AEGiS-14IAC: Winter course on HIV/AIDS prevention for rural young people in 9th Region of Chile.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Winter course on HIV/AIDS prevention for rural young people in 9th Region of Chile.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11796)

Nienhuser GN, Diaz CD, Garrido EG, Fuentealba JF
Dame una Mano Organization, Temuco, Chile

ISSUES: Sensitization on HIV/AIDS, transmission of HIV, HIV/AIDS prevention and sexuality.

DESCRIPTION: This activity was conducted last winter holidays and it took a week. 60 young people took part in it, they came from several rural villages of 9th Region of Chile. The course was divided into several modules such as: talk about ways of HIV transmission, HIV prevention, right use of condom, sexuality, sexual orientations and homophobia, problems faced by People living with HIV in rural areas. The course was conducted by people living with HIV trained and empowered in those issues. I was supported by Chilean Red Cross and The Town Council of Temuco.

ISSUES: We could sensitize young people around problems faced by PWA's, about HIV prevention and also we talked with them about homophobia and the right to choose one's own sexual orientation. We trained them on strategies to negotiate properly the use of condom. Further, we were able to make aware governmental representatives who were not sensitized about HIV before.

RECOMMENDATIONS: It is necessary keep sensitizing young people, specially who are from isolated villages, since there is a considerable lack of knowledge about it. Also, mapuche people (indigenous community) should be involved in HIV prevention because they are getting at risk due to several reasons such as migration and lack of culturally specific strategies of prevention.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Sex Behavior, Condoms, Sexuality, Emigration and Immigration, Chile, prevention & control

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