Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 77
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Optimizing Delivery Of Hiv Testing Services To Strengthen The Continuum Of Care, Project Soar
Optimizing Delivery Of Hiv Testing Services To Strengthen The Continuum Of Care, Project Soar
HIV and AIDS
HIV testing is a critical entry point to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for those diagnosed with HIV and to prevention services for those at high risk of acquiring HIV. Despite advances in testing, there remain a variety of social and programmatic challenges that prevent access to HIV testing services, particularly for men and key populations. HIV program managers and policymakers are increasingly invested in understanding how best to deliver HIV testing services to different populations and to maximize health system resources at facility and community levels. Project SOAR has contributed to the evidence base and catalyzed research use by examining …
Advances In Conceptualizing And Measuring Stigma Among People Living With Hiv, Project Soar
Advances In Conceptualizing And Measuring Stigma Among People Living With Hiv, Project Soar
HIV and AIDS
Stigma, defined as the co-occurrence of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination in a context in which power is exercised, has a negative impact on the health of people living with HIV (PLHIV), contributing to psychosocial stress, coercion and violence, job loss, and social exclusion. Widely recognized as a barrier to accessing HIV care, it is paramount that programs and policies are designed to mitigate HIV-related stigma to achieve the UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 goals. Project SOAR recognizes the importance of addressing stigma to control the HIV epidemic through testing, treatment, and viral suppression. Project SOAR has contributed to the evidence …
Reproductive Health Care In The Time Of Covid-19: Perspectives Of Poor Women And Service Providers From Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Iram Kamran, Tahira Parveen, Rehan M. Niazi, Irfan Masood
Reproductive Health Care In The Time Of Covid-19: Perspectives Of Poor Women And Service Providers From Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Iram Kamran, Tahira Parveen, Rehan M. Niazi, Irfan Masood
Reproductive Health
This study was conducted by the Population Council in Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to uncover urgently needed evidence about the challenges and needs of poor women and health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 200 poor women—beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), one of the largest social protection programs in the world—and 60 public and private sector health care providers participated in this investigation of BISP beneficiaries’ knowledge of COVID-19, the effects of the pandemic on their lives, mental health and wellbeing, and their access …
Best Bets: Vouchers For Rights-Based, Voluntary Family Planning—International Evidence On Financing Of Family Planning, Benjamin Bellows, Moazzam Ali, Ali M. Mir
Best Bets: Vouchers For Rights-Based, Voluntary Family Planning—International Evidence On Financing Of Family Planning, Benjamin Bellows, Moazzam Ali, Ali M. Mir
Reproductive Health
To meet the FP2020 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), significant investments are required by countries and donors in priority areas, including sustainable financing, reaching all adolescents, expanding availability of services to the poorest and hard-to-reach populations, and improving the quality and increasing the range of methods available. Studies show that vouchers can substantially contribute to SDG goals by expanding contraceptive access and choice among underserved populations. Vouchers can be an effective financing tool to enhance equity, increase access, and improve the quality of FP services available to underserved populations within Pakistan.
Best Bets For Accelerating Family Planning In Pakistan: Inducting Men, Sharing Responsibility, Kiren Khan, Zeba Sathar
Best Bets For Accelerating Family Planning In Pakistan: Inducting Men, Sharing Responsibility, Kiren Khan, Zeba Sathar
Reproductive Health
Pakistan's family planning (FP) program remains more or less exclusively aimed at women, yet evidence from both international as well as programming from within Pakistan suggests that including men in FP could improve results. Given the large youth cohort entering reproductive life in Pakistan, there are compelling grounds for also including younger men and adolescent boys, especially those about to wed, within the country's reproductive health (RH) and FP strategies.
