This career award application seeks to foster the development of Dr. Audet's career as an independent global health researcher. With the support from an NIMH K01 award, Dr. Audet plans to develop a harmonized health system linking complementary and allopathic providers to improve HIV outcomes in countries in under- resourced countries. Dr. Audet's goals are to improve and formalize relationships between allopathic and alternative providers to improve adherence among patients with HIV disease, with a geographic focus in Mozambique. High rates of HIV infection in central Mozambique (12.5%) coupled with high rates of loss to follow up among patients (50%) have resulted in a public health crisis. Major barriers to HIV treatment adherence have been fear of disclosure/ stigma, patient misunderstanding/ not believing their diagnosis, poor perceived treatment at the health facility and patient preference for traditional medicine. Healers are ideally positioned to support patient adherence by: (1) maintaining confidentiality and/or assisting with partner disclosure; (2) explaining HIV using local languages and in local cultural context; (3) advocating for their health at clinical sites; and (4) ensuring patients do not abandon care for traditional medicines. The applicant, Dr. Carolyn Audet, an Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University, has been in the forefront of Mozambique's attempt to engage healers in a culturally appropriate manner. Her interest in working with healers to improve patient health outcomes has led to the development of National level Ministry of Health referral forms, as healers are `task shifting' int community health agents. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, she has field-tested referral forms and training programs, establishing that healers can effectively partner with the Ministry. She is also the PI of two grants: a CDC-funded grant to improve clinical delivery of positive prevention messages among clinicians in rural Mozambique and a ViiV Health Care grant to engage men and traditional birth attendants to improve uptake of ART among HIV infected pregnant women. Responsive to NIMH's K01 program announcement, Dr. Audet seeks `protected time' for pursuing a career as an independent scientist. She will engage in additional training in the design and implementation of health messaging interventions to address culturally entrenched beliefs and behaviors at Vanderbilt University and University of Michigan (with her co-primary Mentor Dr. Amico). Dr.
Audet aims to provide on-site research leadership to current funded initiatives coupled with ongoing research training and capacity building efforts at the collaborating institutions, with whom her partnerships will focus on developing a sustainable, practical, and effective relationship between traditional healers and the health care system.

Public Health Relevance

This career development award application seeks to foster the advancement of the applicant's career as an independent HIV/AIDS researcher with a research focus on developing effective strategies to engage the army of community health workers - including traditional healers and traditional birth attendants - as adherence partners, referral agents, and educators. The goal of Dr. Audet's research is to improve health outcomes among rural community members who seek alternative care and treatment for illness, specifically those with chronic disease, including HIV/AIDS, with a geographic focus in Mozambique.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
1K01MH107255-01
Application #
8919526
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Consequences of HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSCH)
Program Officer
Stirratt, Michael J
Project Start
2015-06-01
Project End
2016-05-31
Budget Start
2015-06-01
Budget End
2016-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37240
Audet, Carolyn M; Wainberg, Milton L; Oquendo, Maria A et al. (2018) Depression among female heads-of-household in rural Mozambique: A cross-sectional population-based survey. J Affect Disord 227:48-55
Wainberg, Milton; Oquendo, Maria A; Peratikos, Meridith Blevins et al. (2018) Hazardous alcohol use among female heads-of-household in rural Mozambique. Alcohol 73:37-44
Audet, Carolyn M; Graves, Erin; Barreto, Ezequiel et al. (2018) Partners-based HIV treatment for seroconcordant couples attending antenatal and postnatal care in rural Mozambique: A cluster randomized trial protocol. Contemp Clin Trials 71:63-69
Audet, Carolyn M; Ngobeni, Sizzy; Wagner, Ryan G (2017) Traditional healer treatment of HIV persists in the era of ART: a mixed methods study from rural South Africa. BMC Complement Altern Med 17:434
Sarko, Kidane A; Blevins, Meridith; Ahonkhai, Aimalohi A et al. (2017) HIV status disclosure, facility-based delivery and postpartum retention of mothers in a prevention clinical trial in rural Nigeria. Int Health 9:243-251
Audet, Carolyn M; Blevins, Meridith; Cherry, Charlotte Buehler et al. (2017) Understanding intra-vaginal and labia minora elongation practices among women heads-of-households in Zambézia Province, Mozambique. Cult Health Sex 19:616-629
Audet, Carolyn M; Salato, José; Vermund, Sten H et al. (2017) Adapting an adherence support workers intervention: engaging traditional healers as adherence partners for persons enrolled in HIV care and treatment in rural Mozambique. Implement Sci 12:50
Audet, Carolyn M; Ngobeni, Sizzy; Graves, Erin et al. (2017) Mixed methods inquiry into traditional healers' treatment of mental, neurological and substance abuse disorders in rural South Africa. PLoS One 12:e0188433
Audet, Carolyn M; Salato, José; Blevins, Meridith et al. (2016) Occupational hazards of traditional healers: repeated unprotected blood exposures risk infectious disease transmission. Trop Med Int Health 21:1476-1480
Boehmer, Angie; Audet, Carolyn M; Blevins, Meridith et al. (2016) Patient and Provider Satisfaction With a Comprehensive Strategy to Improve Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Services in Rural Nigeria. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 72 Suppl 2:S117-23

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