Conference Abstract

HOPE: A Double Edged Sword. T Bettencourt. BAY Positives.

Poster Presentation

Category: Adolescents & Young People

In the beginning of the epidemic the services and resources available for people infected with HIV were scarce. In the past three years there have been major shifts in the perception of HIV as a fatal illness and an increased sense of hope in the HIV positive community. These changes can be linked to the development of protease inhibitors. In the past year specifically, Post Exposure Prophylactics, commonly misconstrued as "the morning after pill", and early intervention therapies have connotated a false sense of there being a "cure". These situations have fostered a false sense of security and resistance to prevention efforts. There is now a need to disseminate accurate information regarding treatment therapies in order to correct the misconception that there is no longer a need for prevention efforts. There is also a need to develop a personal sense of responsibility in young people in order to counter these misconceptions and false sense of security. The presenters will be three HIV positive young people with experience working with and developing HIV positive youth. They will draw upon personal experiences and the changing trends in the HIV epidemic. Special populations to be addressed are youth, HIV positive persons, and service providers.

The Measurement Group