Approaches That Will Yield Greater Success When Implementing Self-Administered Electronic Data Capture Ict Systems In The Developing World With An Illiterate Or Semi-Literate Population, Stanley J. Mierzwa, Samir Souidi, Irene Friedland, Sarah A. Littlefield, Lauren L. Katzen, Craig Savel, Deborah Boccio, Saumya Ramarao
Approaches That Will Yield Greater Success When Implementing Self-Administered Electronic Data Capture Ict Systems In The Developing World With An Illiterate Or Semi-Literate Population, Stanley J. Mierzwa, Samir Souidi, Irene Friedland, Sarah A. Littlefield, Lauren L. Katzen, Craig Savel, Deborah Boccio, Saumya Ramarao
Reproductive Health
The Information Technology (IT) Group at the Population Council responded to a need for a technology solution that would help researchers obtain more accurate responses to survey questions that concerned subject matter of a sensitive nature. The IT Group had three goals: (1) to enhance research by obtaining the best data possible, (2) to operate successfully in the local environment and be welcomed by the local populations, and (3) to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the survey process. This paper outlines approaches to consider when designing and implementing self-administered information and communications technology (ICT) questionnaires in developing countries, and …
Assessing And Improving Self-Reporting Of Male Circumcision In Zambia And Swaziland, Paul C. Hewett, Nicole Haberland, Barbara Mensch, Louis Apicella
Assessing And Improving Self-Reporting Of Male Circumcision In Zambia And Swaziland, Paul C. Hewett, Nicole Haberland, Barbara Mensch, Louis Apicella
HIV and AIDS
The Male Circumcision (MC) Partnership was established with the support of the Gates Foundation and PEPFAR to scale up MC services in Zambia, in collaboration with the Zambian government. The MC Partnership is a five-year project led by Population Services International (Society for Family Health, Zambia), in partnership with Jhpiego, Marie Stopes International (MSI), and the Population Council. The ultimate objective of this study is to provide researchers and program managers with evidence-based recommendations for the collection of self-reported data on MC status through an assessment of different methods to describe and explain MC. Specifically, the study assessed tools for …
The Experiences Of Men Engaged In Transactional Sex With Other Men In Urban Nigeria—A Size Estimation And Qualitative Study, Population Council
The Experiences Of Men Engaged In Transactional Sex With Other Men In Urban Nigeria—A Size Estimation And Qualitative Study, Population Council
HIV and AIDS
Reports on a mixed-method research study to estimate the population size and understand the experiences of a sub-group of men who have sex with men presumed to be at particularly high risk of infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections: men who engage in transactional sex with other men.
Getting Real With Youth-Friendly Services In Africa: Report Of A Satellite Session At The Xix International Aids Conference, Population Council
Getting Real With Youth-Friendly Services In Africa: Report Of A Satellite Session At The Xix International Aids Conference, Population Council
HIV and AIDS
Overview of an AIDS 2013 satellite session which aimed to engage young people with and react to the study findings and in the light of the findings, discuss and share their perspectives, experiences and concerns about how responsive existing policies, programs and services are to the HIV prevention and impact mitigation needs of young Africans.
Migration And Hiv In India: Study Of Select Districts, Niranjan Saggurti, Bidhubhusan Mahapatra, Suvakanta N. Swain, Madhusudana Battala, Alka Narang, Umesh Chawla
Migration And Hiv In India: Study Of Select Districts, Niranjan Saggurti, Bidhubhusan Mahapatra, Suvakanta N. Swain, Madhusudana Battala, Alka Narang, Umesh Chawla
HIV and AIDS
Report of a study assessing the important role of migration in the spread of HIV in districts with high out-migration in India. The study suggests a considerable spread of HIV linked to migrants’ extramarital sexual behaviors, and subsequent delay in treatment for infected spouses. In order to control the spread of HIV, the study provides programmatic recommendations made by the study participants and the counselors from ICTCs and ART centers. These suggestions include village-level mapping of at-risk persons, mainstreaming HIV prevention interventions within current health resources, improving various village level HIV prevention programs, and involving women left behind by migrant …
Evaluation Of The Informed Consent Process For Male Circumcision Scale-Up In Swaziland, Barbara Friedland, Louis Apicella, Katie D. Schenk, Meredith Sheehy, Paul C. Hewett
Evaluation Of The Informed Consent Process For Male Circumcision Scale-Up In Swaziland, Barbara Friedland, Louis Apicella, Katie D. Schenk, Meredith Sheehy, Paul C. Hewett
HIV and AIDS
This report evaluates the informed consent process for male circumcision conducted through the Male Circumcision Partnership for Swaziland, led by Population Services International, in partnership with Jhpiego, Marie Stopes International, and the Population Council. The study assesses participants' comprehension of the circumcision process, the informed consent process, as well as the affect of male circumcision counseling on their experience.
