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Salud mental

¿Cómo afecta la salud mental en la prevención del VIH?

¿qué tienen que ver la salud mental y la prevención del VIH?

A unque la epidemia del VIH ha cambiado mucho durante los últimos 20 años, poco han cambiado las razones para los comportamientos de alto riesgo. Algunos factores que contribuyen a estos comportamientos son: la soledad, la depresión, la baja autoestima, la compulsividad sexual, el abuso sexual, la marginalización, la falta de poder y la opresión. Estas circunstancias no tienen soluciones fáciles. Resolverlas puede requerir más tiempo y esfuerzo de lo que muchos programas de prevención del VIH disponen. Algo que hemos aprendido de las investigaciones sobre la prevención del VIH es que “no hay una respuesta única.” El aumentar los conocimientos y capacidades de las personas para evitar el VIH y ofrecerles más acceso a condones y jeringas son buenos métodos, pero no sirven para todo el mundo y ningún método es suficiente por sí solo. Para muchas personas los obstáculos para cambiar su conducta se deben a problemas de salud mental. Esta hoja informativa se enfoca en los trastornos “no agudos” de salud mental; sin abarcar el efecto de los trastornos severos o cerebrales sobre la prevención del VIH. Lo que las personas hacen y lo que experimentan afecta a su salud mental. El uso y abuso de drogas y alcohol, la discriminación, la marginalización y la pobreza son todos factores que influyen en la salud mental y al mismo tiempo pueden poner a las personas en riesgo de contraer el VIH.

¿puede la salud mental afectar el riesgo de contraer el VIH?

Sí. La decisión de participar en prácticas sexuales riesgosas o de usar drogas tal vez no siempre sea una “decisión” tomada con conciencia, sino para satisfacer otra necesidad, como por ejemplo: LA BAJA AUTOESTIMA. Para muchos hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH), la baja autoestima y la homofobia internalizada pueden afectar la conducta arriesgada respecto al VIH. La homofobia internalizada lleva al individuo a sentirse infeliz, a recriminarse o no aceptarse a sí mismo/a por ser gay. En un estudio, los hombres que padecían la homofobia internalizada tenían más posibilidades de ser VIH+, estaban menos satisfechos en sus relaciones de pareja y pasaban menos tiempo con gente homosexual.¹ Las transexuales de masculino a femenino (MAF) identifican la baja autoestima, la depresión y los sentimientos de aislamiento, rechazo e impotencia como barreras a la reducción de su riesgo. Muchas MAF mencionan que no se protegen durante el sexo porque el no hacerlo valida su identidad femenina y aumenta su autoestima.² LA ANSIEDAD Y LA DEPRESIÓN. Los adultos jóvenes que sufren ansiedad y depresión están mucho más propensos a participar en actividades de alto riesgo como la prostitución, el uso de drogas inyectadas o no inyectadas y la selección de parejas sexuales de alto riesgo. Un estudio que hizo un seguimiento a jóvenes urbanos a lo largo de varios años encontró que ellos no cambiaron su comportamiento arriesgado por haber obtenido más conocimientos, ni más acceso a información o consejería. En cambio, sí hubo una asociación entre la reducción de sus síntomas de depresión y otros problemas de salud mental, y la reducción de las actividades riesgosas.³ EL ABUSO SEXUAL. Las personas que sufren abuso sexual durante su niñez o juventud tienen un riesgo mucho mayor de tener problemas de salud mental y comportamientos arriesgados con respecto al VIH. Un estudio entre hombres homo y bisexuales encontró que aquellos que habían sido abusados estaban mucho más propensos a tener sexo anal sin protección y a inyectarse drogas.⁴ Para muchas mujeres, el abuso sexual se combina con el maltrato físico o emocional en la niñez o juventud. El riesgo de contraer el VIH es sólo una de las consecuencias de estos maltratos. Las mujeres pueden empezar a usar drogas para ayudarles a sobrellevar los maltratos. También pueden tener dificultades en su vida sexual que les impiden negociar con su pareja sobre el uso de con-dones, lo cual aumenta la posibilidad ponerse en riesgo durante el sexo.⁵ Las mujeres que han sido abusadas tienen tasas más altas de enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS), incluido el VIH.⁶ EL TRASTORNO DE ESTRÉS POSTRAUMÁTICO (PTSD siglas en inglés). El PTSD puede llevar a actividades sexuales de alto riesgo. En un estudio de usuarias de crack en el South Bronx, Nueva York, el 59% de las participantes tenían PTSD debido a traumas violentos (como el asalto, la violación o el haber visto un homicidio) y no violentos (como la falta de vivienda, la pérdida de los hijos o un accidente grave).⁷ Un estudio nacional entre veteranos encontró que quienes usaban drogas o alcohol y sufrían PTSD tenían una posibilidad casi 12 veces mayor de tener VIH que otros veteranos que no usaban drogas ni tenían PTSD.⁸

¿qué factores afectan a la salud mental?

Muchas personas que sufren problemas de salud mental empiezan a usar drogas o alcohol para aliviar su dolor. Se ha comprobado que el uso de drogas o alcohol reduce las inhibiciones e impide el buen juicio, lo cual puede contribuir a la participación en actividades arriesgadas con respecto al VIH. Por ejemplo, los usuarios de drogas inyectables que sufren de depresión corren más riesgo de compartir agujas.⁹ Varios factores ambientales como la pobreza, el racismo y la marginalización pueden conducir a problemas de salud mental tales como la baja autoestima, la cual a su vez puede llevar al uso de drogas y alcohol y a otros comportamientos riesgosos con respecto al VIH. Los adultos jóvenes del área urbana con altos niveles de conducta arriesgada con respecto al VIH también tienen tasas más altas de suicidio, consumo de drogas y alcohol conducta antisocial, incidentes estresantes y homicidios en su barrio.¹⁰

¿qué se está haciendo al respecto?

