Fonseca JJ, Greco M, Domingues RC, Oliveira MR, Greco DB, Antunes CM, Oliveira EI; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 182 (abstract no. We.D.3748).

Vaccine Center, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fax: 55-31-2248801.

Issue: To investigate among homo and bisexual male, members of a cohort (Projeto Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil), knowledge about HIV vaccines and motivation to participate in HIV vaccine trials. Project: An open project of 500 male homo/bisexual participants, 18-59 years, to: (1) estimate HIV incidence; (2) evaluate preventive intervention strategies and (3) prepare for future vaccine trials. The data was collected using a psycho-social interview with questions regarding sexual orientation and practices, alcohol and drug abuse, HIV knowledge and HIV vaccine information. Results: Preliminary results (142 participants) showed:1),Regarding HIV vaccines knowledge: Although 79.6% of participants reported having heard about HIV vaccines, the information was superficial and fragmented. Most of them do not understand the concept of a vaccine (its preventive aspect).Among the respondents, 79.9% acknowledge that vaccine trials are being carried on; 14.2% that these vaccines were prophylatic; 26.7% that the vaccine mode of action was linked to the immunological system and 18.0% that what vaccines propose was the virus elimination. 2) Regarding participation on vaccines trials 50.7% said that they would be willing to do so; Altruism(52.8%) was the main reason given. Among those who said no(16.9%) the main reason given was the possibility of vaccine side effects(41.7%). For 26.6% of the volunteers, participation on vaccine trials would be dependent on more precise information about the vaccine, its mode of action(53.3), side effects(23.7) and the possibility of being infected by the vaccines(13.2%). Lessons Learned: The knowledge about vaccines and HIV vaccines specifically, do not interfere in their disposition to participate in vaccine trials. However for those undecided, lack of information about the vaccine seems to be the major obstacle to their participation. This emphasizes the need of more discussions with the volunteers about vaccines, its mode of action(vaccines workshops, basic aspects of immunology, psycho-social implications.).

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• AIDS Vaccines
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Bisexuality
• Brazil
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Incidence
• Knowledge
• Male
• Motivation
• Sexual Behavior

Other ID:

• 96924059

UI: 102219958

From Meeting Abstracts