"Knowing Myself First": Feasibility Of Self-Testing Among Health Workers In Kenya, Sam Kalibala, Waimar Tun, William Muraah, Peter Cherutich, Erick Oweya, Patricia Oluoch
"Knowing Myself First": Feasibility Of Self-Testing Among Health Workers In Kenya, Sam Kalibala, Waimar Tun, William Muraah, Peter Cherutich, Erick Oweya, Patricia Oluoch
HIV and AIDS
Report of a study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of free HIV home self-testing among health workers in Kenya, within the range of other HIV testing options available.
Facilitating Regulatory Approval Of Multipurpose Prevention Technologies For Sexual And Reproductive Health, Martha Brady
Facilitating Regulatory Approval Of Multipurpose Prevention Technologies For Sexual And Reproductive Health, Martha Brady
HIV and AIDS
This brief describes multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) that address women's sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs, and how to go about facilitating regulatory approval of this technology. It outlines a strategic framework to examine current regulatory guidance, as well a product development pathway to bring MPTs to market.
Evaluation Of The Informed Consent Process For Male Circumcision Scale-Up In Zambia, Barbara Friedland, Louis Apicella, Katie D. Schenk, Meredith Sheehy, Paul C. Hewett
Evaluation Of The Informed Consent Process For Male Circumcision Scale-Up In Zambia, Barbara Friedland, Louis Apicella, Katie D. Schenk, Meredith Sheehy, Paul C. Hewett
HIV and AIDS
This report evaluates the informed consent process for male circumcision conducted through the Male Circumcision Partnership for Zambia, led by Population Services International (Society for Family Health, Zambia), in partnership with Jhpiego, Marie Stopes International, and the Population Council. The objectives of the study were to assess male circumcision clients' comprehension of the informed consent process, examine social norms and practices regarding informed consent for adolescents, compare clients' expectations and experiences, and make additional recommendations for improving the informed consent process.
Hiv Transmission Among Married Men And Women In Districts With High Out-Migration In India: Study Brief, Niranjan Saggurti, Bidhubhusan Mahapatra, Suvakanta N. Swain, Madhusudana Battala, Umesh Chawla, Alka Narang
Hiv Transmission Among Married Men And Women In Districts With High Out-Migration In India: Study Brief, Niranjan Saggurti, Bidhubhusan Mahapatra, Suvakanta N. Swain, Madhusudana Battala, Umesh Chawla, Alka Narang
HIV and AIDS
This brief describes a study examining the links between male out-migration and HIV transmission among married men and women and other mechanisms by which HIV is transmitted within marital relationships in districts with high out-migration.
What Regulatory Guidance Exists For Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (Mpts)? A Review Of Key Guidance Documents And Their Applicability To Mpts, Martha Brady, Heeyoung Park
What Regulatory Guidance Exists For Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (Mpts)? A Review Of Key Guidance Documents And Their Applicability To Mpts, Martha Brady, Heeyoung Park
HIV and AIDS
This brief reviews regulatory guidance documents and how they may apply to multi-purpose technologies (MPTs). It examines guidance documents from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). The brief concludes by anticipating increased interactions with US regulatory agencies in hopes of finding new regulatory pathways that address MPTs specifically.
Constructing A Critical Path For Product Development, Commercialization, And Access, Martha Brady
Constructing A Critical Path For Product Development, Commercialization, And Access, Martha Brady
HIV and AIDS
This brief discusses the Council's health technologies development and the product development path from conceptualization to market. It defines the steps in the Critical Path Framework, and examines activities at the preclinical and clinical stage.