La solución de los problemas de salud mental no consiste únicamente en convencer la persona para que hable con un consejero o psicólogo. Los programas comunitarios y estructurales también pueden tomar en cuenta las necesidades de salud mental. Por ejemplo, se puede ofrecer grupos de apoyo para quienes han sufrido abuso sexual. Los centros recreativos y de convivencia sirven para conocer a otras personas y pueden ayudar a combatir la soledad y la depresión. Por medio de servicios móviles se pueden proveer el intercambio de jeringas así como ropa o alimentos a grupos aislados que están en alto riesgo de tener problemas de salud mental y VIH. El programa Bodyworkers en Nueva York brinda a los trabajadores sexuales HSH consejería gratuita para la prevención del VIH y para la salud mental, consejería de pares y acceso a servicios médicos. Masajistas, acompañantes, prostitutos que trabajan en la calle, estrellas de porno, bailarines de go-go y otros mencionaron varios problemas de salud mental que les dificultan obtener servicios médicos y de prevención. Estas barreras son: la desconfianza, la vergüenza o pena, el miedo a las relaciones personales, la compulsividad sexual, la depresión, la baja autoestima, el uso de drogas y alcohol y una historia de abuso físico/sexual.¹¹ El programa HAPPENS en Boston, Massachusetts, provee una variedad de servicios especializados para jóvenes VIH+, sin hogar y en riesgo. El personal del programa va a la calle a encontrarse con los jóvenes y ofrecerles consejería individualizada sobre la reducción de riesgos con respecto al VIH. También conecta a los jóvenes con servicios sociales, médicos y de salud mental. Todas las visitas médicas incluyen una evaluación de su salud mental, y se ofrecen servicios de salud mental tanto en forma continua como en tiempos de crisis.¹² Otro programa en New Haven, Connecticut, usó un modelo de manejo interactivo de casos en la calle para ayudar a mujeres drogodependientes que tenían VIH o estaban en riesgo de tenerlo. Trabajadores sociales encargados de casos viajaron en unidades móviles y proporcionaron consejería intensiva individualizada en el mismo sitio donde encontraron a las clientes. Muchas veces la consejería incluía conversaciones entre los miembros de la familia y los amigos de la cliente. Los encargados de casos también brindaron transporte, intervención en tiempos de crisis, compañía a las citas en la corte, asistencia familiar, ropa y alimentos donados.³

¿qué implica esto para los programas de prevención?

Quienes trabajan en la prevención del VIH deben tener consciencia de la asociación cercana entre los factores de salud mental, sociales y ambientales y la capacidad del individuo para hacer y mantener cambios en su conducta. El personal de los programas de prevención debe capacitarse para identificar problemas de salud mental al hablar con sus clientes. Si un programa no ofrece servicios de salud mental, se puede remitir al cliente a otra agencia o consejero. Algunas agencias han integrado los servicios de salud mental a sus servicios generales y ofrecen consejería como parte de sus intervenciones preventivas. Con frecuencia las necesidades de salud mental pasan desapercibidas debido al estigma que éstas tienen entre los individuos y en las instituciones. Estas necesidades pueden variar según la comunidad y región geográfica. Responder a los problemas de salud mental es una parte integral de la promoción de la salud y debe ser parte también de la prevención del VIH. No se trata de etiquetar a las personas ni de menospreciarlas, sino de darles un diagnóstico exacto y el tratamiento adecuado para su salud mental y física.

¿quién lo dice?

1. Ross MW, Rosser BR. Measurement and correlates of internalized homophobia: a factor analytic study. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1996;52:15-21. 2. Clements-Nolle K, Wilkinson W, Kitano K. HIV Prevention and Health Service Needs of the Transgender Community in San Francisco. in W. Bockting & S Kirk editors: Transgender and HIV: Risks, prevention and care. Binghampton, NY: The Haworth Press, Inc. 2001; in press. 3. Stiffman AR, Dore P, Cunningham RM, et al. Person and environment in HIV risk behavior change between adolescence and young adulthood. Health Education Quarterly. 1995;22:211-226. 4. Bartholow BN, Doll LS, Joy D, et al. Emotional, behavioral and HIV risks associated with sexual abuse among adult homosexual and bisexual men. Child Abuse and Neglect. 1994;9:747-761. 5. Miller M. A model to explain the relationship between sexual abuse and HIV risk among women. AIDS Care. 1999;1:3-20. 6. Petrak J, Byrne A, Baker M. The association between abuse in childhood and STD/HIV risk behaviors in female genitourinary (GU) clinic attendees. Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2000;6:457-461. 7. Fullilove MT, Fullilove RE, Smith M, et al. Violence, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder among women drug users. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1993;6:533-543. 8. Hoff RA, Beam-Goulet J, Rosenheck RA. Mental disorder as a risk factor for HIV infection in a sample of veterans. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 1997;185:556-560. 9. Mandel W, Kim J, Latkin C, et al. Depressive symptoms, drug network, and their synergistic effect on needle-sharing behavior among street injection drug users. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 1999;25:117-127. 10. Stiffman AR,Doré P, Earls F, et al. The influence of mental health problems on AIDS-related risk behaviors in young adults. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 1992;180:314-320. 11. Baney M, Dalit B, Koegel H, et al. Wellness program for MSM sex workers. Presented at the International Conference on AIDS, Durban, South Africa. 2000. Abstract #MoOrD255. 12. Woods ER, Samples CL, Melchiono MW, et al. Boston HAPPENS Program: a model of health care for HIV-positive, homeless and at-risk youth. Journal of Adolescent Health. 1998;23:37-48. 13. Thompson AS, Blankenship KM, Selwyn PA, et al. Evaluation of an innovative program to address the health and social service needs of drug-using women with or at risk for HIV infection. Journal of Community Health. 1998;23:419-421.

PREPARADO POR JIM DILLEY, MD*, PAMELA DECARLO** *AIDS Health Project **CAPS TRADUCIÓN ROCKY SCHNAATH Febrero 2002. Hoja Informativa 42S

Resource

Sexual networks

How do sexual networks affect HIV/STD prevention?

