AEGiS-11IAC: Evaluation of the mid- and long-term impact of the holistic model for AIDS prevention in gay/bisexual men in Guatemala City: a dynamic model.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Evaluation of the mid- and long-term impact of the holistic model for AIDS prevention in gay/bisexual men in Guatemala City: a dynamic model.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:485 (abstract no. Pub.D.1304)
Mayorga R, Flores B, Castillo M, Rodas AM, Melendez G; Asociacion de Talleres Holisticos (ATH), Guatemala City, Guatemala. Fax: (502-2) 516531.

ISSUE: To date, 280 gay/bisexual men in Guatemala City have taken a holistic workshops for AIDS prevention. It is necessary to determine the mid- and long-term impact of this model in order to improve the work methodologies and detect issues that need reinforcement. Follow-up support activities for AIDS prevention need to be designed and implemented. This will help improve program effectiveness, maximize the use of scarce resources, and promote the most effective strategies. Workshops and training activities for facilitators/volunteers based on the feedback obtained need to be created.

PROJECT: Members of the populations that have taken the holistic workshops for AIDS prevention in gay/bisexual men six to eighteen months earlier answered a self-report questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning AIDS prevention (these workshops had been evaluated with a pre- and a post-test). A control group was chosen among persons attending gay/bisexual men gathering places who had not taken the workshop nor heard of it (n=31). The study sample size (n=72) was randomly selected (expected frequency=50%, worst acceptable expected error=60%, confidence level=95%).

RESULTS: Changes representing at least a 5-10% difference related to the workshop's pre-test persisted in well being, self-esteem, knowledge on AIDS, attitudes towards health and prevention of disease, attitudes towards condom use, sexual communication skills, acceptance of the sexual orientation, and empowerment persisted; frequency of condom use, however, declined 8%, and unprotected anal intercourse and alcohol and drug use increased greater than 5% related to the workshop's post-test. There was a significant difference in most of the items tested between populations taking the workshops and the populations attending gay/bisexual gathering places.

LESSONS LEARNED: The holistic model for AIDS prevention, although time-consuming, is an effective method for AIDS prevention for the gay/bisexual men studied. This model needs to be applied more thoroughly in this particularly vulnerable community. New working methodologies and reinforcing activities need to be designed for reduction of alcohol and drug use and for maintenance of safer sexual practices. Facilitators/volunteers need to be trained on these new methodologies. Follow-up activities, as well as alternative activities need to be implemented in order to ciment behavioral changes.

Keywords: AEGIS, Bisexuality, Homosexuality, Male, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Evaluation Studies, Sex Behavior, Safe Sex, Cities, Substance-Related Disorders, Attitude to Health, Data Collection, Guatemala, Human, Male, nursing, prevention & control, ICA11

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