[afro-nets] RFI: Research collaborations: HIV\AIDS (2)

["David Gisselquist" <david_gisselquist@yahoo.com>]

Dear Dr Mbah,

I saw your note to afro-nets. I'm sure you are getting lots of responses. There is a lot to do.

I have a suggestion for research. Unfortunately for us, I don't have money to offer along with this suggestion, but here goes, anyways.

The recent demographic and health survey in Cameroon found that more than 2/3rds of couples with HIV in one or both partners were discordant. Moreover, 53% of married women with HIV had an HIV- husband.

This poses not only an epidemiological question ? how were they infected? -- but also a challenge to prevent misunderstanding of the HIV epidemic from damaging marriages and relationships. Some HIV infections come from sex, but not all.

I propose a research project that works with women identified as HIV+ during antenatal care (as part of prevention of mother-to-child transmission), with the following components:
(a) a revised questionnaire about risks, that asks the women thoroughly about blood exposures (tattoos, dental care, medical injections, shaving in the market, etc) along with sexual exposures;
(b) inviting husbands to come for tests, and administering the same revised questionnaire, asking thoroughly about blood exposures along with sexual exposures;
(c) individual and joint counseling that emphasizes that HIV is not a reliable sign of sexual behavior, and that enlists the help of those who are infected to identify blood borne risks. 

The overall design of this proposal would be: Learning from and respecting PLWHA, and not assuming that HIV infection is a sign (stigmata) of sexual promiscuity.

If you are interested, I can send supporting materials. With Mariette Correa in India we have worked out an alternate questionnaire for VCTs. 

Best regards,
David

--
David Gisselquist 
mailto:david_gisselquist@yahoo.com