AEGiS-14IAC: HIV and mental handicap in specialised institutions-an european community sponsored study.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

HIV and mental handicap in specialised institutions-an european community sponsored study.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11445)

Gennotte AF, Cornet F, Defourny J, Dubois S, Gosset C, Perilleux P, Farber CM
ASBLSIDA et Handicap, Vielsalm, Belgium

BACKGROUND: Seven persons with a mental handicap(PMH) were found infected with HIV in a single institution(inst.). We observed that-sexual identity and behavior of PWM were negated in the inst., although birth control was often mandatory- staff had no specific training to address those issues and felt inadequate. Were those observations valid?

METHODS: An 18 months study ending June 2002. PMH were 12 years or older. We identified the centers caring for PMH in the French speaking region of Belgium, in Emilia Romagna(Italy), in the region of Paris and in the whole of Portugal. We mailed them 1636 questionnaires addressing amongst others:1 Their capacity to accept PMH with HIV(organisation of care and confidentiality) 2 Their approach to health education,sexuality including sexual abuse, access of staff and PMH to HIV/STD information.

RESULTS: Response rate: from 23%(Parisian region) to 69%(Porugal).More than 98.5% of inst. coeducational. Medical data on PMH very accessible to staff, on the basis of rank rather than necessity for PMH care. Specific information on affective and sexual behavior:given to PMH about to go lead an independent life in 4 to14% of inst..Between1 and 21% of inst. thought that sexual interccourse took place within their walls ;94% of inst. forbade this. Pevention of HIV/STD: attempted in 4 to 39% of inst. Sixty to 96% of inst. failed to answer the question concerning condom availability. Thirty-five to 63% reported knowledge of sexual abuse of PMH by non-PMH. HIV/STD information for staff: 5 to 24%. Forty-two to 54% of inst. perceived PMW to be especially at risk for HIV/STD.

CONCLUSION: Poor medical resources and confidentiality,large number of inst. perceiving mental handicap as an added risk for HIV/STDand few means to prevent those. Avoidance of questions specific for sexuality and STD. Those preliminary results support our initial impression while precising the points to address in different European regions.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Sex Behavior, Condoms, European Union, Health Education, Counseling, Questionnaires, Sexuality, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Paris

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