European Journal of Medical Research - Deutsche AIDS ...

June 27, 2007 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
47
A.55 (Vortrag)
Children and young people living or working on
the streets: the missing face of the HIV epidemic in
Ukraine. A research report published by UNICEF
Ukraine and AIDS Foundation East-West
(November 2006)
Teltschik A. 1
1 Free-lance public health consultant (Eastern Europe &
Central Asia), Odessa, Ukraine
Objectives:
1. To close an existing gap in research and to systematically
assess and present:
a) Needs and demands of the target group;
b) Rights violations;
c) National policy and legal frameworks;
d) Available resources;
e) Service quality and levels of coordination and cooperation.
2. To provide recommendations and to guide the design, implementation
and evaluation of an extended, comprehensive
and multisectoral national response to prevention, treatment,
care and support for this target group.
Methods: A comprehensive situation and comparative analysis
and a quantitative and qualitative survey among 650 children
and young people living or working on the streets in
Kiev and Odessa.
Results:
1. The phenomenon of children and young people living or
working on the streets has been steadily increasing over the
past 16 years in Ukraine.
2. Most children run away from home, because of a dysfunctional
family, abuse and the fact that there is no adequate social
support system in place to address the problems at home
and to prevent them from running away.
3. But once the children and young people are living or working
on the streets, their needs are also not being adequately
met.
Key research findings:
a) This is a group most likely to be exposed to violence,
abuse, discrimination, exploitation, HIV and many other diseases.
b) They have a poor health status, very low education levels
and their rights are being seriously violated.
c) The majority are engaging in risk behaviour.
d) They lack protection, as well as the means, skills, knowledge
etc. to protect themselves.
e) The services provided to them are of low quality.
f) There is a lack of official, standardized and reliable data.
Conclusions: The target group represents only the ´tip of the
iceberg´. ´Below the water´ is a large and growing number of
vulnerable children and young people in Ukraine, who are
also most-at-risk and most affected by the HIV epidemic, and
should therefore be at the centre of policy-making. The research
report provides detailed recommendations to the
Ukrainian government in key strategic areas on how to extend
and improve the national response based on the experience
gained in addressing the HIV epidemic over the past years in
the country.
A.56 (Poster)
Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in regard to
HIV and STI among MSM in Austria, Slovak
Republic, Italy and Slovenia – a BORDERNET
cross border survey
Amort F. 1 , Steffan E. 2 , Sokolowski S. 2 , Schnitzer S. 2
1 AIDS-Hilfe Wien, Prävention, Wien, Austria, 2 SPI Forschung
gGmbH, Berlin, Germany
Objectives: BORDERNET (EU funded) aims to enhance
HIV/AIDS and STI-prevention, diagnostic and therapy in regions
across the old and the current EC-outer borders. In
Western Europe in general over one third (35%) of the HIV
infection diagnosed in 2005 occurred through sex between
men. The epidemics range in Central Europe remains still
small in comparison, but also here sexual contacts between
MSM are an important source of infection.
Methods: Two BORDERNET model regions (MR 3 – Austria/Slovakia,
MR 4 – Italy/Slovenia) decided to make MSM
to one of their target groups for a BORDERNET KAB survey
with additional questions on mobility. Based on preliminary
defined selection criteria of gay friendly venues, a total number
of 371 MSM was questionned with a self-administration
questionnaire.
Results: In regard to cross border mobility, the MSM respondents
from Slovenia and Slovakia are the most frequent travellers
to the neighbouring countries, whereas the Austrian
men are moderate travellers and the Italian travel even more
seldom. Leisure time is the most important reason for travelling
across the borders.
Even though the respondents showed a very high basic
knowledge of HIV/AIDS, there are also many insecurities as
well as fears to get infected with HIV. A high percentage of
MSM have been tested for HIV (Austria: more than 90%),
and a high proportion of them stated to have received pre- and
post test counselling.
Concerning condom use, different patterns of risk management,
such as consequent safe sex, being faithful, decrease of
number of partners, serosorting, seropositioning and avoidance
of risky venues could be identified in all countries. More
risky behaviour was stated with steady partners than with casual
ones. Over 20% of the men reported an STI diagnosis in
the last two years, Italian MSM showed the highest incidence
here.
Discussion: A main challenge of the combined HIV and STI
prevention among MSM is to handle the consequences of the
“normalisation” process of HIV. Cross border prevention
strategies for MSM might be a possibility to reach synergetic
effects and should particularly focus on irrational fears and
risk management strategies and help to overcome still existing
prejudices and misconceptions.
A.57 (Poster)
Ansatz der Bewertung einer HIV-Infektion bzw.
AIDS-Erkrankung in Österreich, 2006
Schröck T. 1
1 Donauuniversität Krems, Wien, Austria
Fragestellung: Behandlungskosten von HIV bzw. AIDS
waren in Österreich bislang unbekannt. Daher wurde im Vorfeld
der Studie beschlossen, den Ansatz einer Bewertung
vorzunehmen.