AEGiS-14IAC: A model intervention on HIV/AIDS/STI to poor underserved populations in mega cities like Sao Paulo.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

A model intervention on HIV/AIDS/STI to poor underserved populations in mega cities like Sao Paulo.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no.. WeOrF1286)

Fernandes ME, Lamptey P, Costa Filho(in memorium) DC, Matos MP, Gouveia IC, Jatene AD
Association for Family Health, Sao Paulo, Brazil

BACKGROUND: During 2000-2001 Association for Family Health (AFH), Family Health International (FHI), the State Department of Health and the Zerbini Foundation implemented a project to integrate HIV/AIDS/STI prevention and care to existing primary health care services at 9 health care units located in the southeast region of Sao Paulo. The region includes 5 slum areas, and a population of 300.000 people. A budget of 8 million USD per year was committed for the payment of salaries, drugs and health care units maintainance. The HIV/AIDS project funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) provided 120.000 USD to integrate HIV/AIDS/STI.

METHODOLOGY: A field work team compromised of 187 health agents, 33 physicians, 33 nurses and 64 nurses aides were trained in human sexuality, reproductive health matters, including HIV/AIDS and STI, counseling, contraception and so forth to conduct door-to-door outreach work with the population. Considerable update courses and capacity building was conducted taking into account the individual and collective experiences. In order to implement the family health program activities, the region was mapped and each trained health agent was responsible for a specific geographic area called micro area containing a total of 200 families with an average of 5 people per family.

RESULTS: During a one year period a total of 312.482 contacts were performed by trained teams; 70.000 women and 20.000 adolescents were educated 40 supervisory meetings were conducted and 30.979 patients were cared and treated at 9 different health care units. Due to relevant financial counterpart contribution the HIV/AIDS activities were maintained after the EJAF funds were over.

CONCLUSION: The integration of HIV/AIDS prevention to the primary care program, called Family Health Program is a model for the implementation of a sustained response to HIV/AIDS in Brazil to poor underserved populations.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Population, Delivery of Health Care, Reproductive Medicine, Primary Health Care, Cities, Health Expenditures, Brazil, Human, Female, Adolescence, Nursing, economics

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