AEGiS-07IAC: How do male prostitutes get information about AIDS?

7th International AIDS Conference

Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

How do male prostitutes get information about AIDS?

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:452 (abstract no. W.D.4256)
Longo PH, Van Buuren NG, Pereira R, Basilia C, Macedo A; Instituto Brasileiro de Inovacoes em Saude Social, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To analyse how the general campaigns reach an especific high risk group like the male prostitutes, with a high HIV incidence. To reinforce the importance of the personal and constant contact.

METHODS: A psychosocial survey with a group of 185 male prostitutes aged 11 to 23, working at the streets of Rio de Janeiro. It was asked: How do you get information about AIDS? All the boys were contacted by a group of educators before the survey. Later, new data were gathered.

RESULTS: Some of the gathered data are presented at the following table: TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. The main reasons for not reading newspapers or watching TV were: Unlettered or low educational level (82%); Lack of Time (66%); Lack of Interest (37%), Economical situation (73%). Pamphlets are not distributed at the prostitution areas.

CONCLUSION: Most of the information about AIDS is gotten by personal and constant contact with friends or street educators, that seems to be a good way to reach the group and introduce information and prevention. It is important to provide training about AIDS for street educators involved with marginalized high risk groups, like street kids or prostitutes, that suffer the impact of social conditions and are not reached by general campaigns. Methods using creative language, like theater and music are very well accepted and the relationship with the educator is fundamental.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Prostitution, HIV, HIV Infections, HIV-1, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV-2, Human, Male, ICA7
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