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November 2021 | ICHAD & SMART Africa Monthly Monitor
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Thank you from the ICHAD and SMART Africa Teams!
As we enter the holiday season, the ICHAD and SMART Africa teams have so much to be thankful for. Our teams in Uganda and the U.S. have welcomed new team members—Dr. Elizabeth Nakiyingi, the new Medical Specialist/Advisor for ICHAD Field Studies in Uganda, and Natasja Magorokosho, Administrative Coordinator and Research Assistant, in the U.S. office. In addition, three ICHAD U.S. staff members were promoted this month. Dr. Rachel Brathwaite is now the Senior Research Fellow and Data Analyst, Bethel Mandefro is the new Program Coordinator, and Laura Peer is the Associate Director for Capacity Building.
You can learn more about the important research the ICHAD team is conducting to reduce new incidences of HIV and sexuall transmitted infections among economically vulnerable women in Uganda through our Kyaterekera Project (see Research Spotlight below).
In addition, the fall semester has been a season of welcoming new spouses and new babies. We were thrilled to celebrate the wedding of Dr. Proscovia Nabunya, ICHAD Co-Director, in November, and in December we will be celebrating, mom-to-be Jennifer Nattabi and new dad Joshua Kiyingi at a joint baby shower!
Lastly, we are so grateful for our collaborators in the U.S. and around the world who have enabled ICHAD to have yet another productive year and impact the lives of thousands of people. We look forward to sharing our accomplishments in the upcoming Annual Report.
We wish you a peaceful and joyful holiday season!
The ICHAD and SMART Africa Teams
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Research Spotlight
Kyaterekera: A Combination Intervention Addressing Sexual Risk-Taking Among Vulnerable Women in Uganda
The Kyaterekera Project examines the impact of and costs associated with an innovative combination intervention that adds economic empowerment components to traditional HIV risk reduction sessions to reduce new incidence of sexually transmitted infections and HIV among women engaged in sex work (WESW) in the greater Masaka region of Uganda. The study is being implemented among 542 WESW (18 years and above). Currently, the team is conducting 18-months post intervention assessments.
On November 11, Kyaterekera Project research staff conducted the 5th Community Collaborative Board (CCB) meeting.The meeting was held in a hybrid format, with CCB members and ICHAD Uganda staff gathering in person at the ICHAD Masaka office, and the U.S.-based project team members joining via Zoom. The CCB is a group of twelve local experts who advise the research team to ensure that the project is implemented in a contextually- and culturally-relevant way with the support of the community. Members include representatives from law enforcement (District Police Commander - DPC), the District Health Office (DHO), The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), Reach the Youth, (RTY), Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP), as well as WESW representatives from each of the seven districts where the project is being implemented.
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Kyaterekera Project CCB members met at the ICHAD office in Masaka (left) while U.S.-based staff, including Founder Director Fred Ssewamala, joined on Zoom
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This meeting marked an important point in the five-year project.The research team was able to share study findings from four manuscripts focused on: 1) prevalence of HIV and STIs among WESW; 2) economic abuse and HIV care seeking and practices among WESW; 3) development and implementation of financial diaries among WESW, and 4) acceptability of HIV risk reduction sessions among WESW. Facilitated by ICHAD Field Coordinator, Edward Nsubuga, board members discussed the findings and shared their input, providing context and valuable perspective as community stakeholders who understand the unique circumstances of WESW. Board members shared their views candidly, despite the sensitive nature of this work.
One finding shared was the high prevalence (93%) of economic abuse towards WESW by their sexual partners. During the discussion, one board member shared, “There are cultural norms that support economic abuse in families. Traditionally, men have the final say in their homes and cannot be queried. This paves the way for men to economically abuse their sexual partners.” An important component of the Kyaterekera Project provides training for participants to maintain financial diaries to track their earnings and spending. In discussing factors that contributed to an increase in the number of financial diary entries, one member observed “Some women thought that writing was only for the literate, however ICHAD staff always encouraged them that it is for all people and this made them adopt the writing culture thus increasing entries.”
CCB feedback is crucial for understanding study results in a way that is contextually- and culturally-relevant and will ensure project implementation that understands and responds directly to the distinctive needs and conditions of WESW in the Masaka region.
For more CCB member contributions, see the sidebar, Kyaterekera Project CCB Select Input. You can read more about the study here.
