Reaching women in Latin America and the Caribbean: an integrated approach to safer sex.
Int Conf AIDS 1994 Aug 7-12; 10:397 (abstract no. PD0768) Roitstein F, Becker J; International Planned Parenthood Fed/WHR, New York, NY.
Most HIV/STD prevention programs have focused on populations practicing "high risk" behaviors such as gay men, injection drug users and commercial sex workers. However, of the estimated 14 million HIV-infected adults worldwide, 6 million are women. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the incidence of infection among women is increasing at an alarming rate. Since the early 90's, heterosexual intercourse has become the dominant mode of transmission in LAC, and now it accounts for 75% of all new infections. These data suggest a deficiency in such approaches to HIV/STD prevention and highlight the need to reach all sexually active people, especially women. To shift this trend, IPPF/WHR and its affiliated Family Planning Associations (FPAs) have taken advantage of their ability to reach large numbers of sexually active people, especially women, by integrating HIV/STD prevention into existing programs and services through the promotion of safe sex practices. This integration process necessitates rethinking of traditional approaches to family planning requiring a shift from a narrowly defined medical and vertical family planning model to a broader sexual health model. Comparative advantages of the IPPF/WHR affiliates and potential barriers to implementation will be discussed. This presentation will also describe the sexual health model used in these projects, and will illustrate how it is being applied and evaluated through a comprehensive plan.
Keywords: AEGIS, Safe Sex, Risk-Taking, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Homosexuality, Male, Latin America, Caribbean Region, Family Planning, Sexuality, Heterosexuality, Human, Female, Male, Adult, ICA10 940807
PD0768