What are sexual networks?

Focusing on risk behavior alone does not explain why some persons and communities continue to be infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) more than others. Networks help explain why persons can have the same risk behavior and yet one may have a much greater risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. Sexual networks are groups of persons who are connected to one another sexually. The number of persons in a network, how central high-risk persons are within it, the percentage in monogamous relationships and the number of “links” each has to others all determine how quickly HIV/STDs can spread through a network.¹ Sexual networks are distinct from, but often overlap with social networks.

How do networks affect transmission?

The different ways persons select partners affect how quickly HIV/STDs can spread. Exclusively monogamous persons are, by definition, not part of a sexual network. If both are HIV-negative they remain so. Serial monogamists are persons who go from relationship to relationship one at a time. If they have unprotected sex, they have a higher risk of HIV/STDs than exclusively monogamous persons. Earlier partners’ risk may affect later partners. Concurrent relationships involve having more than one sexual partner in a given period and going back and forth between them. This increases the probability for transmission because earlier partners can be infected by later partners. Further, they can serve as “nodes”, connecting all persons in a dense cluster, creating highly connected networks that facilitate transmission. Concurrent partners can connect each of their respective clusters and networks as well. Concurrency alone can fuel an epidemic even if the average number of partners is relatively low. The two networks above show that what matters is not simply risk behavior, but risk configuration. Each has 8 persons (circles) connected into 9 relationships. Two persons each have 3 partners, and the other six each have 2 partners. Yet transmission will be less efficient in network A, and prevention will be more difficult in network B. In A, in just two steps from the index person, half the network can be infected and half spared; in B, two steps can result in everyone being infected except for the person on the extreme right. In A, sparing half the population from exposure requires cutting one bridge, while in B, it requires cutting three bridges. In a word, for epidemics, the network structure is destiny.³

What are key concepts of networks?

Number of partners. Programs can focus on persons with the largest number of ties to others in a network. With HIV/STDs, this suggests that in addition to promoting condom usage, programs seek to identify those with a high number of unprotected partners. Random spread broadens transmission. An infection spreads quickest when partnering is random.⁴ When partners select one another within groups such as age, ethnicity, class, religion or other characteristics, diseases may not spread to all subgroups. When partnering is anonymous or random, a disease can spread more quickly through all groups. Core groups. Core group members have high levels of risky behaviors. They contribute a disproportionate share of HIV/STDs, and can fuel sustained transmission. Centrality. How central an HIV+ person is to a network deeply influences transmission rates in a community. In Colorado Springs, CO, network analysts found that HIV+ persons had high levels of risk behavior but were located in peripheral areas of risk networks.⁵ This network configuration may have explained the relatively low HIV transmission levels. In contrast, HIV+ persons in New York City, NY occupied central positions within their needle-sharing and sexual risk networks, which helped explain the high observed levels of infection.⁶

Can sexual networks help explain racial differences in HIV/STD rates?

Yes. Sexual networks and partner selection help explain racial differences in HIV/STD infection rates. For example, African American gay and bisexual men may take no more risk than white men, but appear to get infected much faster.⁷ In the same way, Asian American gay and bisexual men report similar risk levels but get infected at lower rates.⁸ In one national study, it was shown that heterosexual African-Americans were getting infected with bacterial STDs at rates almost five times faster than whites after controlling for individual level risk factors. Sexually transmitted infections remain in African American populations because their partner choices are more segregated than other groups. In addition, non-core African-Americans (with few partners) are more likely to choose “core” sexual partners. ⁹

What interventions influence networks?

Partner notification. Many public health departments have developed highly confidential and sound techniques of partner notification and, through network analysis, have learned to trace “up” the chain of transmission to the transmitter rather than “down” the chain to those infected.¹⁰ This allows transmitters to be identified for treatment and HIV/STD prevention counseling. Message development. In addition to promoting condom use and counseling, media messages can be tailored to encourage network fragmentation by encouraging serial monogamy (“one partner at a time”) rather than overlapping partners. Community dialogue. Community-based organizations (CBOs) can play a key role in facilitating community dialogue about difficult questions about networks: How should communities balance sexual freedoms of all–including those at highest risk–with the health and future of their entire community? What community and cultural norms contribute to risky sexual networking? Additionally, CBOs should distinguish between traditionally-defined “risk groups” and those individuals with the very highest levels of risk to focus resources on them. Addressing venues which facilitate partner mixing. In many settings, identification of partners may be impossible. However, by focusing on venues which facilitate sexual mixing between members of both high- and low-risk networks, HIV/STD prevention workers may be able to reduce transmission. For example, many men with syphilis report meeting partners over the internet and in commercial sex venues.^11,12 Working with bathhouse and sex club managers and internet service providers to negotiate respective roles in promoting safer behaviors should be a priority for HIV/STD intervention workers. In San Francisco, CA, AIDS educators and sex club owners developed a shared set of guidelines to reduce risky behavior in the clubs.¹³ In the Netherlands, the gay dating internet site www.dateguide.nl provides interactive safer sex education for every man as he logs on.¹⁴

What still needs to be done?

At the beginning of the epidemic, network analysis helped explain some of the most important features of AIDS and helped explain its causes.15 It can still be useful now for agencies, communities, and researchers to work together to encourage sexual networks that discourage HIV/STD transmission. It has long been known and understood that some individuals contribute much more to the spread of HIV/STDs than others. Ignoring that fact, and ignoring the role of sexual networks in fueling the epidemic, hampers our ability to slow HIV/STD transmission.

Says who?

