HIV/AIDS Prevention: Intervention Project Of The Higher School Of Nursing. University Of Évora (ESESJD/UÉ)

Abstract

Introduction: With an estimate of 1400 new cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Portugal every year, recent UNAIDS' reports (2010) reveal that there are around 42000 people infected with HIV/AIDS in our country. These are indeed disturbing indicators of the Portuguese epidemic, which place Portugal, within the context of West Europe, in the group of countries where the HIV/AIDS incidence rate is higher. For this reason the HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention National Program is seen as priority policy of the Ministry of Health and of the Health National Plan. The ESESJD/UE, in partnership with the Unity of Community Care of Evora, is developing a pilot project of intervention with pairs. Aim: Characterize the UE community (students, teachers, staff) regarding their knowledge and behaviors related to HIV/AIDS transmission; Inform/create awareness about HIV/AIDS transmission close to the students and others in the community of University of Evora; Ease the access to Counseling services for sexual health and HIV/AIDS transmission. Methodology: Training of educators pairs; Dynamize awareness campaigns in different venues of the UE; Analyze the characteristics regarding the attitudes, knowledge and behaviours related to HIV/AIDS transmission, within the academic community of UE. Conclusions: Due to the various roles, ages and experiences of people who circulate and interact, due to the lack of coverage of projects institutionally defined, the UE is a priveleged context for establishing a Community Intervention Program to deal with the thematic of STD and HIV/AIDS, aiming a better well-being of the UE community.