Marseille 2007
| Abstract #260 - Prevention of STD / HIV /AIDS Transmission in (War Zone) | ||||
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Session: 36.5: Prevention lessons (Parallel) on Tuesday @ 14.00-16.00 in 5 Chaired by Theo Sandfort, William Zule Authors: Presenting Author: Ms Dishanthini Thiyageshwaran - Loving Friends International, Sri Lanka |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: In the third world countries including Sri Lanka, despite 20 years civil conflict has indicated poverty line of the living standard in the region. It has proved to be resilient in face of some adverse shocks: civil war between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil tigers; as result of this conflict and finally tsunami many health institutions in the northern and eastern regions of the island have been destroyed or damaged. Moreover more than 64,000 lives were lost and estimated 800,000people were displaced in the conflict, and destroyed estimated 1.5 billion worth of property. Some are close to need of security reasons. There is a shortage of almost all categories of health staff but more so with specialists for the care institutions, family health workers, public health midwives, lack of adequate facilities in terms of care institutions, malnutrition in young children, mental illness and drug resistant viruses, this becomes even more critical on the preventive side to the resident population including children with disabilities, street children, working children and children in conflict zones living in especial difficult circumstances in risk areas in Sri Lanka. As it stand today most of the adult and child educated population is aware of the epidemic and its ultimate dangers. However there is very little or no knowledge among adults lacking in systematic and a bulk of the teenage population. It was estimated that as of end 2005 approximately 7500 adults and children with HIV/AIDS were ling in rural (War areas) in Sri Lanka. The Objective be two fold; To increase awareness program on the epidemic among vulnerable groups / communities. Explore the effects of participation in psychosocial support programs on adolescents psychosocial well being. And develop the better understanding of psychosocial well being among vulnerable adolescents and how to measure it . To support for childrens psychosocial wellbeing | ||||
| Method / Issue: The project carried on a unique feature in that displayed affect HIV patients in the awareness building and training program and provides psychosocial support. This is considered to be an effective way of achieving the dual objective crating and impact among the target groups while eradicating the stigma associate with patients and reconnect the children with family members, friends and neighbors, respect the dignity of children, their caregivers and communities. | ||||
| Results / Comments: A total of 500 refugees children were interviewed and around 1500 adultness were trained for prevention of this study. The average of the sample was 16.1. Slightly more than half were females. The majority were refugees. A high percentage was enrolled in vulnerable children (85%). No services for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV were available but within 18 months 12% pregnant women had received pretest counseling and awareness program. | ||||
| Discussion: Enhance awareness training program and involvement of war affected district health authorities, CBO sectors, Government Armed Forces are needed for the implementation and successful integration of services for prevention of child transmission of HIV and STD. Voluntary counseling and testing services are important entry points for HIV and STD prevention and care and for referral to community networks and medical HIV care services. A district approach is critical to extend program for due to the difficult circumstance in war affected areas in rural setting. However, the voluntary counseling services and involvement of forces should be imported entry points for HIV and STD prevention and care. | ||||
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