1. Potterat JJ, Muth SQ, Brody S. Evidence undermining the adequacy of the HIV reproduction number formula. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2000;27:644-645. 2. Morris M. Sexual networks and HIV. AIDS. 1997;11:S209-216. 3. Klovdahl AS, Potterat JJ, Woodhouse D, et al. HIV infection in a social network: A progress report. Bulletin de Methodologie Sociologique. 1992;36:24-33. 4. Laumann EO, Gagnon J, Michael R, Michaels S. The Social Organization of Sexuality. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1994. 5. Rothenberg RB, Potterat JJ, Woodhouse DE, et al. Social network dynamics and HIV transmission. AIDS. 1998;12:1529-1536. 6. Friedman SR, Neaigus A, Jose B, et al. Sociometric risk networks and risk for HIV infection. American Journal of Public Health. 1997;87:1289-1296. 7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Incidence Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men—-Seven U.S. Cities, 1994-2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2001;50:440-444. 8. Choi KH, Operario D, Gregorich S, et al. Age and race mixing patterns of sexual partnerships among Asian men who have sex with men: implications for HIV transmission and prevention. AIDS Education and Prevention. 2003;15:S53-65. 9. Laumann EO, Youm Y. Racial/ethnic group differences in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States: a network explanation. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 1999;26:250-61. 10. Ghani AC, Ison CA, Ward H, et al. Sexual partner networks in the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. An analysis of gonorrhea cases in Sheffield, UK. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 1996;23:498-503. 11. Klausner JD, Wolf W, Fischer-Ponce L, et al. Tracing a syphilis outbreak through cyberspace. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2000;284: 447-449. 12. Williams LA, Klausner JD, Whittington WL, et al. Elimination and reintroduction of primary and secondary syphilis. American Journal of Public Health. 1999;89:1093-1097. 13. Wohlfeiler D. Structural and environmental HIV prevention for gay and bisexual men. AIDS. 2000;14:S52-S56. 14. Harternik P, van Berkel M, van den Hoek K, et al. e-Dating: a developing field for HIV prevention. Published by the Dutch AIDS Fund. www.dateguide.nl 15. Auerbach DM, Darrow WW, Jaffe HW, et al. Cluster of cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Patients linked by sexual contact. American Journal of Medicine. 1984;76:487-92. Prepared by Prepared by Dan Wohlfeiler*, John Potterat *UCSF April 2003. Fact Sheet #50E Special thanks to the following reviewers of this Fact Sheet: Buzz Bense, Peggy Dolcini, Paul Etkind, Sam Friedman, Azra Ghani, Jed Herman, Ed Laumann, Virginia Loo, Robin Miller, Michael Samuel, Tom Valente, Russell Westacott.

Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California San Franciso should be cited as the source of this information. For additional copies of this and other HIV Prevention Fact Sheets, please call the National Prevention Information Network at 800/458-5231. Comments and questions about this Fact Sheet may be e-mailed to [email protected]. © April 2003, University of California

Resource

Redes sexuales

¿Cómo afectan las redes sexuales a la prevención del VIH/ETS?

¿qué son las redes sexuales?

El comportamiento de riesgo no es suficiente para explicar por qué algunas personas y comunidades (más que otras) siguen infectándose por el VIH y otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS). Las redes ayudan a explicar cómo dos personas pueden tener la misma conducta riesgosa y sin embargo una puede tener un riesgo mucho mayor de contraer o de transmitir el VIH. Las redes sexuales son grupos de personas interconectadas sexualmente. El número de personas en la red, la centralidad de las personas de alto riesgo, el porcentaje de relaciones monógamas y el número de “enlaces” que cada individuo tiene con los otros, son todos determinantes de la rapidez con la cual el VIH y las ETS pueden ser transmitidas por la red.¹ Las redes sexuales son distintas a las redes sociales, aunque muchas veces se traslapan.

¿cómo afectan las redes en la transmisión?

Las diferentes maneras de elección de parejas afectan la rapidez de propagación del VIH y las ETS. Por definición, las personas exclusivamente monógamas no forman parte de ninguna red sexual. Si ambas personas son VIH-negativas, permanecerán así. Los monógamos seriales son personas que terminan una relación antes de pasar a la próxima. Si tienen sexo sin protección, corren más riesgo de contraer el VIH o una ETS que las personas exclusivamente monógamas. El riesgo de las parejas anteriores puede afectar a las parejas posteriores. En las relaciones concurrentes, se tiene más de una pareja sexual en el mismo periodo y se tienen relaciones sexuales con una y otra alternativamente; lo cual aumenta la probabilidad de transmisión, pues las parejas anteriores pueden ser infectadas por las parejas posteriores. Además, las relaciones concurrentes pueden servir como “puntos o nodos” que conectan a todas las personas de la red en una densa agrupación, creando redes ampliamente conectadas que facilitan la transmisión. Las parejas concurrentes también pueden conectar a cada una de sus agrupaciones y redes respectivas. La concurrencia por sí sola puede generar una epidemia aunque el número promedio de parejas sea relativamente reducido. Las dos redes representadas arriba demuestran que no solo importa la conducta de riesgo sino también de la configuración del riesgo. Cada red tiene 8 personas (círculos) interconectadas que forman 9 relaciones. Dos personas tienen 3 parejas cada una, y las otras seis tienen 2 parejas cada una, pero la transmisión será menos eficiente en la red A y la prevención será más difícil en la red B. En la red A, a tan sólo dos pasos de la persona índice, la mitad de los integrantes de la red se pueden infectar mientras que la mitad puede permanecer libre de infección; en la B, a dos pasos todos pueden resultar infectados menos la persona situada al extremo derecho. Para evitar la exposición de la mitad de la población de la red A, es necesario cortar un solo enlace, mientras que en la red B se deberán cortar tres enlaces. En otras palabras, cuando se trata de una epidemia, el destino de las personas depende de la estructura de su red sexual.³

¿cuáles son los conceptos clave?

