Poster

HIV/AIDS remains a global epidemic, especially in East and Southern Africa. The focus of the posters in this session is identifying prevalence rates, risk behaviors, antiretrovial therapy issues, and treatment/prevention options for vulnerable segments of the African population. Topics covered in this session are as follows: (1) issues surrounding negotiating condom use with older male partners by young females; (2) how condom use is impacted by the perception and behavior of individual as well as community leaders; (3) documentation of the policies and programs in different countries regarding perinatal HIV transmission; (4) investigating barriers to condom use and other HIV risk behaviors in order to develop more effective intervention and prevention programs; (5) adherence to ART and barriers associated with such; (6) how to develop peer programs targeting adolescents at risk for HIV transmission; and (7) document how health care workers and professionals are responding to the HIV testing and counseling needs of their country.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe individual and community risk factors associated with risky sexual behaviors among persons residing in east and southern Africa. 2. Discuss the efficacy of different treatment programs and prevention strategies among persons residing in east and southern Africa. 3. Describe current diagnostic testing and counseling services among vulnerable populations residing in east and southern Africa.