[Austrian AIDS counseling: responsibilities and strategies]

Abstract

The Austrian AIDS Foundation was founded in 1985 to satisfy the urgent needs of HIV-infected persons and those at increased risk of HIV infection, where such aid could not be met by existing medical institutions. Seven counselling centres with more than 100 members of staff provide services all over Austria. On the one hand the foundation offers help and support in all matters regarding HIV infection (counselling, social work, medical care). The second main task of the organization is the prevention of further spread of HIV through targeted information for the different groups (heterosexuals, homo/bi-sexual men, drug abusers, women, children and adolescents) to establish behaviour modification.