Barcelona 2013
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| Abstract #464 - E-Posters English | ||||
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Session: 50.36: E-Posters English (Poster) on Sunday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Darigg Brown - RTI International, United States |
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| Additional Authors: Dr. Jordi Casabona, Sra Cristina Sanclemente, Dra. Anna Esteve, Dra. Victoria Gonzalez, Grupo HIVITS TS, | ||||
| Aim: In this presentation, we discuss the vital role of independent research organizations in addressing national HIV/AIDS research needs and propose a unique partnership to build capacity and strengthen the skills of researchers at Kenya?s African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) to conduct social and behavioral research to prevent and reduce HIV/AIDS. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Kenya has the third largest population of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, which bears a disproportionate burden (68%) of the global AIDS epidemic. Thus, conducting high-quality HIV prevention research to combat the epidemic is a priority for the region. | ||||
| Results / Comments: As non-profit, non-government, non-academic research organizations, U.S.-based RTI International (RTI) and APHRC are prime candidates for a private institutional research partnership. Less common than other types (e.g., government/academic or academic/academic), this partnership would allow RTI and APHRC to leverage their strengths to further implementation research activities in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa. The missions and values of both organizations are well aligned. The agility and flexibility of both RTI and APHRC researchers in a non-political environment allows them to use broader approaches to quickly address emerging research needs. Also, the accessibility of multidisciplinary teams allows them to easily tailor their research approach to population health. APHRC has a robust portfolio of research on non-communicable diseases (NCD) and preventive health services delivery, but less in the way of HIV/AIDS. RTI has extensive experience in domestic and global HIV/AIDS implementation research. Thus, significant opportunities exist for APHRC to better understand how to effectively and efficiently incorporate HIV/AIDS preventive services across Kenya, and for RTI to help APHRC translate its current knowledge base on NCD health service delivery into a viable portfolio of applied HIV/AIDS research. Based on the PEPFAR Capacity Building and Strengthening Framework, we envision a capacity building framework with key inputs, activities, and outputs. A needs assessment would help identify priorities and objectives. Individual level capacity would focus on four different areas of implementation research: 1. Designing and conducting formative research 2. Conducting economic and cost-effectiveness studies 3. Developing and implementing survey research 4. Developing studies to assess and address community-level stigma To address organizational and systems level capacity building, we propose a fifth training module that would focus on business development and planning activities (e.g., managing and developing successful project proposals). RTI and APHRC researchers would also engage in discussions with local government, health, and research organizations to better understand policy and funding issues and priorities. This information can guide further development of strategic partnership and planning activities for conducting HIV/AIDS research in Kenya. | ||||
| Discussion: This capacity building partnership would be a mutually beneficial learning exchange that could advance individual research skills and expertise, along with institutional development, that addresses the multifaceted challenges of HIV/AIDS in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa. We anticipate the spread of this research knowledge to other community-based and non-government organizations. As a result, people across Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa may benefit from critical social and behavioral research on the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. | ||||
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