The first activities related to STI/HIV/AIDS prevention were the implementation of the Venezuelan National AIDS hotline “0 800 SIDA” and the development of preventive material (brochures and flyers). PSIA has maintained a strong commitment to reduce the incidence of infection among adolescents.

The dramatic increase of HIV infection among teenagers is all the more alarming because it is a population that does not properly measure its risk to becoming infected and does not have enough information to protect themselves. All of the elements of our adolescent directed activities, the hotlines, workshops, brochures, videos and the promotion of “double protection” reflect PSIA’s preoccupation and concern.

The obstacles to condom use, which offers the best protection against becoming infected, are not often shared by young men and women. Our investigations show that men are much more concerned about infection than women, who are more concerned about an unplanned pregnancy, yet continue to have unprotected sex.

The continued increase in the number of infections reflects the inability in producing the desired behavioral change. PSIA is exploring new possibilities with its products such as the presentation of both a condom with an emergency contraceptive pill and a condom with a routine oral contraceptive, to try and find the right message to increase condom use.

With regards to other populations at risk, PSIA is proud to know that it is assisting the government of Venezuela in protecting commercial sex workers and their clients who use our female condom.
PSIA was also at the forefront of distributing over the counter HIV home test kits years before the current discussion now taking place within the FDA. Branded “INSTI”, the test, that was made available in pharmacies, offered a highly economical alternative to lab testing.