Número de parejas: Los programas se pueden enfocar en las personas con el mayor número de enlaces en la red. Con respecto al VIH/ETS, esto sugiere que además de promover el uso de condones, los programas deben identificar a las redes con un alto número de parejas desprotegidas. La difusión aleatoria amplifica la transmisión: La infección se propaga con más rapidez cuando la formación de parejas se hace aleatoriamente.⁴ Cuando las parejas se eligen por compartir ciertas características (como edad, grupo étnico o clase socioeconómica), es posible que la enfermedad no llegue a transmitirse a todos los subgrupos. Cuando la elección se realiza en forma aleatoria o anónima, la enfermedad se puede transmitir más rápidamente entre todos los grupos. Grupos centrales: Los integrantes del grupo central tienen un comportamiento de riesgo alto, contribuyen desproporcionadamente a la transmisión del VIH/ETS y pueden alimentar una transmisión sostenida. Centralidad: El grado de centralidad de una persona VIH+ dentro de la red tiene una influencia profunda sobre las tasas de transmisión en la comunidad. En Colorado Springs, CO, un análisis de redes reveló que las personas VIH+ tenían niveles altos de conducta riesgosa pero se situaban en la periferia de las redes de riesgo.⁵ Esta configuración de red puede haber explicado los niveles relativamente reducidos del VIH. En contraste, las personas VIH+ en la ciudad de Nueva York, NY ocupaban posiciones centrales dentro de sus redes de uso de jeringas compartidas y de riesgo sexual, lo cual ayudó a explicar los elevados niveles de infección observados entre ellas.⁶

¿pueden las redes sexuales ayudar a explicar diferencias raciales en las tasas de VIH/ETS?

Sí. Las redes sexuales y la selección de parejas ayudan a explicar las diferencias raciales en las tasas de VIH y ETS. Por ejemplo, aunque no se arriesguen más que los caucásicos los hombres afroamericanos gay y bisexuales, parecen infectarse mucho más rápidamente.⁷ De la misma manera, los hombres asiáticos gay y bisexuales reportan niveles parecidos de riesgo pero se infectan con menos frecuencia.⁸ Un estudio nacional demostró que los afroamericanos heterosexuales se infectaban con ETS casi cinco veces más rápidamente que los caucásicos después de controlar los factores de riesgo individuales. Las infecciones transmitidas sexualmente permanecen en las poblaciones afroamericanas porque la elección de parejas se hace en forma más segregada que en otros grupos. Además, los afroamericanos “no centrales” (con pocas parejas sexuales) son más propensos a elegir parejas sexuales “centrales”. En cambio, los caucásicos no centrales tienden a elegir parejas no centrales.⁹

¿qué intervenciones influyen en las redes?

Notificación de pareja: Muchos departamentos de salud pública han desarrollado técnicas sumamente confidenciales y confiables de notificación de parejas y, mediante el análisis de redes, han aprendido a rastrear “subiendo” por la cadena de transmisión hacia el transmisor en lugar de “bajar” por la cadena hacia las parejas infectadas.¹⁰ Esto les permite identificar a los transmisores y remitirlos a servicios de tratamiento y de asesoramiento sobre la prevención del VIH y las ETS. Formulación de mensajes: Además de la promoción del uso de condones y la consejería, se pueden difundir mensajes específicos en los medios de comunicación para fomentar la fragmentación de la red, lo cual se hace promoviendo la monogamia serial (“una pareja la vez”) en lugar de tener parejas concurrentes. Diálogo comunitario: Las organizaciones comunitarias (OC) pueden ser clave para facilitar el diálogo sobre las preguntas difíciles acerca de las redes en la comunidad: ¿Cómo deben las comunidades equilibrar las libertades sexuales de todos (incluyendo las personas de alto riesgo) con la salud y el futuro de la comunidad entera? ¿Qué normas comunitarias y culturales contribuyen a la formación de redes sexuales riesgosas? Las OC también deben distinguir entre los tradicionalmente definidos “grupos de riesgo” y aquellos individuos de más alto riesgo, con el fin de canalizar recursos hacia estos últimos. Lugares que facilitan el intercambio sexual de parejas: En muchos ambientes, la identificación de parejas puede ser imposible. Sin embargo, es posible que al focalizar lugares en donde las redes de alto riesgo se mezclan sexualmente con las de bajo riesgo, los promotores de la prevención del VIH y las ETS puedan reducir la transmisión. Por ejemplo, muchos hombres con sífilis informan haber conocido a parejas en internet y lugares de comercialización sexual.^11,12 Los trabajadores de intervenciones contra el VIH y las ETS deben priorizar la colaboración con los gerentes de baños públicos y de clubes sexuales y con los proveedores de servicios de internet para negociar sus papeles respectivos en la promoción de conductas más seguras. En San Francisco, CA, los educadores de SIDA y los propietarios de clubes sexuales establecieron una serie de normas compartidas para reducir las prácticas riesgosas en los clubes.¹³ En los Países Bajos, el sitio en internetwww.dateguide.nl para hombres gay que buscan pareja proporciona a quien entre al sitio una educación interactiva sobre cómo protegerse en el sexo.¹⁴

¿qué queda por hacer?

Al principio de la epidemia, el análisis de redes ayudó a explicar algunos de los aspectos más importantes del SIDA así como sus causas, y puede ser útil todavía en las colaboraciones entre organizaciones, comunidades e investigadores para fomentar la formación de redes sexuales que impidan la transmisión del VIH y las ETS.¹⁵ Hace tiempo que se sabe y se entiende que algunos individuos contribuyen mucho más a la transmisión del VIH y las ETS que otros. No darle importancia a este hecho y al papel de las redes sexuales en alimentar la epidemia impide nuestra capacidad para desacelerar la transmisión del VIH y las ETS.

¿quién lo dice?

Preparado por Dan Wohlfeiler*, John Potterat. *UCSF Traducción Rocky Schnaath Septiembre 2003. Hoja Informativa 50S

Resource

Stigma (fact sheet)

How does stigma affect HIV prevention and treatment?

Prepared by Pamela DeCarlo and Maria Ekstrand, PhD Community Engagement (CE) Core | October 2016

What is HIV/AIDS stigma?

