HIV / AIDS and Chronic Care
| Theme leader: Steve Tollman with Xavier G?-Oliv?b> Immediate and longer-run community impacts of HIV/AIDS cannot be overstated. Evaluation of H RT delivery will support provincial and national efforts and provide evidence on delivery models, coverage and individual/population impacts. - HIV/NCD prevalence study
Collaboration with Wits Public Health, Colorado and Washington Universities, USA
Study to measure HIV prevalence and biomarkers for non-communicable chronic diseases (mainly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes) using dried blood spots. Anthropometric measures will be taken and a questionnaire covering lifestyle and sexual risk behaviours administered. In 2009, protocol and questionnaire development was advanced; fieldwork to commence in 2010.
- Socio-cultural determinants of HIV treatment uptake and adherence
Collaboration with Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel
Study on ART uptake and adherence using cultural epidemiology methods including EMIC interviews. In 2009, first phase fieldwork completed.
Chronic care
A major effort addressing weaknesses in chronic care systems ? and emphasizing commonalities in management of both chronic infectious and non-communicable diseases ? is planned. Research will be facilitated by the clinic-HDSS link.
1. In partnership with the software company SAP, we have piloted e-records in local clinics (2007-2009). We hypothesise that quality and efficacy of lifelong care for communicable and non-communicable chronic diseases can be improved by use of a computer-aided patient record-keeping system at primary care level. Software has been developed and tested and is working. 2. Cost evaluation of epilepsy treatment will be conducted under the PRICELESS initiative. |
