Marseille 2007
| Abstract #264 - Peer Groups and HIV Theater as Bridge to Prison Populations | ||||
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Session: 32.5: Theatre and Media and Internet (Parallel) on Tuesday @ 11.00-12.30 in PR Chaired by Larry Brown, Victoria Gordillo Authors: Presenting Author: Ms Ludmila Kononenko - Penitentiary Initiative, Ukraine |
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| Additional Authors: Ms Elena German, | ||||
| Method / Issue: Prevention of HIV and other infections spread in prison. Overcoming stigma related to HIV/AIDS. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Project: Correctional Colony 53 (Nikolaev Region, Ukraine) is specialized for drug addicted inmates. According to results of pilot testing 30% of inmates are HIV+, 50% have had TB, 75% have hepatitis C. The psychologists of Penitentiary Initiative NGO train the inmates for outreach work as peer educators and peer supporters. Peer group meetings take place once a week. Peer training program includes medical facts and psychological topics. Basic level consists of 6 trainings: Peer Support concept, Harm Reduction, HIV/AIDS, STD, TB, Hepatitis. Next level: trainings in communication skills, teamwork, personality types, conflicts, personal growth, ethics. Then prevention issues are discussed again - in a more detailed manner. In the barracks-style colony its easier for the peers to act as a team. Two peer groups function all the year round. Trained peers - provide the prison inmates with health information; - distribute informational materials, condoms, bleach, toothbrushes and disposable shavers; - test booklets developed by the NGO specialists. Their own drawings, poems and stories are used in Penitentiary Initiatives newspapers and leaflets; - actively participate in actions for World AIDS Day (art contest Symbol of Health) and Candlelight AIDS Memory Day, making posters, paintings, wood carvings and quilts; - contribute to fighting stigma and forming tolerance towards PLHA. The NGO psychologists give all their hearts and souls to enlighten and develop the members of the groups, to bring out the best in them. Some time ago the peers surprised the psychologists with poetic performance on HIV topic. The characters were Life, Fate, Health, Sex, AIDS, HIV and Drugs. It was the start of a prison theater. A professional director was invited to work with the group, to teach them actor skills. 6 shows have been staged and demonstrated to the inmates and the Colony visitors. Their topics are HIV/AIDS, health risks, the good and evil, its all in the language the inmates can easily understand. The theater participants themselves write poems and plays, perform songs, make decorations and costumes. The theater contributes to drawing inmates attention to HIV issues and to development of artistic skills and personal growth of its participants. Peer groups now exist in 5 prisons of Nikolaev Region. Another prison theater has been started in Colony 93. | ||||
| Discussion: Lessons learned: Peer groups activity is especially effective in HIV prevention in prison settings. It takes regular methodical work of NGO specialists to gain trust of prisoners. After trust relationships are built, peers become open and creative. Specialists should encourage and support the inmates initiatives. Art actions and prison theater (accompanied by educational program for prison inmates and personnel) contribute greatly to overcoming AIDS related stigma. | ||||
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