For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Justin Burke - 213.201.1525
EMAIL:jburke@apla.org
AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES TO PARTICIPATE IN
XIV INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE IN BARCELONA
Los Angeles, July 1, 2002 – AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) will present two posters at the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain: Predictors of Unprotected Anal Intercourse with Casual Sexual Partners among HIV Positive Men who have Sex with Men in Los Angeles County and Integrating Nutrition Information and Skills Into an HIV Food Bank to Improve Health.
In 2000 and 2001, Los Angeles County experienced outbreaks of syphilis primarily among men who have sex with men who were also infected with HIV. APLA conducted research to explore HIV/STD knowledge levels relative to sexual risk behaviors and to gain a better understanding of predictors for sexual risk behaviors.
APLA also initiated a pilot project to integrate its HIV nutrition education program into its food bank. People living with HIV/AIDS can have multiple nutrition related problems and have long been recognized to be at greater risk for food and water borne illnesses. Information about nutrition as well food and water safety can optimize HIV treatment and improve health. APLA created a seamless program of nutrition information and food distribution for people living with HIV disease. This project is part of an effort at APLA to integrate client services and education programs.
The studies and their findings will be presented at the XIV International AIDS Conference beginning July 7 in Barcelona.
AIDS Project Los Angeles, one of the nation’s largest AIDS service organizations, provides direct services to more than 10,000 men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County. Services include prevention education, nutrition, food banks, professional dental care, housing assistance, mental health counseling, women’s services and case management. APLA is a leader in the provision of bilingual HIV treatment information, in print and on the Internet, and advocates for effective AIDS-related policies and legislation on the local, state and federal level. For more information, please visit www.apla.org.
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