HIV-related stigma is a significant problem globally. HIV stigma inflicts hardship and suffering on people living with HIV and interferes with research, prevention, treatment, care and support efforts. HIV-related stigma refers to negative beliefs, feelings and attitudes towards people living with HIV, their families and people who work with them. HIV stigma often reinforces existing social inequalities based on gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and culture. Stigma against many vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by HIV (such as the stigma of homosexuality, drug use, poverty, migration, transgender status, mental illness, sex work and racial, ethnic and tribal minority status) predates the epidemic and intersects with HIV stigma, which compounds the stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) who belong to such groups.¹ HIV-related discrimination, also known as enacted HIV stigma, refers to the unfair and unjust treatment of someone based on their real or perceived HIV status. Discrimination also affects family members and friends, caregivers, healthcare and lab staff who care for PLWH. The drivers of HIV-related discrimination usually include misconceptions regarding casual transmission of HIV and pre-existing prejudices against certain populations, behaviors, sex, drug use, illness and death. Discrimination can be institutionalized through laws, policies and practices that unjustly affect PLWH and marginalized groups.¹

How is HIV stigma harmful?

Stigma and discrimination add barriers which weaken the ability of people and communities to protect themselves from HIV and to stay healthy if they are living with HIV. To persons living with HIV. Fear of stigma, discrimination and potential violence, may keep people from disclosing their status to family, friends and sexual partners. This can increase isolation and undermine their ability to access and adhere to treatment, and undermine prevention efforts such as using condoms and not sharing drug equipment. Enacted stigma can result in losing housing and jobs, being ostracized by family, and being treated badly in healthcare facilities, among other effects. To vulnerable populations. The way people experience stigma varies across countries and communities. Stigma discourages people from seeking information and programs, for fear it will make others think they have HIV, are promiscuous or unfaithful, or are members of populations associated with HIV, like people who inject drugs, sex workers and gay men. It can make people less likely to get tested for HIV, use condoms, ask their partners about their status, use clean needles and injection equipment, or access biomedical prevention options such as male circumcision and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

How do people cope with stigma?

Several factors help individuals cope with HIV-related stigma, and respond to feelings of worthlessness, depression, and anger associated with their diagnosis. Many people learn to manage or cope with stigma quite well and have very positive relationships not impacted greatly by stigma, especially if they have supportive family and friends. Social support. For many PLWH, social support can help buffer the impact of any stigma. A study of African American PLWH found many had experienced stigma and discrimination, but the impact was softened by having non-PLWH in their social networks express interest and take the initiative to offer help. Connection with other PLWH gave them an opportunity to share their feelings and to fight for their rights.² A study of young African American men who have sex with men (MSM) found that stigma of racism and homophobia was associated with delayed HIV testing, but that men with peer support tested earlier.³ Adapting and coping. Although it can be difficult for persons in already stigmatized communities to identify as HIV-positive, many PLWH do accept their HIV status and successfully form an identity of being pro-active and choosing to live. Adequate treatment for depression and anxiety, along with acceptance of one’s diagnosis, provide a protective buffer against stigma and promote acceptance of lifelong HIV treatment.⁴

How is HIV stigma addressed?

Stigma exists, and should be targeted at multiple levels: individual, interpersonal (family, friends, social networks), organizational, community and public policy.5 Involving PLWH in the design, creation, implementation and evaluation of stigma reduction programs is critical to success. Individual level Increasing individual knowledge about HIV transmission, prevention and care, as well as access to services and legal rights is important. One study in South Africa found that while some PLWH experienced stigma through insults and arguments with family members during conflict, they knew that disclosing someone’s status without their consent was a crime. In these instances, threatening to go to the police, or sometimes actually calling the police, allowed PLWH to fight back and maintain their self-esteem.⁶ Interpersonal level The We Are Family campaign from Greater Than AIDS and the Georgia Department of Public Health, reinforces the importance of social support for PLWH. The video campaign features a grandmother and her grown son, a college student and his parents, a pastor and his congregation, a recovering addict and his mother, a transgender woman and her sister, and childhood best friends, all supporting one another following an HIV diagnosis.⁷ Organizational level Healthcare providers are often named by PLWH as important sources of stigma.⁸ Programs for training healthcare workers⁹ should address culturally-specific stigma drivers, including personal fears of infection, prejudice towards vulnerable groups, and misconceptions or lack of knowledge about HIV transmission, prevention, treatment and universal precautions.¹⁰ Programs also should address how the effect of stigma, discrimination, breaches of confidentiality and negative attitudes can negatively impact patients’ lives, health, and ability to follow treatment regimens. Biomedical and behavioral approaches to HIV prevention, such as PrEP, routine HIV testing, starting treatment soon after diagnosis (test and treat), and treatment for PLWH to viral suppression, have been successful in the US and several countries in reducing new HIV infections and improving the life and health of PLWH. However, HIV stigma and discrimination can greatly impact the success of these interventions. Stigma surrounding PrEP use, including assumptions about promiscuity, can negatively affect PrEP access and uptake.¹¹ Prejudice among healthcare workers may result in drug users, young adults, women¹² and other marginalized populations not being offered either PrEP or HIV testing. Community level The Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign, launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raises awareness about HIV and its impact on the lives of all Americans, and fights stigma by showing that persons with HIV are real people—mothers, fathers, friends, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, partners, wives, husbands, and co-workers. The campaign offers facts about HIV, links to testing sites across the US, guidance for taking action against stigma, and online stories about PLWH, and the people who care for them.¹³ Policy level In Ghana, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Health Policy Project developed a web-based mechanism for PLWH to report discrimination in employment, health care, education and other areas. Reports can be anonymous, and all reports result in mediation, investigation and legal resolution by human rights and legal organizations.¹⁴

What needs to be done?