Encouraging Abandonment Of Fgm/C Among The Somali Community In Wajir, Kenya, Population Council
Encouraging Abandonment Of Fgm/C Among The Somali Community In Wajir, Kenya, Population Council
Reproductive Health
This report summarizes key achievements of a two-year project to foster community‐wide abandonment of FGM/C by developing and testing the feasibility of working closely with communities highly resistant to external influences. The diagnostic study aimed to identify culturally appropriate empowerment strategies for women and youth in the Somali community.
Health Research For Development Initiative In Vietnam (Hrdi): Impact Evaluation Results, Katherine Williams, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan
Health Research For Development Initiative In Vietnam (Hrdi): Impact Evaluation Results, Katherine Williams, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan
Reproductive Health
The Population Council Viet Nam joined the Hanoi School of Public Health and Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy – Faculty of Public Health to create fellowships to increase research skills, provide competitive awards, and develop a network to link fellows to various national and international institutes and conferences. The core target population of the project is Vietnamese health professionals who have studied overseas and have obtained recent master’s degrees in public health or health social sciences under three programs managed by the Population Council. This evaluation report provides information from baseline and endline surveys of returned …
Pepfar Special Initiative On Sexual And Gender-Based Violence: Baseline Report, Lynne Elson, Jill Keesbury
Pepfar Special Initiative On Sexual And Gender-Based Violence: Baseline Report, Lynne Elson, Jill Keesbury
HIV and AIDS
The PEPFAR Special Initiative on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence aims to strengthen services for survivors of sexual violence (SV) though the implementation of a comprehensive model of care in participating PEPFAR partner facilities. This baseline report examines project sites in Uganda and Rwanda and suggests strengthening health services involving training, community and provider awareness and attitudes.
Prevention With Positives: How Do We Reach Them In The Community?, Avina Sarna, Jerry Okal, Stanley Luchters, Nzioki King'ola, Scott Geibel
Prevention With Positives: How Do We Reach Them In The Community?, Avina Sarna, Jerry Okal, Stanley Luchters, Nzioki King'ola, Scott Geibel
HIV and AIDS
In the past, HIV prevention efforts have focused primarily on developing risk-reduction interventions for those presumed to be HIV-negative and therefore at risk of becoming infected with HIV. In recognition of the need for prevention among people living with HIV (PLHIV), programs have been initiated in Africa, but primarily in clinical settings for those who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). There is little knowledge about how to reach those PLHIV not on ART, and therefore not in regular contact with the health system or with effective prevention messages. This diagnostic study aimed to address the gap in information on how …
Monitoring And Evaluation Of The Emergency Plan Progress (Meepp): End-Of-Project Evaluation, Sam Kalibala
Monitoring And Evaluation Of The Emergency Plan Progress (Meepp): End-Of-Project Evaluation, Sam Kalibala
HIV and AIDS
This report evaluates the scope of the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Emergency Plan Progress (MEEPP) and the lessons learned from the project in Uganda, which aims to improve availability and quality of PEPFAR data.
Protecting Hope: Situation Analysis Of Vulnerable Children In Uganda 2009, Sam Kalibala, Lynne Elson
Protecting Hope: Situation Analysis Of Vulnerable Children In Uganda 2009, Sam Kalibala, Lynne Elson
HIV and AIDS
The Government of Uganda has focused attention on the problem of orphaned and other vulnerable children through a number of policies, regulations, and initiatives. In 2004, the Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development developed the National OVC Policy, aimed at improving the quality of life for poor and vulnerable children, such as children who have been orphaned, children who are living on the streets, children who are at risk of abuse, and children exposed to situations of armed conflict. However, despite the many efforts to improve the circumstances of vulnerable children in Uganda, policymakers, donors, and program managers still …
Maximizing Utilization Of Research, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Maximizing Utilization Of Research, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health
Operations research (OR) can only be judged successful if results are utilized for making decisions to strengthen RH/FP policies and service delivery. How can this best be achieved? How can both process and impact of OR be measured? Drawing from ten years of FRONTIERS in Reproductive Health OR experience, a number of key principles for promoting research utilization, illustrated with documented examples, are presented here. One important first step is clarifying terms used, almost interchangeably, in research utilization, as it incorporates a range of ways in which research can be used for making decisions to strengthen RH/FP policies and programs. …
Capacity Building: Creating A Culture Of Evidence-Based Decisionmaking, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Capacity Building: Creating A Culture Of Evidence-Based Decisionmaking, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health
