Silva C, Tito LG, Schwarcfuter D; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. MoPeD3629.
Grupo Pela VIDDA-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Problem: Adolescents represent approximately 30% of the total AIDS registered cases in Brazil. The inexistence of a clear policy towards this public led to low adherence to prevention activities and care programs. This public was even more vulnerable to the social and psychological consequences of AIDS. Therefore, Grupo Pela VIDDA-RJ, a PWA organization, decided to develop Projeto Encontro Marcado to promote improvement of quality of life of teen-agers affected by the epidemic in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Project should fight isolation of adolescents and reach specialized health care professionals. DESCRIPTION: In a period of one year time, the Project has reached approximately 100 youngsters living with HIV/AIDS and 109 health care professionals who deal with teen-agers. Adolescents were encouraged to participate in a weekly specific mutual help activity, in the PWA organization. Meetings focused themes of their interest, linked to their reality. The young public was composed by approximately 60% from low-income families. Health care professionals were reached through workshops and skills building sessions. A total of 94 % of these health professionals underlined the importance of such youth-related activities provided by the project. RESULTS: All participants reported improvement in their life quality; 27% to increasing self-esteem; 27% to better relationship with other individuals and relatives; 23% to the information provided by the project; 18% to the possibility to talk and to be heard; 5% stated improvement in their motivation for studies. Among health care professionals, 81% declared to be more skilled and more sensible to deal with adolescents with HIV/AIDS. RECOMMENDATIONS: As young people represent 1/3 of all cases in the country, strategies to this public should include information, integration and solidarity activities, in order to reduce their vulnerability. Moreover, professionals responsible to provide care to teen-agers should be involved.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adolescent
- Advertising as Topic
- Brazil
- Disease Outbreaks
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Organizations
- Poverty
- Quality of Life
- Research
- education
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102256217
From Meeting Abstracts