AEGiS-09IAC: Experience of a community based AIDS prevention program in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand (NT).

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

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Experience of a community based AIDS prevention program in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand (NT).

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:117 (abstract no. WS-D14-1)
Thepjak P, Chiu J, Harbison J, Marksuk S, Chaisiri N, Sripanich R; ACT Center, Chiang Mai.

ISSUE/

PROBLEM: NT is an area of high HIV prevalence. Community efforts along with government programs are needed to slow the epidemic. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: The Chiang Mai AIDS Counselling and Training (ACT) Center opened in 7/91 to provide: 1) public AIDS education (AE); 2) Anonymous HIV counselling and testing; 3) training in community AIDS intervention and 4) referrals and support for infected individuals.

RESULTS: By December 92, AE have been conducted at work sites, schools, places of worship, and worker residence reaching > 18,000 persons. Of 582 clients counselled, > 60% came because of ACT Center's AE or referrals by former clients. Ninety-three of 503 (18.5%) clients tested were seropositive and referred to hospitals for medical care. Financial assistance and social service referrals were provided to clients with needs. ACT Center case worker and trained community volunteers visited home bound HIV clients. Community training in counselling, AE and community care was attended by 154 persons. After training many became involved in AIDS intervention activities in their own community. LESSON LEARNED: Community based AIDS prevention program can provide valuable services to a community with high HIV prevalence.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Counseling, Education, Continuing, Community Health Services, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV Seropositivity, Learning, Prevalence, Social Work, Disease Outbreaks, Thailand, Human, ICA9KWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,counseling,education,continuing,communityhealthservices,hivseroprevalence,hivseropositivity,learning,prevalence,socialwork,diseaseoutbreaks,thailand,human,ica9
930606
WSD141

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.