AEGiS-14IAC: The Toy Library: a model of intervention that makes the therapeutic-entertaining approach of children affected by AIDS more human.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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The Toy Library: a model of intervention that makes the therapeutic-entertaining approach of children affected by AIDS more human.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. WeOrF1328)

Santos GM
Gapa-Ba, Salvador, Brazil

ISSUE: The phenomenon of "feminization" of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil, characterized by the high increase of the infection among women, has also brought an increase in the number of children who are born with the virus or who become orphans due to the death of one or both parents. This situation has caused a series of economic, social and psychological restrictions to the lives of those children.

DESCRIPTION: The Toy Library Program is an innovative intervention for the care of impoverished children affected by AIDS in the Brazilian Northeast. The Toy Library encompasses a series of actions of an entertaining and therapeutic nature, providing experiences in groups or individually, acess to the magical world of toys, games, books, songs and art, thus allowing the expression of emotions, words and ideas. This way, socialization, creativity and the cognitive, psychomotive and affective aspects of children between 03 and 12 are worked upon, with the aim of helping them to overcome the difficulties brought by living with AIDS. Home visits are carried out and food baskets are distributed. The activities of the Toy Library take place in facilities especially installed to attend to the children, and interventions are also performed in the waiting room of the public hospital for pediatric AIDS.

ISSUES: In 2 years, we were able to carry out 240 group interventions and 45 individual sessions; 77 families were benefited, with 154 food baskets being distributed; 80 interventions in the waiting room of the hospital were performed, reducing tension and anxiety while waiting for attendance; more than 300 children were reached; 54 volunteers were mobilized and joined the actions at the hospital by co-managing them.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Providing creative workshops with the aim of working on self-esteem; the creation of a group of mutual help for the caretakers, allowing the sharing of experiences.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Foster Home Care, Parents, Family, Voluntary Workers, Child of Impaired Parents, Family Health, Self Concept, Brazil, Greece, Child, Human, Female, nursing, therapyKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,fosterhomecare,parents,family,voluntaryworkers,childofimpairedparents,familyhealth,selfconcept,brazil,greece,child,human,female,nursing,therapy

020707
WeOrF1328

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.