This paper describes and analyses three major programmes that utilise the South African national mass media platform for HIV/AIDS prevention. These are the Beyond Awareness II campaign, the multimedia edutainment programme Soul City and the youth programme loveLife. Overall, the author finds that there are strengths and weaknesses in the application of theory and research in South African campaigns. A number of recommendations are made to help programmes: Improve the sharing of expertise across programmes; Develop best practice in new areas beyond prevention, namely human rights, stigma and care and support; Commission a review to establish what is happening in rural and very poor communities to ensure that they do not remain behind in prevention indices and to identify media gaps.
Monitoring equity and research policy
A series of recommendations focuses on improving ethics review of protocols, reforming the informed consent process, improving access to information by participants and those responsible for review and monitoring of protocols,enhancing safety monitoring, compensating those who are harmed as a result of their participation in research; and developing a standard of quality.
The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems research in Collaboration with the Council on health Research for Development, Global Forum for Health Research and INCLEN Trust have just published new training modules to support strategies aiming to increase the impact of health research on policy, programmes and practice. The modules focus on practical experience and best practices regarding:priority-setting in health research (6 training units); knowledge management (5 training units); advocacy and leadership (5 training units). Those interested in increasing the impact of health research will benefit from the modules. In particular, research managers, policy analysts within ministries of health and research and continuing education officers may find that training in these subject areas will be a valuable investment. To download the modules visit the Alliance Web site. In addition,
The Alliance in collaboration with regional HPSR networks is preparing a series of research to policy workshops with the aim of strengthening capacity to demand high quality, timely and relevant HPSR. This effort will be supported with the training materials just published. Indra Pathmanathan will be leading this effort and will rely on her vast experience with HPSR capacity strengthening and policy development. Workshops will be celebrated between November 2002 and March 2003. Grants will be available for selected participants.
Of the US$73 billion spent globally every year on health research only about 10% is actually allocated for research into 90% of the world’s health problems. This is what is known as the 10/90 gap. This third landmark report of the Global Forum for Health Research underlines the crucial role that health and health research funding plays in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Beyond health care, the economic evaluation of social welfare programmes is rare but the demand for such evaluation is rising. To encourage greater use of economic evaluation, undoubtedly social welfare researchers need to gain a better understanding of the philosophy behind such evaluation and the methodologies necessary to carry these out in practice.
Author(s): Winch, P.J.; Wagman, J.A; .Malouin, R.A.; Mehl, G.L.
This guide is designed for program managers, researchers, funders of health programs, and others who are considering using qualitative research methods to help them design more effective health programs and/or evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing programs. It is assumed that the reader already has some familiarity with the basic methods in the "qualitative research toolbox" such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. This guide describes some of the existing manuals for conducting qualitative research on health and provides information to help would-be users select the manuals that are most appropriate to their needs. This guide does not attempt to review the available qualitative research tools related to prevention and treatment of chronic and non-infectious diseases, including tobacco control, obesity prevention, or management of such diseases as diabetes or epilepsy.
Adult mortality is increasing in many parts of Africa. Is this due to AIDS? Can existing data answer this question? What other statistics are needed to document the spread of the AIDS epidemic in Africa? Research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on adult mortality in five African countries. It shows that increases in adult mortality correspond to high levels of HIV infection. However, there is a pressing need to collect more data on adult mortality in Africa, and to exploit more fully existing data sources.
A Unique Opportunity For African Stakeholders to discuss emergent social aspects Of HIV/AIDS research at a meeting preceding the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). 1st ?4th SEPTEMBER 2002; JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. The Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, is establishing SOCIAL ASPECTS OF HIV/AIDS RESEARCH ALLIANCE (SAHARA), an alliance of partners to conduct, support and use social sciences research to prevent further spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of its devastation on South Africa, SADC and other regions of Africa. The African Conference will be a vehicle to improve the effectiveness of the SAHARA and to integrate its activities more closely with those of other organizations and individuals active in HIV and AIDS control within SADC and the African continent, through sharing information on progress and experience on social aspects of HIV/AIDS research.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) requests your assistance in identifying African researchers/professionals involved in grassroots/national/international health issues of Africans. CIHR is taking a lead, through a Global Health Research Initiative partnership, on the consultative process leading up to the G8 meeting in June where the approval of the Africa Action Plan will take place. This Plan will define how G8 member countries will meet the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). CIHR seek to inform the G8 process by providing a recommendation and supporting background paper on how increased investment in health research contributes to improved health and economic development in Africa. The partners and the Coalition are seeking additional input through consultative processes that are designed to coordinate the views of the developing country researcher community, and invite the views of international and national research organizations with shared interest in global health research. Interested participants could provide input through the website of the Coalition for Global Health Research.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Report No.47, 2002 AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center at Research Triangle Institute/University of North Carolina.
The report identifies and compares systems that rate the quality of evidence in individual research studies and compilations of studies addressing a common scientific issue. The report also provides guidance on the leading approaches currently in use for improving the quality of scientific evidence. Using well-specified criteria, the researchers identified 19 study-quality and 7 strength-of-evidence grading systems that people conducting systematic reviews and technology assessments can use as starting points for future evidence-based research projects.