Sustainable Development for Improved HIV Health and Prevention in Kenya (SD4H-Kenya)

Abstract for “Women and HIV Research Across the Lifespan” Supplement to SD4H The Sustainable Development for HIV Health (SD4H) Training Program, a collaboration between Maseno University, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI), supports the training of doctoral and master’s students interested in transdisciplinary

HIV research. Since starting the program four years ago, we have found it challenging to recruit trainees from the School of Medicine; only one of our master’s students is from the SOM, while the four doctoral, two post-doctoral, and three of our four master’s students are from the School of Public Health &

Community Development (SPHCD) (the DEI supplement supports a single student in the School of Agriculture & Food Security). Through this supplement, we will recruit post-graduate Master of Medicine (MMED) students (i.e., medical residents) from the SOM, as well as PhD students from the SPHCD with an interest in research on women and HIV across the lifespan. This program will include the following

components: 1) a three-month “Designing Clinical Research” hybrid course (most sessions in-person with some virtual sessions); 2) the development of a research concept that will serve as the trainees’ thesis for their PhD or MMED program; 3) funding for up to three proposals; 4) mentorship from scientists from

Maseno University, KEMRI and UCGHI; and 5) a bi-weekly research seminar and final research symposium at the conclusion of the program. Western Kenya, the location of SD4H, hosts many research projects that are focused on women and HIV across the lifespan. Some examples include: i) testing a multisectoral agriculture intervention to decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes among women living with

HIV, ii) cervical cancer prevention among women living with HIV, iii) development of a scale to measure stigma among widows living with HIV, iv) testing a multisectoral agricultural intervention at secondary schools to reduce risk factors that can lead to HIV acquisition among adolescent girls and v) use of a “soft

cup” for menstrual hygiene to reduce adolescent girls risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infection acquisition. Trainees will meet with investigators who can serve as mentors, and avail resources that trainees can leverage to conduct their research. This supplement will help to train the next generation of

clinician- and non-clinician researchers at the intersection of women and HIV at Maseno University.