For research to have significant impact, it is important to have not only trained individuals and institutions capable of conducting research, but also program managers and donors who believe in making decisions based on evidence. The focus on fostering research utilization through capacity building has been a major contribution of the FRONTIERS legacy. The FRONTIERS capacity-building initiative began in 1999 in response to the need for developing-country partners and institutions to conduct research, understand study findings, and develop policies and programs based on evidence. This is one of eight Legacy Papers synthesizing major lessons learned in research conducted under the …
Gender And Reproductive Health Services: Putting Gender Perspective Into Practice, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Gender And Reproductive Health Services: Putting Gender Perspective Into Practice, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health
Promoting gender equity is widely acknowledged as important for improving reproductive health (RH) programs, as gender shapes all aspects of RH service delivery. Thus promoting gender equity—fairness and justice in responsibilities and access to benefits for women, men, girls, and boys—is a major goal for RH programs. But how can programs operationalize the concept of gender perspective when delivering family planning (FP) and other RH services? What impact does this have on use and effectiveness? FRONTIERS projects have improved understanding of the impact of gender issues on RH and have helped identify effective actions for incorporating gender perspective into services. …
Financial Sustainability Of Reproductive Health Services—Understanding Costs: An Essential Skill In Reproductive Health Programs, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Financial Sustainability Of Reproductive Health Services—Understanding Costs: An Essential Skill In Reproductive Health Programs, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health
Reproductive health (RH) services remain a low priority for most developing country health programs and face continuing reductions in donor funding and competition from other priorities, such as HIV and malaria. Thus, it is important to understand the costs of interventions and to compare them with existing or alternative service-delivery strategies. FRONTIERS studies provide important lessons about measuring costs and effectiveness of public and nongovernmental programs, planning for costing during scale-up, and improving understanding of issues influencing financial sustainability. This is one of eight Legacy Papers synthesizing major lessons learned in research conducted under the FRONTIERS in Reproductive Health Program. …
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Change Is Possible, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Change Is Possible, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health
Changing long-standing cultural practices—even when such practices are harmful—is difficult, but the impressive success in reducing the acceptability and incidence of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in several settings shows it is possible. Research by FRONTIERS in Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, and Senegal has provided insight into the sociocultural and religious underpinnings of FGM/C and has identified approaches that, over time, have contributed to individual and community decisions to abandon the practice. This information can help reduce the risk of undergoing FGM/C faced by three million girls and women every year. This is one of eight Legacy Papers synthesizing …
Integration Of Services: Making Integrated Services A Reality, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Integration Of Services: Making Integrated Services A Reality, Frontiers In Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health
Programs seeking to provide a more comprehensive RH service may establish or strengthen referrals between related yet separately provided services that enable a client to receive the range of needed services. There are two main rationales for integrating services. First, many clients have needs for several services; and second, there is an expectation that providing integrated or linked services can be more efficient programmatically. Little empirical evidence exists to support these underlying rationales, or to guide policies and programs in organizing services effectively and efficiently. Lessons from FRONTIERS have demonstrated not only the demand for multiple services, but also the …
A Situation Analysis Of Care And Support For Rape Survivors At First Point Of Contact In India And Bangladesh, M.E. Khan, Aruna Bhattacharya, Ismat Bhuiya, Aditi Aeron
A Situation Analysis Of Care And Support For Rape Survivors At First Point Of Contact In India And Bangladesh, M.E. Khan, Aruna Bhattacharya, Ismat Bhuiya, Aditi Aeron
Reproductive Health
A situation analysis of post-rape care services available at the first point of contact was conducted in three cities in India and four cities in Bangladesh. The aim of this investigation was to gather information that could be used in the development of a comprehensive care and support system for the rape survivor. Secondarily, the study field-tested sensitive and practical tools that could be used in the future for large-scale situation analyses of the rape survivor services. The results demonstrated that there is no uniform service provision protocol to follow for managing rape survivors at health facilities in India or …