Beyond Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs): normalising HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Madrid Region.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11725)
Urzelai A, Martin-Perez A, Fernandez JM, Barbero J, Castro M, pez S Direccion Gral. Salud Publica. Consejeria de Sanidad. Comunidad de Madrid., Madrid, Spain
ISSUES. MSM is still the second group most affected by AIDS in Madrid, next to injected drug users and before heterosexual people. Prevention activities, funded by the Public Health Authority (PHA), are implemented by NGOs, and are limited to the gay commercial venues. Normally, primary health care doctors (PHCD) don't "think" about homosexuality and MSM patients conceal it. New approaches and alliances for more effective prevention are needed. DESCRIPTION. Activity sequence: 1.- Creation of a multidisciplinary team involving NGOs, PHCD, PHA. 2.- Elaboration of an informative leaflet and former evaluation by PHCD and homosexual men and women. 3.- Qualitative research with PHCD on homosexuality and health. 4.- Skillbuilding workshops on homosexuality, stigma and HIV targeting PHCD. 5.- Progress discussion of the activities among PHA, Health Care Authority, and NGOs. LESSONS LEARNED. A.- To commission only NGOs to prevent HIV infection among MSM is another kind of discrimination. B.- Besides HIV prevention other health needs of homosexual people should be included in the agenda. C.- Despite a "normalised" medical discourse on homosexuality, social prejudice still prevails and distorts the prevention work of PHCD. RECOMMENDATION. To make homosexuality an issue in Primary Health Care and to encourage their partnership with NGOs would provide new opportunities for Health Promotion for lesbians and gay men.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Homosexuality, Male, Coitus, HIV Infections, Sex, Safe Sex, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Heterosexuality, Prejudice, Human, Male, Female, prevention & control
