AEGiS-14IAC: Utilizing Print Media to raise awareness about HIV / AIDS amongst High Risk MSM sub-populations in Mumbai, India.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Utilizing Print Media to raise awareness about HIV / AIDS amongst High Risk MSM sub-populations in Mumbai, India.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11076)

Anand VR
Humsafar Trust - Trustee, Mumbai, India

ISSUES: Print Media plays a significant role in creating /increasing awareness of HIV / AIDS amongst MSM and build positive attitudes towards People living with HIV/ AIDS. The strategy was to develop print material targeting semi literate and illiterate people to obtain desired result.

DESCRIPTION: The Humsafar Trust designed and printed illustrated HIV pamphlets and condom use flaps giving information about HIV/ AIDS and safer sex. The condom flap illustrates how condoms are worn and stresses the need to practice safer sex. These were distributed in Out Patient Departments of Hospitals and awareness campaigns promoting safer sex practices. In a unique effort to create HIV awareness these are kept at all gay parties where guests along with an entry coupon get a small pack containing an HIV Booklet, a Condom Use Flap plus a free key chain with a condom in it. Stickers and Posters: Nearly four million commuters use surface trains in Mumbai daily. Considering the captive audiences, special stickers (18inches x 12inches) and posters ( 36inches x 24inches ) were designed and pre-tested for illiterate or semi-literate men. These stickers and posters were pasted inside compartments and at Railway Stations displaying the importance of safer sex. The Humsafar Trust also designed and printed a manual illustrating various STI's and their symptoms, a nutritive guidance booklet and a manual depicting healthy lifestyle for HIV positive people. These booklets are distributed at various hospitals, educational institutions and awareness campaigns. LESSONS LEARNT: It was immensely successful in creating and increasing awareness about HIV / AIDS. Also each subgroup had to be approached differently and investigated through focused group discussions to clarify knowledge, attitude, behaviors practices in the particular group

RECOMMENDATIONS: Massive campaigns are necessary through print media to remove myths about HIV/ AIDS that persist in the minds of people.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Condoms, Homosexuality, Male, Safe Sex, Awareness, India, HIV Protease Inhibitors, Human, MaleKWDaegis,hiv,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,hivseropositivity,condoms,homosexuality,male,safesex,awareness,india,hivproteaseinhibitors,human,male

020707
D11076

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.