Both the US White House and UNAIDS reports recommend focusing on key populations that have high and disproportionate rates of HIV, and are at higher risk for transmitting and acquiring HIV.^1,15 Reducing stigma for other conditions common among persons at risk for or living with HIV—such as substance use, mental health problems, sex work and homelessness—and addressing homophobia are important efforts to improve health outcomes. However, promotion of disclosure of HIV status must be accompanied by protections for PLWH. This calls for a continued commitment to civil rights enforcement.

Says who?

1. UNAIDS. Reduction of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Guidance Note. 2014. www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2014/ReductionofHIV-relatedstigma… 2. Mosack KE, Stevens PE, Brouwer AM, et al. Shared illness and social support within two HIV-affected African American communities. Qualitative Health Research. 2015 Oct 28. 3. Scott HM, Pollack L, Rebchook GM, et al. Peer social support is associated with recent HIV testing among young black men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior. 2014;1:913-920. 4. Katz IT, Ryu AE, Onuegbu AG, et al. Impact of HIV-related stigma on treatment adherence: systematic review and meta-synthesis. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2013, 16(Suppl 2):18640. 5. Stangl AL, Lloyd JK, Brady LM, et al. A systematic review of interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination from 2002 to 2013: how far have we come? Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2013;16(Suppl 2):18734.) 6. Abrahams N, Jewkes R. Managing and resisting stigma: a qualitative study among people living with HIV in South Africa. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2012;15:17330. 7. We Are Family. www.greaterthan.org/we-are-family-love-saves-lives/ 8. UNAIDS. Key programmes to reduce stigma and discrimination and increase access to justice in national HIV responses. Guidance Note. 2012. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2012/Key_Human_Rights_Programmes 9. Kidd R and Clay S. Understanding and challenging HIV stigma: Toolkit for action. International Center for Research on Women. 2003. www.icrw.org/publications/understanding-and-challenging-hiv-stigma-tool… 10. Ekstrand ML, Ramakrishna J, Bharat S, et al. Prevalence and drivers of HIV stigma among health providers in urban India: implications for interventions. Journal of International AIDS Society. 2013;16:18717. 11. Calabrese SK, Underhill K. How Stigma Surrounding the Use of HIV Preexposure prophylaxis undermines prevention and pleasure: A call to destigmatize “Truvada whores.” American Journal of Public Health. 2015;105:1960–1964. 12. Auerbach JD, Kinsky S, Brown G, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and likelihood of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among US women at risk of acquiring HIV. AIDS Patient Care and STDs. 2015. 29:102-110. 13. CDC. Let’s Stop HIV Together. www.cdc.gov/actagainstaids/campaigns/lsht/ 14. UNAIDS. On the Fast-Track to end AIDS by 2030: Focus on location and population. 2015. www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2015/FocusLocationPopulation 15. The White House. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020. https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/national-hiv-aids-strategy/nhas-update

Prepared by Pamela DeCarlo and Maria Ekstrand PhD, CAPS *CAPS October 2016 . Special thanks to the following reviewers of this Fact Sheet: Sarah Calabrese, Barbara Green-Ajufo, Cynthia Grossman, William Holzemer, Sebastian Kevany, Daryl Mangosing, Cynthia Tucker. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the University of California San Francisco should be cited as the source. Fact Sheets are also available in Spanish. ©2016, University of CA. Comments and questions about this Fact Sheet may be e-mailed to [email protected].

Resource

Adapting programs

Can HIV Prevention Programs Be Adapted?

Why adapt?

We know that many HIV prevention interventions have made a difference, and that prevention efforts have helped to lower rates of HIV infection in many different populations.¹ But as the HIV epidemic changes, so too do the number and groups of people at risk for HIV. Adapting interventions allows us to use principles we know are effective to address the needs of those newly at risk, who may not have been studied yet. Developing new interventions is expensive and time consuming, and it makes good sense to adapt programs that have been demonstrated to be effective.² Using existing tools and theories of successful programs can save time and money. In an age when money for prevention is limited, adapting interventions can be cost-effective.

Aren’t all populations different?

Yes and no. While each community or population is unique, there are many similarities between populations and their social, political and emotional environments. While injecting drug users in Chicago, IL may have very different needs than young gay men in Eugene, OR, both may benefit from similar aspects of programs. For example, using peer educators to help spread the message and change community norms can be effective for both groups.^3,4 HIV prevention is more than simply teaching safer sex and safe drug use nuts and bolts. Prevention programs need to take into account the life context in which a person applies safer sex, and the relationship to the HIV epidemic of the person. Prevention programs need to be tailored to these different situations, not reinvented entirely.

What helps with adaptation?

Program planners can choose from a variety of elements of prevention programs that can address their own local population, setting or intervention needs. Staff training and technical assistance to understand and effectively implement programs is key for successful adaptation. Understanding the community is integral to adapting programs.⁵ Service organizations often know their populations best, whether through outreach or needs assessment. Before adapting an intervention, it is essential to understand the characteristics of the original program and its audience, and how they are different or similar to the new environment. Theory gives a background for behavior change, and may also be useful in assessing whether an intervention is appropriate for a different target group. For example, the Social Cognitive theory of behavior calls for learning through interactions with other people and using physical and social environments to produce change.⁶ Role playing, community building, interactive videos and job training can all be components of a program using this theory. Peer education has been an important element of prevention programs and serves as a powerful motivator especially for disenfranchised people. Such programs recruit peer educators who are at high risk, and teach them how to educate and help save the lives of their friends and colleagues.⁷ This recognizes that people in their own communities have tremendous power of persuasion and can be effective agents of change. Another successful prevention element involves addressing notions of family, community and ethnic pride.⁸ For example, offering parenting and communicating classes often attracts more participation from parents than offering classes specifically about HIV. Appealing to protecting and supporting the community or family-children, spouses, relatives-can be more encouraging than simply protecting oneself.

What are some examples?

