AEGiS-14IAC: TELSIDA: A Preventive Information Strategy with 12 Years of Trayectory.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

TELSIDA: A Preventive Information Strategy with 12 Years of Trayectory.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. G12507)

Hernandez R, Egremy G, Uribe P, Caso LD
National Center for HIV/AIDS/Minestry of Health, Mexico, Mexico

ISSUES: In 1987 the 1st. Information Center in Mexico to offer medical-psychological services, anonymous and confidential phone orientation to support users regarding decision-making to HIV antibodies test was created. In 1989 due to the acceptance and demand of the phone services TelSIDA was inaugurated: the helpline of the National Center for HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention (CONASIDA for its acronym in Spanish).

DESCRIPTION: TELSIDA is a national phone net with 7 lines for Mexico City and 2 free lines for the 31 states, from Monday to Friday, 13 hours per day. Guides who attend the helpline receive continuous training on STI and HIV/AIDS. Some are volunteers with different health professional profile. TELSIDA offers information to the population, orientation on HIV/AIDS test, preventive measures, crisis assistance, canalization to other institutions or organizations. Internet service was inaugurated in 1999. Today, TELSIDA receives 4000 calls and answers 150 emails monthly. After a 30 hours training workshop, 13 HIV/AIDS and STI state programs of the Mexican Republic, as well as the National HIV/AIDS programs of Guatemala and El Salvador copied the TELSIDA model. Since 2000 TELSIDA is coordinated with other phone line programs specialized in Sexual Diversity.

ISSUES: TELSIDA has become a link between the HIV/AIDS National Program and the population; this model has succeeded as an HIV/AIDS and STI prevention information strategy; it is profitable to copy it and works as a reception center to capture and consider the needs of the population and evaluate the impact of the campaigns.

RECOMMENDATIONS: TELSIDA model is recommended to institutions that need to offer orientation services, information, prevention, attention and different types of canalization to the community; volunteers can be hired in the social services of the educational institutions; it is necessary that guides have a specific profile.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Time, HIV Seropositivity, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, prevention & control

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G12507