated 11% of children are orphans,
increasing number of parents are becoming bed-ridden and dying leaving
children behind without parental care and protection. The burden on extended
families and the community at large to care for orphans and other vulnerable
children has already stretched traditional community coping mechanisms.
Therefore, building the capacity of the communities to respond to the situation
is of paramount importance so as to ensure sustainable community based care,
support, and protection of vulnerable children.
Description: Save the children UK Ethiopia programme has been implementing
Orphan and other vulnerable children (OVC) care and support project since
January 2004. The aim of the project is to build the capacity of the community
under six administrative units to care for children affected by HIV/AIDS.
The project has been using the CAC (Community Action Cycle) community
mobilization tool which involves helping communities to identify and prioritize
problems, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate. The major achievements
of the project so far include organized and trained community structures (six
OVC/CRC committees and six community mobilization groups) to mobilize
resources and coordinate OVC care and support activities within the community,
increased access to basic services to 5000 OVC registered by the community
through partnership with local government and the community, and increased
awareness of the community and government bureau representatives about
child rights and OVC issues.
Lessons learned: Involvement of the community throughout the project cycle
using the CAC tool increased the ownership of the project and volunteerism that
was minimal at the inception of the project. Capacity building activities have
enabled some CBOs to mobilize and manage internal and external resources.
Recommendations: The CAC model of community mobilization, if replicated
to other areas with some adaptation, can bring the same outcomes that would
ensure sustainability of response.
Track E
MOPDEO1
HIV/AIDS among displaced populations in
northwest Zimbabwe: awareness, knowledge and
behavioural patterns
I. Araujo de Carvalho', E. Stigter2, H. Voetem3, L. Haliman'. 'International
Organization for Migration, Migration Health Department, Harare, Zimbabwe,
2Independent Consultant, Geneva, Switzerland, 3Erasmus MC, University
Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Public Health, Rotherdam,
Netherlands
Background: Available HIV and AIDS control strategies have largely excluded
groups such as internally displaced people (IDP). A baseline behavioural survey
was undertaken among IDPs in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe. The
surveyed group is food insecure, and recipient of food aid.
Methods: The study used a non-random proportional purposive sampling, and
interviewed a total of 344 IDPs. Primary sample units (clusters) were chosen
proportionate to the size of the population of each one of the seven villages
studied. The BSS Family Health International methodology and tools were
adapted and used in this study.
Results: 54% of the population have had an chronically ill household member
over the past twelve months, with 82% having at least one orphan residing
in their household. HIV and AIDS awareness is high, however knowledge is
limited; attitudes of acceptance towards people with HIV were low, revealing
high levels of stigmatization. Female youth and women tend to have their first
sexual experience upon marriage, with men being their senior in terms of age.
The median age for their first sexual experience is 17 years old. The majority
of the adults have had sexual intercourse in the last twelve months, with adult
men outnumbering women and young males. The percentage of respondents

who reported more than one partner in the past six months was low. Condom
use was very low among the sexually active group
Conclusions: The study provides evidence of significant high risk sex, and
the high impact of AIDS within the community. The findings indicate that food
insecurity brought by displacement seems to be fuelling risky behaviours such
as early marriages for women and intergenerational sex. The surveyed IDP
group do not access government programmes within the context of addressing
the persisting complex emergency in Zimbabwe.

Monday
14 August
Poste
Discussion

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