Pilot Award

The overall objective of this study is to determine if active tuberculosis (TB) case finding among persons residing in the same household as a person with active pulmonary TB (household contact investigation) is an effective TB control intervention in a low-income setting with a high incidence of TB and a high prevalence of HIV infection.

In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV is predominantly transmitted via discordant sexual relationships. With the availability of antiretroviral (ARV) medications, individuals infected with HIV can live relatively normal productive lives. Societal and cultural expectations as well as personal reproductive intentions drive HIV positive women in discordant relationships to conceive. Approximately 50% of HIV infected couples desire children.

Retention in care is important for the health and well-being of HIV-infected persons. However, we do not know which measures of retention best predict key clinical outcomes such as mortality. In addition, existing studies of retention have only established an association between retention and mortality, rather than a causal effect.

Objectives: 1) accurately measure alcohol and drug use, especially amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and HIV prevalence, among female sex workers (FSW) and male clients of FSW in Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia, and; 2) assess the synergy between alcohol and/or drug exposures and HIV risks according to the type of sex work venues.

Retention in care is important for the health and well-being of HIV-infected persons. However, we do not know which measures of retention best predict key clinical outcomes such as mortality. In addition, existing studies of retention have only established an association between retention and mortality, rather than a causal effect.

Objectives: 1) accurately measure alcohol and drug use, especially amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and HIV prevalence, among female sex workers (FSW) and male clients of FSW in Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia, and; 2) assess the synergy between alcohol and/or drug exposures and HIV risks according to the type of sex work venues.

Malaria has dominated the illness landscape in sub-Saharan Africa for many decades and fevers in children have typically been treated as malaria without laboratory confirmation. Recently, several parts of Africa have dramatically reduced malaria by employing multiple prevention tools and improving case management. In Zanzibar, 98 out of every 100 hundred febrile patients recently seen in clinics have tested negative for malaria.

Malaria has dominated the illness landscape in sub-Saharan Africa for many decades and fevers in children have typically been treated as malaria without laboratory confirmation. Recently, several parts of Africa have dramatically reduced malaria by employing multiple prevention tools and improving case management. In Zanzibar, 98 out of every 100 hundred febrile patients recently seen in clinics have tested negative for malaria.

Methods to improve accuracy in self-reported sexual behavior are critical in reducing errors that impede accurate assessment of intervention outcomes and prevalence estimates of HIV-related risk. Research findings to date provide abundant empirical evidence that reliability and validity of self-reported sexual behavior is a major problem. Scientific models of the survey question-answer process specify question comprehension as a necessary precursor to enhancing data quality.

Methods to improve accuracy in self-reported sexual behavior are critical in reducing errors that impede accurate assessment of intervention outcomes and prevalence estimates of HIV-related risk. Research findings to date provide abundant empirical evidence that reliability and validity of self-reported sexual behavior is a major problem. Scientific models of the survey question-answer process specify question comprehension as a necessary precursor to enhancing data quality.