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Call for Papers: Global Social Welfare Special Issue
The Global Social Welfare journal will publish a special issue on Financial Capability and Assets for Socioeconomic Development. Financial Capability and Asset Building (FCAB) promotes social protection and development for individuals and families and advances equitable economic well-being. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), financial exclusion, financial illiteracy, and asset poverty are significant barriers to development and well-being. This special issue will highlight the latest cutting-edge research on:
- How FCAB advances social and economic well-being in Africa
- The role of digital financial services in enhancing FCAB
- Frameworks for developing the FCAB competencies of human service professionals
- Strategies for integrating FCAB into existing programs and services.
Submissions for the special issue will be accepted until April 20, 2022. Global Social Welfare is co-edited by Mary McKay and Fred Ssewamala. The Special Issue will feature guest editors David Ansong, PhD, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Moses Okumu, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; and Isaac Koomson, PhD, Research Fellow, University of New England, Australia.
For more information, visit Call for Papers: Financial Capability and Assets for Socioeconomic Development.
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RESEARCH STUDIES
ANZANSI Family Program
SMART Africa Studies
Kyaterekera Project
mHealth Pilot
M-Suubi
Say No to Stigma
Suubi+Adherence-R2
Suubi4Cancer
Suubi4Her
Suubi4STEM
Suubi4Stigma
TRAINING PROGRAMS
CHILD Global Research Fellowship
LEAD Global Training Program
Researcher Resilience Training
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UPCOMING EVENTS
January 10 | 11:59 pm CST
Application deadline for CHILD Global Research Fellowship, LEAD Global Training Program, and Researcher Resilience Training programs.
February 9 | 12:30 pm CST
Leveraging the Couple Relationship to Improve HIV Treatment Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Amy Conroy, Assistant Professor Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS), UCSF Prevention Research Center. Register here.
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OTHER EVENTS, FUNDING & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Monthly Capacity Building Connection
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CALL FOR PAPERS
Global Social Welfare
Global Social Welfare Special Issue: Financial Capability and Assets for Socioeconomic Development
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QUICK LINKS
Our Team
ICHAD News
SMART Africa News
SMART Africa/ICHAD Conference Videos
2020 Annual Report
Publications
Donate
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NOTABLES
Congratulations to the following trainees , staff, and partners for their recent accomplishments!
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Saltanat Childress (LEAD 2021) organized and presented on the panel “Online Domestic Violence Interprofessional Education Activity in Healthcare Settings” and presented the e-poster “Using In Her Shoes for Online Interprofessional Intimate Partner Violence Education” at the 67th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education in Orlando, Florida.
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Tyriesa Howard Howell (LEAD 2020) presented “Critical Conversations on Culturally Responsive Sexual Health Interventions for Black Adolescent Females” at the 67th Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education in Orlando, Florida.
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Lindsey Filiatreau, LEAD Postdoctoral Associate, published "Mental health and initiation of antiretroviral treatment at enrollment into HIV care in Cameroon under a national ‘treat all’ policy: A cross-sectional analysis" in the Journal of the International AIDS Society. In addition, Dr. Filiatreau’s abstract "Differences in recovery attempts, overdoses, and facilitators of substance misuse abstinence among individuals with opioid use disorder with and without prior justice system involvement" has been accepted for the 15th Academic and Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health as a Poster Presentation on April 6-8, 2022.
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Simone Schriger (LEAD 2020) presented “Utilizing stakeholder input to improve quality of and access to evidence-based practices” and “From Neurological Processes to Implementation Strategies: Targets and Strategies for Adaptations Across the Translational Spectrum to Advance the Reach of Effective Treatment for Anxiety” at the Symposium at ABCT 2021.
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Sicong (Summer) Sun, PhD candidate at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and former ICHAD research assistant, successfully defended her dissertation, “Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Relationship Between Wealth and Health.”
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Kyaterekera Project CCB Select Input
“Ignorance about women'S rights is partly to blame for the increased economic abuse since most women do not know that economic abuse violates their rights.”
“Women should make independent decisions. That way, they will be able to discover it when they are economically abused and decide on the way forward.”
“Other women decided to be exemplary to fellow sex workers, especially the young ones, by leaving sex work. They started up other businesses so as to inspire others to leave sex work too.”
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ICHAD Masaka Office Opens Computer Center
On November 15th, the ICHAD Masaka office opened a new computer center. With the rapid growth at the ICHAD office, more resources were put in place to improve on the efficiency and productivity of a large and busy staff. The computer center was inaugurated by Claire Najjuko, the IT Manager, and Flavia Namuwonge, the Head of Operations.
