New research team in the School of Clinical Medicine

Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), a new syndicate of the Wits Health Consortium, was established on 1^st April 2010. Formerly the Durban office of the Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit (RHRU), MatCH has become an independent organisation, however continues to be linked to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of the Witwatersrand.

MatCH has two main thrusts of work; supporting KwaZulu-Natal?s public health sector HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services and conducting research in five scientific programmes: - HIV prevention research; promoting family planning; integration of SRH services; gender and sexual behaviour; HIV care and support focus on orphans and vulnerable children. These areas are cross-cutting and link together to form a broader reproductive health focus.

The photo shows MatCH management staff after the signing of the new syndicate with Wits Health Consortium. From left to right Dr Jenni Smit, Ms Catherine Searle, Dr Arthi Ramkissoon (Head of MatCH), Ms Melanie Drace, Ms Zonke Mabude and Prof Jerry Coovadia.

New Wits Health Sciences research team to participate in WHO study

Certain types of hormonal contraception are known to negatively impact on bone mineral density (BMD). Although we know BMD recovers after discontinuation of hormonal contraception in adult premenopausal women, more research is needed on recovery of BMD in adolescent users. A World Health Organisation (WHO) multi-centred 7-year cohort study will examine the effects of a range of injectable hormonal contraceptives on bone health among adolescent girls and young women. Women will be followed up during use and after discontinuation of hormonal contraception. Five countries will be participating in this study including South Africa, Chile, Brazil, Thailand and the Philippines. A meeting of the principal investigators was held in Geneva in March and attended by Dr Mags Beksinska and Dr Jenni Smit of Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), a new research syndicate of the Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, who will be managing the project. The meeting was held to finalise the study procedures and the study will go into the field later this year.

The group photo shows all the country investigators, M Beksinska second from left back row and J Smit 2^nd left middle row.