AEGiS-14IAC: Preventing spread of HIV/AIDS through behavioral and social intervention for PLWAS.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Preventing spread of HIV/AIDS through behavioral and social intervention for PLWAS.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no.. D11144)

Adeline AA, Marcel TM, Thompson KT, Kotto Mbongo Simon KM, Henriette KH, Geradine MG, Phillipe NP, Leopold ZL
LSHM, Yaounde, Cameroon

ISSUES: New York School of Med. and NIH are carrying out a research work on HIV/AIDS in Cameroon at laboratories de Sante Hygiene Mobile. 6000 persons have received free voluntary HIV counseling and testing.7/10 provinces have been covered. They shown HIV prev. at 11% in Dec. 2000 with a higher prev. in sexual and reproductive age group (20-45) where F =14.7% and males=9.2 %. The project has a cohort of healthy PLWAS in Yaounde. At moment, 65 patients are enrolled.

OBJECTIVE: Help patients know and accept their status. Grant free access to health specialist and Phsycologist. Offer counseling . Take care of test exams and treatment of opportunistic infections. Monitor their immune system every 3mths . Provide transport fare during each visit. Counsel and do test for partners.

METHOD: Voluntary HIV counseling and testing is done to patients who visit some 5 clinics in the city. During post counseling, positives are informed of the cohort project and enrollment condition i.e. CD4 >300. Biochemistry test (BC) is then done. Patients meet physician after each test done. Official rendezvous is once a week but patients see doctor if in need. CD4 and BC tests are done every 3 mths. Difficulties 20% of patients lack contact Tel. number. Many are students, so often travel. 90% refuse home visit. RESULT: 98% have accepted their statust. 58% have their partners and kids screened f. By enrollment date 87% had STDs problem. After 3mths <2% had STD prob. First control shows great change in BC.Out of 65 patients15 had a drop of CD4 > 100, 30with CD4 <100 and 20 with increase CD4 between 2 to 125. A 2nd control is onand shows better result.

CONCLUSION: The project has prevented many from spreading the virus. Projects like this should be encouraged in all provinces and villages. When positives get direct benefit from Support Orgs,counsel will yield fruit. Gov't should make available free drugs, counseling centres health services and specialized physicians 3

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Counseling, Cameroon, New York, Human, Male, Psychology, Nursing

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D11144