Qualitative methods for public health research: HIV/STI prevention in China

描述（由申请人提供）：“公共卫生研究的定性方法：中国艾滋病/性传播感染预防”是一个为期两年的博士前培训项目，包括创新和跨学科的研究、教学和专业学术经验，最终获得博士学位，为申请人从事公共卫生研究工作做准备。该培训计划支持国家精神卫生研究所艾滋病、健康和行为研究处的目标，即“制定和传播预防艾滋病毒/艾滋病传播的行为干预措施”，并解决艾滋病和行为研究处的高度优先事项，即支持“旨在更好地了解影响减少艾滋病毒风险的个人、群体、社区、社会和结构因素的创新性、跨学科艾滋病毒预防研究”。该应用程序是由约翰霍普金斯大学公共卫生学院、北卡罗来纳大学教堂山医学院和中国国家性病控制中心合作开发的。申请的一个主要组成部分是一项题为“中国三个城市男性农民工的迁移、工作和艾滋病/性病风险”的论文研究。中国有超过1.2亿农民工，艾滋病毒和性传播感染（STI）日益流行。虽然研究已经记录了移民与艾滋病毒风险增加之间的联系，但有限的工作已经确定了中国移民人口面临的具体风险。本研究旨在描述和比较中国城市农民工和从事性交易的农民工的迁移、工作、艾滋病毒/性传播疾病健康和教育需求以及相关历史。数据收集将在中国进行为期6个月的实地调查，采用定性方法，包括深度访谈、制图练习和参与者观察。此外，该申请还包括课程作业、教学、会议参与、现有研究项目的工作以及与美国和中国领先研究人员的指导活动。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): "Qualitative methods for public health research: HIV/STI prevention in China" is a two-year, predoctoral training program of innovative and interdisciplinary research, teaching, and professional academic experiences culminating in a doctorate degree and preparing the applicant for public health research career. The training plan supports the National Institute of Mental Health, Division of AIDS and Health and Behavior Research (DAHBR) aim to "develop and disseminate behavioral interventions that prevent HIV/AIDS transmission" and addresses DAHBR's high priority to support "innovative, interdisciplinary HIV prevention research designed to better understand individual, dyadic, community, social, and structural factors that impact HIV risk-reduction". The application is a collaboration between the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and the Chinese National Center for STD Control. A major component of the application is a dissertation study entitled, "Migration, work, and HIV/STI risk among male migrant workers in three Chinese cities". China has over 120 million rural to urban migrant workers and growing epidemics of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI). While research has documented associations between migration and increased risk for HIV, limited work has identified specific risks Chinese migrant populations face. This study aims to describe and compare the migration, work, HIV/STI health and education needs, and relational histories of rural to urban migrant men, and migrant men who find work selling sex in Chinese cities. Data collection will take place during a 6 month fieldwork period in China using qualitative methods including in-depth interviews, mapping exercises, and participant observation. Additionally, this application includes coursework, teaching, conference participation, work on existing research projects, and mentorship activities with leading U.S and Chinese researchers. Relevance: The proposed application will benefit public health by gathering information about work-related health hazards, individual risk behaviors and high-risk social and structural situations for HIV, and health education and service needs among a large, underserved population. This information can be used to improve work environments, design better HIV outreach services, and advocate for policy reform. Collaborating with Chinese researchers will also continue to build U.S.-China diplomatic research relationships for the benefit of better addressing public health concerns in both countries.