Expanding HIV testing among Ugandan adults who utilize traditional healers

项目摘要 建议的辅导病人为本的职业发展奖（K23）的目的是提供 具有培训和研究经验的候选人，将促进其发展为独立研究员 作为艾滋病毒干预者，专门负责将艾滋病毒护理扩大到使用传统治疗师的社区 而不是生物医学设施。拟议的培训将为她提供发展的机会 知识和技能：1）分析横截面，纵向和队列所需的定量方法 数据; 2）研究艾滋病毒和模拟艾滋病毒相关健康行为的混合方法; 3）理论， 设计和实施社会结构干预措施。培训活动将包括教学课程 和具体的研讨会，指导阅读和一对一辅导与导师，并在教学 负责任地进行研究。候选人将接受由以下人员组成的培训团队的指导 艾滋病流行病学、混合方法研究和社会结构研究领域的全球知名专家 在低资源环境中实施干预措施。她的应用研究培训将在姆巴拉拉进行， 乌干达与姆巴拉拉科技大学合作。姆巴拉拉区是一个农村地区， 位于首都坎帕拉西南约275公里处，艾滋病流行率接近两倍 全国平均水平（12%）。此前在姆巴拉拉的研究表明，传统治疗师的重要性 在为社区提供医疗保健在这一领域，但很少有人知道传统的治疗师的做法， 艾滋病毒检测率（或艾滋病毒感染率）。本研究的具体目标是：1）确定关键 在乌干达使用传统方法的成年人中形成艾滋病毒检测行为的社会结构因素 治疗师; 2）调查在传统治疗师诊所提供即时艾滋病毒检测的可接受性 3）在传统治疗者患者中开发和试点前瞻性艾滋病毒检测干预措施， 促进早期诊断。结果将生成通知功效所需参数的效应估计值 传统治疗师随后进行的大规模随机分组HIV检测干预的计算 实践地点，并将定位候选人制定R 01申请提交给NIMH在 奖励期结束。拟议的工作代表了NIH指定的高优先级研究课题 艾滋病研究办公室“通过开发、检测和实施.减少艾滋病毒/艾滋病的发病率.” 改善艾滋病毒检测和接受预防服务的战略”。

PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of the proposed Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23) is to provide the candidate with training and research experiences that will promote her development to independent researcher as an HIV interventionist, specializing in expanding HIV care to communities who utilize Traditional Healers rather than biomedical facilities. The proposed training will provide her with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in: 1) quantitative methods needed to analyze cross-sectional, longitudinal and cohort data; 2) mixed-methods approaches to studying HIV and modeling HIV-related health behavior; and 3) theory, design and implementation of socio-structural interventions. Training activities will include didactic coursework and specific workshops, directed readings and one-on-one tutorials with mentors, and instruction in the responsible conduct of research. The candidate will receive mentorship from a Training Team comprised of globally renowned experts in the fields of HIV epidemiology, mixed methods research, and socio-structural intervention implementation in low-resource settings. Her applied research training will take place in Mbarara, Uganda in collaboration with Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Mbarara District is a rural region, approximately 275 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Kampala, with an HIV prevalence of nearly twice the national average (12%). Prior research in Mbarara has demonstrated the importance of Traditional Healers in providing healthcare for communities in this area, but little is known about Traditional Healer practices or rates of HIV testing (or HIV infection) among their clients. Specific aims of this study are to: 1) identify key socio-structural factors that frame HIV testing behaviors among Ugandan adults who utilize Traditional Healers; 2) investigate acceptability of providing point-of-care HIV testing at Traditional Healer practice locations; and 3) develop and pilot a prospective HIV testing intervention among Traditional Healer patients to promote earlier diagnosis. Results will generate effect estimates for parameters needed to inform power calculations for a subsequent, large-scale cluster-randomized HIV testing intervention at Traditional Healer practice locations, and will position the candidate to develop an R01 application for submission to NIMH at the end of the award period. The proposed work represents a high priority research topic designated by the NIH Office of AIDS Research to “reduce incidence of HIV/AIDS … [by] developing, testing, and implementing strategies to improve HIV testing and entry into prevention services”.