Computer-assisted data collection can help improve data validity
Much has been written about the challenges of social desirability bias in self-reported measures. In order to alleviate this, our study team is using computer-assisted interviewing to survey our MAISHA study participants. We are using computer tablets that are equipped with audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI) software. With an ACASI modality, our team is ableContinue reading “Computer-assisted data collection can help improve data validity”
Congratulations Haika and Linda!
We are excited to announce Haika Osaki as our new study coordinator and Linda Minja as our new assistant coordinator for the Maisha study! Haika joined our team in April 2019 and has taken charge of the day to day activities for the stigma reduction intervention. She has a background in Sociology (BA), Public HealthContinue reading “Congratulations Haika and Linda!”
The Maisha Pilot Trial Has Started Enrolling!
Enrollment has begun! Today marks the first day of enrollment for the Maisha pilot trial at the Pasua and Majengo clinics. Women and their partners attending a first antenatal care appointment will be recruited, consented and enrolled in the study. We hope to enroll a total of 1,000 women and 500 male partners in aContinue reading “The Maisha Pilot Trial Has Started Enrolling!”
It’s a wrap! Maisha video ready for its intervention debut!
The Maisha intervention video is up and running! Thanks to an incredible team of actors, the video is now available for session 1 of the MAISHA intervention study. The Maisha video aims to dispel misconceptions that drive HIV stigma while normalizing pregnancy in the context of a positive HIV status. In this 7 minute film,Continue reading “It’s a wrap! Maisha video ready for its intervention debut!”
Dr. Manavalan investigates hypertension prevalence among adult patients with HIV
Dr. Preeti Manavalan has been a member of the Option B+ study team since 2017, when she joined the team during the research year of her Infectious Diseases fellowship at Duke to help with data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings. As a Fogarty Global Health Fellow, Dr. Manavalan is completing a year of researchContinue reading “Dr. Manavalan investigates hypertension prevalence among adult patients with HIV”
Team presents Option B+ and Stigma studies at National AIDS Control Program meeting in Arusha
From December 3-5, researchers, policy makers, government officials, and stakeholders involved in HIV work met in Arusha, Tanzania to share and discuss strategies, guidelines, innovations, and research findings on HIV and AIDS. The goal of the meeting was to disseminate the health sector HIV and AIDS guidelines and strategies, to share innovations and research findingsContinue reading “Team presents Option B+ and Stigma studies at National AIDS Control Program meeting in Arusha”
Congratulations, Dr. Rogathi!!
We are thrilled to celebrate the graduation of our study coordinator, Dr. Jane Rogathi, who received her PhD in Epidemiology (Public Health) from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College on November 17. Jane completed her thesis research on intimate partner violence and depression affecting women during pregnancy and after childbirth. The study was based in antenatalContinue reading “Congratulations, Dr. Rogathi!!”
Dr. Watt’s study in South Africa lends insight into disclosure challenges for pregnant women with HIV
In 2015, Dr. Melissa Watt received a small grant from the Duke Center for AIDS Research to explore HIV care engagement for women initiating ART during pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa. This research, conducted in collaboration with researchers at the University of Cape Town, helped lay the foundation for the team’s current work inContinue reading “Dr. Watt’s study in South Africa lends insight into disclosure challenges for pregnant women with HIV”
Stakeholder meeting generates exciting conversations
On August 9, 2018, the team hosted a scientific symposium and stakeholder meeting at KCMC to discuss addressing HIV stigma in PMTCT in the Kilimanjaro Region. The aim of the meeting was to bring together scientists and health practitioners working on PMTCT-related activities in order to share our preliminary research findings on PMTCT in theContinue reading “Stakeholder meeting generates exciting conversations”
Godfrey Kisigo joins newest cohort of MSc students at DGHI!
After a year of hard work coordinating the Option B+ study at KCMC, Godfrey Kisigo will have the chance to further his training in global health research at the Duke Global Health Institute. Godfrey will bring his multitude of experiences, dedicated work ethic, and bright smile to Durham as he joins 29 other classmates asContinue reading “Godfrey Kisigo joins newest cohort of MSc students at DGHI!”
