| Room 518 | Spanish Presentations Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Time: 2:30 PM-4:30 PM |
Sexual Health promoters educational program focused on AIDS prevention in transvestite men who have sex with men.
Rodriguez, Rosa*,1, 1 Centro Nacional de Educacion Sexual, Ciudad de La Habana, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba
ABSTRACT- Introduction and objectives; The 80 % of HIV transmission in Cuba is trough male individuals, among them 86 % are trough men who have sex with men. The AIDS prevention strategies by the CENESEX are focused on an educational program that includes transvestite men who have sex with men. The main objective was to educate transvestite men who have sex with men on communication skills and proper knowledge on AIDS prevention. Methods and results: The sample included 21 transvestites who have sex with men. The selection criteria were to be motivated, to be 19 years old and older, and to be free of psychiatric disturbances. We also used some techniques for the selection that included interviews, autobiography, focal groups, psychological tests (16PF Catell, Bender, Machover, Somatic Test, Raven) and meeting places visits. The educational program was performed based on the learning necessities of this group. We planned 10 working sessions with a total amount of 40 hours. The Program was adapted to their communication and language codes. Conclusions: The educational program allowed us to educate transvestites men who have sex with men on AIDS prevention. It resulted in a permanent forum of discussion with a better understanding of this group. It made possible the reinsertion of some of them to their jobs or to the school. Remarkable improvement were seen in their personal and with their couples relationships, usually characterized by a violent pattern. This experience could be extended to other 4 provinces in our country
Key words: AIDS-HIV, transvestite, men who have sex with men, health promoters