The STOP AIDS project in San Francisco, CA, has served as a model for HIV prevention across the country.⁹ The model, based on community mobilization and outreach and small group meetings, has been adapted and used for gay men across the country.⁹ The STOP AIDS model has been used in Los Angeles, CA, West Palm Beach, FL, Phoenix, AZ and Chicago, IL, among other cities. In San Francisco, clients have been recruited on the streets and at bars, while in Chicago, the program has gone into schools. They have found that HIV prevention programs work better when high levels of local commitment are established in a city. Healthy Oakland Teens (HOT), a peer-based sex education program at a junior high school in Oakland, CA, trained ninth graders to lead classes on sexuality and HIV/AIDS to seventh graders. After one year, students in the program were less likely to initiate activities such as deep kissing, genital touching, and sexual intercourse.¹⁰ HOT was then adapted to address Balinese youth who were perceived at risk for HIV due to increasing HIV seroprevalence and an extensive tourist and sex industry in Bali. In Bali, researchers found that among members of traditional Balinese youth groups, only 14% of those who were sexually active had used condoms. Although most still lived at home, only 33% reported feeling comfortable discussing sexuality with their parents, while 75% felt comfortable discussing it with their peers. The HOT model of peer education was therefore seen to be appropriate, and the setting was changed from public schools to traditional Balinese youth groups which reach all Balinese youth regardless of socioeconomic status or educational level.¹¹ One successful prevention program for gay men in small cities recruited popular opinion leaders from bars, and trained them to deliver and model prevention messages to their peers.¹² This program was then adapted to address minority women in inner city housing developments. However, the program didn’t work there. The reason? Women didn’t know their neighbors, and because of high crime rates in the housing developments, were reluctant to open their doors to someone they didn’t know. This program was then reworked, starting by helping women in the housing developments establish a sense of community through potluck dinners and music festivals. As a result, not only did the women increase condom use and communication, but the community began to tackle other issues besides HIV such as drugs and violence in the housing development.¹³

What needs to be done?

Service organizations need to commit time and resources to training staff in effective use of prevention programs, including using theory, conducting needs assessments and reaching out to researchers and other organizations to find out what interventions have been shown to be effective. Community planning groups (CPGs) need to facilitate better communication and stable relationships between researchers, community based organizations and Health Departments. CPG Program Coordinators can help link CPGs with local researchers to help community-based prevention planners determine the best adaptations to make. Researchers need to move from small scale efficacy studies to wide scale field trials. Many interventions are effective in what can be a very controlled research environment (clients often receive payment, staff is well paid and often have advanced degrees). These interventions then need to be tested in the “real world” to see how they may need to be adapted or modified to ensure effectiveness under different conditions and with different populations. Funders need to commit funds to adaptation and pilot testing new programs at the community level. A comprehensive HIV prevention strategy uses many elements to protect as many people at risk for HIV as possible. Adapting existing interventions can be a money-saving and effective prevention strategy.

Says who?

Office of Technology Assessment. The Effectiveness of AIDS Prevention Efforts. 1995.
Holtgrave DR, Qualls NL, Curran JW, et al. An overview of the effectiveness and efficiency of HIV prevention programs . Public Health Reports. 1995;110:134-146.
Weibel W, Jimenez A, Johnson W, et al. Positive effect on HIV seroconversion of street outreach intervention with IDUs in Chicago. Presented at the 9th International Conference on AIDS. Berlin, Germany, 1993. Abstract WSC152.
Hays RB, Rebchook, GM, Kegeles SM. The Mpowerment project: a community-level HIV prevention intervention for young gay and bisexual men . American Journal of Public Health. 1996;86:1-8.
- Contact: Susan Kegeles 415/597-9159.
Herek GM, Greene B, eds. AIDS, identity, and community : the HIV epidemic and lesbians and gay men . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 1995.
Bandura A. Social cognitive theory and exercise of control over HIV infection. In DiClemente RJ, ed. Preventing AIDS: Theories and Methods of Behavioral interventions . New York, NY: Plenum Press; 1994.
Grinstead OA, Zack B, Faigeles B. Effectiveness of peer HIV education for prisoners. Presented at the Biopsychosocial Conference on AIDS; Brighton, England. 1994.
- Contact: Barry Zack, Marin AIDS Project 415/457-2487.
Díaz RM. HIV risk in Latino gay/bisexual men: a review of behavioral research. Report prepared for the National Latino/a Lesbian and Gay Organization. 1995.
- Contact: Jose Ramón Fernández-Peña, Mission Neighborhood Health Center, 415/552-1013 X386.
Wohlfeiler D. Community Organizing and Community Building Among Gay and Bisexual Men. In Minkler M, ed. Community Organizing and Community Building for Health . Rutgers University Press. (in press).
- Contact: Dan Wohlfeiler 415/575-1545.
Ekstrand ML, Siegel D, Nido V, et al. Peer-led AIDS prevention delays initiation of sexual behaviors among US junior high school students. Presented at 11th International Conference on AIDS, Vancouver, BC. 1996.
- Contact: Maria Ekstrand 415/597-9160.
Merati T, Wardhana M, Ekstrand M, et al. HIV risk taking among youth participating in peer-led AIDS education programs in traditional Balinese youth groups. Presented at the 11th International Conference on AIDS; Vancouver BC. 1996. Th.C.4411.
Kelly JA, St. Lawrence JS, Stevenson LY, et al. Community AIDS/HIV risk reduction: the effects of endorsements by popular people in three cities . American Journal of Public Health. 1992;82.1483-1489.
- Contact: Jeff Kelly 414/287-4680.
Sikkema KJ, Kelly J, Heckman T, et al. Effects of community-level behavior change intervention for women in low-income housing developments. Presented at the 11th International Conference on AIDS; Vancouver BC. 1996. Tu.C.453.

Contact: Kathy Sikkema 414/287-6100.

Prepared by Pamela DeCarlo and Jeff Kelly

Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California San Franciso should be cited as the source of this information. For additional copies of this and other HIV Prevention Fact Sheets, please call the National AIDS Clearinghouse at 800/458-5231. Comments and questions about this Fact Sheet may be e-mailed to [email protected]. ©1996, University of California