D43 Wits-UNC Partnership: Expanding Capacity in HIV Implementation Science in South Africa Training Program
Rationale
South Africa continues to face a significant HIV burden, despite progress in expanding antiretroviral therapy (ART), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and reducing HIV incidence and mortality. Achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets requires overcoming persistent barriers to the effective implementation of HIV prevention and care programs.
Implementation Science (IS) offers a systematic approach to identifying barriers and facilitators to interventions, enabling evidence-based adjustments to optimize outcomes. The D43 Wits-UNC Partnership focuses on strengthening IS research and building research capacity to address these challenges and improve HIV and TB prevention and care in South Africa and the broader African region.
Primary Objectives
- Expand Academic Training in HIV Implementation Science (IS):
- Offer MSc and/or PhD degree programs in IS at Wits School of Public Health (SPH).
- Update existing IS courses to reflect current knowledge.
- Introduce an annual 2.5-day short course in HIV IS, modeled on the AHISA course, for 25 researchers in South Africa and the region.
- Develop Future IS Experts:
- Create a pipeline for content experts and independent investigators in IS through tailored training programs and short courses.
Study Design
- Focus Area: Implementation Science research and capacity building.
- Study Population: Early-career HIV researchers and scholars.
- Sample Size: 3-4 scholars annually.
- Duration: Ongoing annually since 2020.
- Sites: Ward 21 CRS, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Investigators
- Prof Sinead Delany-Moretlwe
Latest Update
March 2024
For more details please email rhicomms@wrhi.ac.za
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