Marseille 2007
| Abstract #278 - Where does Cultural Sensitivity Fit? African and Arabic Speaking Women in Australia and HIV Prevention | ||||
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Session: 6.41: Posters A (Poster) on Monday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Stephen McNally - La Trobe University, Australia |
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| Additional Authors: Ms Sophie Dutertre, Dr Jeffrey Grierson, | ||||
| Aim: Over the past ten years there has been a significant increase in migration to Australia from several Horn of Africa countries (Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea); all of whom experience high levels of HIV prevalence With the increased number of people coming to Australia and/or making return journeys to high prevalence countries, the provision of culturally appropriate HIV prevention information has become necessary. The main aim of the study was to explore how culturally appropriate and relevant HIV prevention information is for newly emerging communities from Horn of Africa and from other Arabic Speaking countries. The study also explored the barriers experienced by these communities accessing HIV prevention information. This paper focuses specifically on the role of women from the Horn of Africa and Arabic speaking countries in relation to existing prevention information and support structures. | ||||
| Method / Issue: This 12 month study, conducted in 2004-2005, employed a range of methodologies. The study began with an audit of currently available material on HIV prevention in relevant languages for each community. Nineteen semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with community representatives and service providers. Four focus groups were conducted with Arabic and African women in the preferred language of participants. | ||||
| Results / Comments: These women often held a false sense of security concerning HIV in Australia and within their community and believed that HIV had so far spared their communities. This view was partly due to the fact that people are screened for HIV before arriving in Australia; the absence of highly visible public HIV prevention campaigns in Australia; and the belief that their community tends not to engage in a range of risk practices. The material about HIV prevention was considered to be highly sensitive; and the mention of sexual practices, such as oral sex, incited them to reject the material as whole. Women were also sensitive to what they perceived as a lack of respect for their level of literacy in their own language. However, these women saw themselves as key information providers for their children and were often torn between rejecting sensitive material and their desire to acquire the information in order to pass it on. The preferred way to pass on information was face-to-face. | ||||
| Discussion: Awareness about HIV transmission is low amongst these communities. These women play a key role in their community and within their family for disseminating information. The concept of cultural diversity in HIV education and support is not new. However, the challenge is to find ways to negotiate the clash between cultural sensitivity and the norms of public health. | ||||
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