Tanzania is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa that is severely affected by the HIV epidemic. Despite substantial progress over the past decade, large gaps in implementing efficacious and safe HIV interventions remain - e.g., in male medical circumcision coverage and antiretroviral treatment (ART) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) uptake, retention and adherence. At the same time, funders are increasingly demanding evidence on the population health impact of their investments; and national policy makers are struggling with questions how to ensure financial and operational sustainability of HIV programs within the context of the Tanzanian health system. To find solutions to these challenges, we need rigorous Implementation Science, Impact Evaluation, and Health Systems Research to test alternative models to deliver HIV interventions and establish their comparative feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. However, the scientists to carry out such research projects are currently lacking in Tanzania. This program thus aims to (1) train a critical mass of mid-level and senior researchers to (a) work as principal investigators leading independent research programs focused on questions of HIV program implementation and evaluation and (b) teach HIV-related Implementation Science, Impact Evaluation, and Health Systems Research in Tanzania; (2) build a critical mass of junior public health and medical professionals who can design and successfully carry out rigorous research projects in HIV Implementation Science, Impact Evaluation, and Health Systems Research; and (3) develop a sustainable Master's program in HIV Implementation Science and Impact Evaluation in Dar es Salaam. This training program will be collaboration between the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in Boston and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Dar es Salaam. Based on an in-depth needs assessment, we identified training gaps in three principal areas: HIV interventions; health systems and implementation; and research methods, including Implementation Science, Impact Evaluation, Health Economics, and Biostatistics. We have recruited training and mentoring faculty with practical and theoretical experience in these areas, as well as experienced colleagues for the Executive and the Training Advisory Committees. The primary training strategies in this program will comprise of (1) two-year post-doctoral fellowships in Boston and Dar es Salaam; (2) short-term fellowship training in Boston with ongoing mentoring; (3) intensive courses (which will serve as building blocks for the Master's program at MUHAS); and (4) research symposia. In total, the program will train 10 two-year post-doctoral fellows; 22 short-term post-doctoral fellows (12 post- and 10 pre-doctoral); and provide intensive short course instruction to 240 individuals.

Public Health Relevance

To prevent HIV infections and avert most or all preventable deaths from HIV, HIV interventions, which have been proven to work in randomized controlled trials, need to be implemented in real-life health systems, at large scale and organized to continue over many decades. In Tanzania, large gaps in implementing HIV interventions remain, and to make substantial further progress toward an 'AIDS-free generation' scientific research is required to identify optimal delivery models and to establish the population health impact of HIV interventions in different local contexts. Through post- and pre-doctoral fellowships, intensive short courses, and scientific symposia, this training program - a joint initiative by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in Boston and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Dar es Salaam - aims to train a critical mass of senior and junior researchers to carry out successful research in HIV Implementation Science, Impact Evaluation, and Health Systems Research in Tanzania.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
International Research Training Grants (D43)
Project #
5D43TW009775-02
Application #
9070049
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Mcdermott, Jeanne
Project Start
2015-05-18
Project End
2020-04-30
Budget Start
2016-05-01
Budget End
2017-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Ortblad, Katrina F; Kibuuka Musoke, Daniel; Ngabirano, Thomson et al. (2018) HIV self-test performance among female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 8:e022652
Vandormael, Alain; Dobra, Adrian; Bärnighausen, Till et al. (2018) Incidence rate estimation, periodic testing and the limitations of the mid-point imputation approach. Int J Epidemiol 47:236-245
Geldsetzer, Pascal; Francis, Joel M; Sando, David et al. (2018) Community delivery of antiretroviral drugs: A non-inferiority cluster-randomized pragmatic trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PLoS Med 15:e1002659
Vandormael, Alain; de Oliveira, Tulio; Tanser, Frank et al. (2018) High percentage of undiagnosed HIV cases within a hyperendemic South African community: a population-based study. J Epidemiol Community Health 72:168-172
Chetty, Terusha; Yapa, H Manisha N; Herbst, Carina et al. (2018) The MONARCH intervention to enhance the quality of antenatal and postnatal primary health services in rural South Africa: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial. BMC Health Serv Res 18:625
McGovern, Mark E; Canning, David; Bärnighausen, Till (2018) Accounting for non-response bias using participation incentives and survey design: An application using gift vouchers. Econ Lett 171:239-244
Yapa, H Manisha; Bärnighausen, Till (2018) Implementation science in resource-poor countries and communities. Implement Sci 13:154
Harling, Guy; Gumede, Dumile; Shahmanesh, Maryam et al. (2018) Sources of social support and sexual behaviour advice for young adults in rural South Africa. BMJ Glob Health 3:e000955
Ortblad, Katrina F; Musoke, Daniel K; Ngabirano, Thomson et al. (2018) Female Sex Workers Often Incorrectly Interpret HIV Self-Test Results in Uganda. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 79:e42-e45
Brennan, Alana T; Bor, Jacob; Davies, Mary-Ann et al. (2018) Medication Side Effects and Retention in HIV Treatment: A Regression Discontinuity Study of Tenofovir Implementation in South Africa and Zambia. Am J Epidemiol 187:1990-2001

Showing the most recent 10 out of 27 publications