Echeverria E, Lambrechts S, Milesi ML, Diaz S, Silva R, Cano M; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 712 (abstract no. 34130).
ISSUE: The practice of health interpersonal and strongly affected by social factors. To fight discrimination disclose cultural and personal barriers to safer behaviours, develop skills that increase control over their health and take care of each other, children, youth, adults need to communicate, explore and create together with freedom and pleasure. Our work focuses on art as an enabling approach to health promotion. PROJECT: Since 1992 COPSEE has launched 6 annual artistic competitions in E. Echeverria, (Great Buenos Aires, 223,134 people, 45% very poor) in order to create AIDS awareness; incite debate on HIV prevention in and out school; allow children, youth and adults to identify their needs, take possesion of information and express themselves creating their own messages; enhance groupal creation and strengthen community action; create solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS. Works are based on local adaptations of UNAIDS banners for World AIDS Days. Posters paintings, drama, poetry, stories, video, songs, photography are then used along the year in prevention activities with the help of artists, local organizations and small companies. RESULTS: Participation has increased over the years both in number (covering all public schools and 20 community organizations in 1997) and quality: messages have shifted from death and fear to solidarity, safer practices and taking care of each other as guiding principles. Street paintings, posters, leaflets, newsletters, calendars, video, spots, radio messages have been produced and distributed using this material. 6 World AIDS Days with multisectoral AIDS activities have been held. Schools, artists, caregivers, the Red Cross and other comunity organizations are working together with the municipal government on HIV health promotion. Attitudes towards people with AIDS at school, hospital and community have greatly improved. LESSONS LEARNED: Sustainable programmes of HIV health promotion are possible in spite of cultural barriers and limited funds when people-children, youth, women, teachers, artists, volunteers-through artistic activities feel pleasure, confidence and freedom to create and express themselves producing all together an unconventional and continuous prevention campaign with messages from and for the community. We are now working to create more involvement of drug users, business, churches and government.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Adult
- Child
- Communication
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health
- Health Education
- Health Planning
- Humans
- Organizations
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102230497
From Meeting Abstracts