Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109528

Irela Solorzano¹, Rodolfo Peña, PhD², Oswaldo Montoya³, Amy Bank¹, Humberto Abaunza¹, Jeanneth Corrales¹, Mary C. Ellsberg, PhD⁴, and Julie Pulerwitz, ScD⁵. (1) Puntos de Encuentro, Apdo Postal RP-39, Managua, Nicaragua, (2) Department of Preventive Medicine, University of León, Edificio Central, Contiguo a Ig. La Merced, León, Nicaragua, (3) Asociación de Hombres Contra la Violencia, Residencial El Dorado, Farmacia Salazar 2c. al sur, Casa #51, Managua, Nicaragua, (4) Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), 1600 K St. N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006, (5) Horizons project, PATH, 4301 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 280, Washington DC, DC 20008, (202) 237-9400, jpulerwitz@pcdc.org

HIV-related stigma is acknowledged as a major barrier to HIV prevention and care, but few large-scale studies have quantified this relationship among youth. Data were collected from a random sample of 4,567 male and female youth aged 13-24 in 3 large municipalities in Nicaragua. This research presents one of the first representative samples of 13-24 year olds in Nicaragua. HIV-related knowledge was relatively high, with 95% reporting that HIV had no cure, and 75% reporting that using condoms prevents transmission. Yet, risk behaviors were also substantial. Of sexually experienced youth (about half of the sample), 40% had occasional partners during the last 6 months. Only 31% used condoms consistently with occasional partners. 14% had ever taken an HIV test. HIV-related stigma was a major factor, as half of youth reported that homosexuals and sex workers were to blame for HIV, and only about half would be friends with someone living with HIV/AIDS. Three-fourths of respondents stated that a person with HIV/AIDS would be abandoned by their partner. Follow up data with this cohort of youth, after 6 months of a national ‘telenovela', radio show and community-based activities focused on stigma and HIV risk reduction, are currently being analyzed.

Learning Objectives:

• (1) Participants will learn of the role that HIV-related stigma plays as a barrier to HIV prevention and care in Nicaragua.
• (2) Participants will learn of the HIV risk and stigmatizing beliefs of a representative sample of 13 – 24 year olds in Nicaragua.
• (3) Participants will learn of an ongoing evaluation of a communication for social change intervention focused on HIV-stigma and risk reduction.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.