Jane Rogathi joins the team as Study Coordinator
As the Option B+ team prepares for the launch of the new stigma study, we are excited to welcome Jane Rogathi as our Study Coordinator at KCMC. Jane is a nurse with graduate-level experience in epidemiology and applied biostatistics. As part of her research for her PhD, she conducted studies to examine intimate partner violence affectingContinue reading “Jane Rogathi joins the team as Study Coordinator”
Team launches new stigma study
The Option B+ Team continues to make great progress as we wrap up our 12-month follow-up of cohort participants and continue data analysis. Preliminary findings have helped us to better understand the challenges pregnant and postpartum women face, and demonstrate the need to address stigma among pregnant women navigating prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services.Continue reading “Team launches new stigma study”
Godfrey Kisigo attends the Global Reproductive Health Leadership Symposium at Duke
Our study coordinator, Godfrey, visited Duke at the end of February to attend the Global Reproductive Health Leadership Symposium. The goal of the symposium was to bring researchers from DGHI priority partner locations in East and South Africa together with their mentors and other Duke faculty, students, and trainees “to strengthen research capacity, develop leadershipContinue reading “Godfrey Kisigo attends the Global Reproductive Health Leadership Symposium at Duke”
Systematic review on retention in HIV care under Option B+ published in JAIDS
As we follow our cohort of HIV-infected women in Tanzania, it is important for us to place our research within the broader context of Option B+ implementation across Africa. Our team conducted the first systematic review synthesizing the growing body of literature describing the PMTCT care cascade in the Option B+ era in Africa. The reviewContinue reading “Systematic review on retention in HIV care under Option B+ published in JAIDS”
Two Option B+ abstracts presented at AIDS Impact Conference in Cape Town
Option B+ team members Melissa Watt and Cody Cichowitz traveled to Cape Town, South Africa to present at the AIDS Impact Conference, an international behavioral and psychosocial science conference addressing issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care. Cody gave two oral presentations reflecting work from the B+ cohort and analysis of Kilimanjaro region medicalContinue reading “Two Option B+ abstracts presented at AIDS Impact Conference in Cape Town”
Lilian Chumba presents facility-level data at the DGHI Student Showcase
As part of the Masters of Science in Global Health program at the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI), students complete a faculty-mentored, field-based research experience between the first and second years of their program. The Option B+ team was lucky to have a wonderful MSc student, Dr. Lilian Chumba, join the team during her timeContinue reading “Lilian Chumba presents facility-level data at the DGHI Student Showcase”
Dr. Watt and Dr. Mmbaga attend Women Leaders in Global Health Conference
Study PIs Dr. Melissa Watt and Dr. Blandina Mmbaga traveled together to Stanford University to attend the 2017 Women Leaders in Global Health Conference. According to conference organizers, the one-day meeting was inspired “by the large and growing number of women in global and public health, and frustration about the lack of diversity and representationContinue reading “Dr. Watt and Dr. Mmbaga attend Women Leaders in Global Health Conference”
B+ team reaches an important milestone
The Option B+ team achieved an important milestone today, reaching our goal of enrolling 200 clients in our cohort! This completes our study enrollment, but there is no shortage of work ahead. The team will continue to follow all 200 women, with a brief check-in after they have given birth, and completing follow-up surveys atContinue reading “B+ team reaches an important milestone”
Farewell to Cody in Moshi
It was a bittersweet goodbye as the Tanzania team said farewell to Cody Cichowitz, who spent the last year in Moshi working on the project as a Doris Duke International Clinical Research Fellow. The fellowship program, sponsored by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, supports the training and professional development of the next generation of clinicalContinue reading “Farewell to Cody in Moshi”
DGHI/KCMC symposium addresses mother-to-child HIV transmission
On May 26, 2017, the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) co-hosted a symposium at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania, where research teams shared their ongoing projects related to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in Tanzania. The symposium brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss findings and considerContinue reading “DGHI/KCMC symposium addresses mother-to-child HIV transmission”
Dr. Watt and Dr. Ngocho sharpen their implementation science skills
Dr. James Ngocho visited the Duke team in Durham for a few days before traveling with Dr. Melissa Watt to Seattle to attend an intensive course in the Fundamentals of Implementation Science in Global Health, hosted by the University of Washington Department of Global Health. Over five days, the course covered a variety of topicsContinue reading “Dr. Watt and Dr. Ngocho sharpen their implementation science skills”
First participants enrolled in the Option B+ study cohort
It is an exciting time for the Option B+ team, as our cohort data collection is now underway! Our first participants were enrolled at the end of July, 2016 and completed their baseline surveys. Patients in the cohort are HIV-infected and are either initiating or continuing antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy. Baseline surveys are conductedContinue reading “First participants enrolled in the Option B+ study cohort”
