Abstracts in english – 2009/3

Rácz József, Márványkövi Ferenc és Melles Katalin:

Pilot study on Community-Based Outreach Model among among intravenous drug users in Budapest

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of the research was to develop and carry out an HIV/HCV counselling programme for intravenous drug users living in Budapest, Hungary. Another objective was to evaluate the short-term effects of the intervention. Method: A training programme was first developed based on the NIDA Community-Based Outreach Model. Then social workers who acted as educators of the programme were trained in. Educators provided three counselling sessions to participants of the programme. Evaluation sheet (a face-to-face structured interview) was developed at an earlier stage. Baseline data was collected at the first counselling session, while follow-up data was gathered 30 days after the completion of the programme to measure short-term effects. Subjects: 87 intravenous drug users were randomly selected for the programme. Selection criteria included no previous HIV and HCV tests or no knowledge of previous test results. 43 persons were selected to be members of the control group, while 44 persons were picked to be members of the experimental group. 11 and 12 persons fell out of the programme from the control and the experimental group, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding sociodemographic, drug consumption characteristics as well as previous knowledge on HIV and HCV at the beginning of the programme. Results: Due to the random sample taking, the two groups showed no statistically significant differences initially in the aspects mentioned above. This is a crucial criteria for carrying out and measuring the effects of any interventions. Although this was not a main goal, we found no predictors of the non-completion of the programme. Significant increase in HIV and HCV knowledge was recorded in both groups 30 days after the completion of the programme, which can be interpreted as a short-term effect. At the same time, apart from a few indicators to be described later, we found similar results in both groups.

Discussion: The research results suggest that structured, counselling-based HIV/HCV interventions combined with outreach work can also be realised in Hungary, as it has been seen in other countries. The lack of significant differences seen between the two groups at the end of the project requires a better training and monitoring of the educators. In addition to increasing knowledge and perception, the intervention should focus more on aiming to change behaviour (safer injecting, participation in HIV/HCV testing).

Addictologia Hungarica, VIII, 3: 219-253

Baráth Árpád: Traumatized memories, violence, mourning and perspectives of reconciliation in modern societies: A critical overview

Abstract

Provided a brief insight into a rather complex phenomenon, known as ”transgenerational transmission of trauma”. The paper focuses on such historical traumas that, at the time of events and long after, cause suffering of large masses of people. If the memories of such painful events are forcefully “teared up” and manipulated at times of crisis, they may trigger a full range of group violence and patterns of destructive mass behavior. At the same time, the intergenerational transmission of mass traumas is a latent process. It can make generations after generations vulnerable to a full range of ill-health conditions, ranging from chronic diseases to epidemic-like spread of self-defeating lifestyles and patterns of destructive behaviors. It is evident that help is urgently needed in many modern societies to restrain depression and newly emerging waves of collective violence. However, to attain this goal plain political rhetoric is not enough, nor traditional religious preaching. There is a growing need for non-political civil, transcultural international cooperation and sound professional knowledge in peace building.

Key words: trauma, memory, mourning, violence, reconciliation

Addictologia Hungarica, VIII, 3: 254-274.