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SOCIAL CORNER
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Congratulations to Dr. Prossie and Patrick!
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ICHAD Co-Director, Proscovia Nabunya, and her spouse Patrick Kawalya, danced down the aisle on November 24 at an intimate ceremony at their home in St. Louis, U.S. The ICHAD team was thrilled to surprise the couple with a bridal shower during the team’s November social gathering. We wish Dr. Prossie and Patrick a lifetime of happiness together!
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ICHAD Welcomes New Staff Members in Our Uganda and U.S. Offices
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We are thrilled to welcome two new members to ICHAD, Dr. Elizabeth Nakiyingi who serves as the Medical Specialist/Advisor for ICHAD Field Studies in Uganda and Natasja Magorokosho who serves as Administrative Coordinator and Research Assistant at ICHAD U.S.!
A medical doctor by training, Dr. Nakiyingi graduated from Kampala International University for Medical School in 2016 with her Medical Degree (MBChB) and has four years of post-graduate training where she has worked in the medical field in several regional and national hospitals in Uganda, including Mulago National Hospital, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, and Kyeizooba Health Care Center III. She will guide us on ICHAD’s growing portfolio of medical-oriented studies in the field. In Dr. Nakiyingi’s own words, her long-term goal—as she engages with ICHAD—is to “utilize her epidemiology and implementation science skills to improve effective provision of quality, affordable and equitable healthcare to women and children in a way that is consistent with the community’s cultural policy and health resource values.”
Natasja Magorokosho is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health with the European University of Cyprus and her research interests include mental health, global health inequality and policy, and resilience. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology (2012), an M.A. in Psychology (2019) and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology (2020) from the University of Namibia. After her M.A. in Clinical Psychology, she worked as a Visiting Researcher at the University of Vetcha in Germany where she was part of the Yields of Evocative Entrepreneurial Approaches on Environment and Society (YEEES) Project. Prior to pursuing her graduate studies, she worked as a human resource professional in Namibia. Natasja was born and raised in Zimbabwe and enjoys globetrotting.
Join us in welcoming both to the ICHAD team!
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PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
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Recent Publications
Training LEADers to Accelerate Global Mental Health Disparities Research (LEAD) Program: A Research Training Program Protocol. Frontiers in Public Health, 1699. Sensoy Bahar, O., Cavazos-Rehg, P., Ssewamala, F. M., Abente, B., Peer, L., Nabunya, P., Soto de Laurido, L.E., Betancourt, T.S., Bhana, A., & Edmond, T.
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Recent Presentations
“Engaging vulnerable women engaged in commercial sex in the implementation of an HIV risk reduction intervention in Southern Uganda” The 16th International Conference on HIV Treatment and Prevention Adherence, November 7-9, 2021, Orlando, Florida
“Self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among women engaged in commercial sex work in Southern Uganda.” The 16th International Conference on HIV Treatment and Prevention Adherence, November 7-9, 2021, Orlando, Florida
“Advancing Scalability and Impacts of a Teacher Training Program for Promoting Child Mental Health in Ugandan Primary Schools.” ICHAD Speaker Series/Brown School Open Classroom, November 10, 2021.
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Upcoming Presentations
“The Relationship between Family Cohesion and Depression Among School Going Children with Elevated Symptoms of Behavioral Challenges in Southern Uganda.” 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), January 12-16, 2022, Washington, DC.
“Low Levels of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Adolescents Living with HIV in Southern Uganda: Understanding Key Contributing Factors.” 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), January 12-16, 2022, Washington, DC.
“The Longitudinal Impact of an Evidence-Based Multiple Family Group Intervention (Amaka Amasanyufu), on Child Behavioral Outcomes in Uganda: The SMART Africa Uganda Study (2016-2021).” 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), January 12-16, 2022, Washington, DC.
“Gender and HIV-Related Stigma Among Caregivers of Children Orphaned By HIV/AIDS in Uganda.” 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), January 12-16, 2022, Washington, DC.
“Testing Reciprocal Relationships between Perceived Social Support, Self-Concept, and Depression Among Adolescents Orphaned By AIDS in Uganda: A Cross-Lagged Structural Equation Model.” 26th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), January 12-16, 2022, Washington, DC.
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