Vallentine KH; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 351 (abstract no. Th.C.4632).
"Screamline", Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia. Fax: 61 2 206 2069.
Issue: Sustaining a high level of volunteer participation and committment to staff "Screamline". To reach women with HIV from diverse communities and isolated areas who are not accessing services or linked to support. Project: HIV-positive Women vocalised the benefits of peer support but difficulties such as illness, distances to travel, lack of childcare and poverty restricted their attendance. To launch the peer phone line, the planning strategy involved securing funding, advertising, training, rostering, support of volunteers, fundraising for maintenance of the line, ongoing evaluation and development of comprehensive women-specific resources and referral manual. To target women who are isolated, advertising the phoneline consisted of fliers and cards distributed to HIV & AIDS and community based organisations, volunteers also visited with advertising materials to doctors in rural areas, HIV & AIDS specific services and were interviewed by the newspapers and other media. Results: Women with HIV have been trained in a wide range of areas including detatchment, listening skills, prioritising of issues and appropriate referral, debriefing and stress management techniques. Women also increased their skills e.g. medical, legal and computer knowledge plus education delivery. The results have been two-fold: Positive volunteers have become more assertive and aware of their rights enabling them to publicly share their HIV experiences; Positive callers have been connected to services in their own areas. Lessons Learned: Women with HIV have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are capable of service delivery to other Positive Women and will use services and support when they are appropriate, confidential and accessible.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Counseling
- Demography
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Planning
- Health Services
- Health Services Accessibility
- Human Rights
- Humans
- Organizations
- Poverty
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102220859
From Meeting Abstracts