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| Specialist to conduct research on HIV |
A RESEARCH specialist has been employed to help gather much needed data on HIV and how it affects vulnerable groups in the TCI.
Sex workers, drug users, and illegal migrants are among those most likely to come into contact with the disease - but little data has yet been collated to determine the scale of the problem |
Despite the Islands having a “robust” HIV response network with good “prevention, treatment, care and support services,” a report found last year that there are many areas in which the Islands are lacking.
But this month Joel Joseph hopes to change this and will be training local researchers on how to gather data – particularly within the Haitian community.
Mr Joseph comes to the process with a wealth of experience - he is currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology at UWI St Augustine, is a lecturer at Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business in Research Methods, an external consultant with Population Services International Caribbean and managing director of Trinidad-based research company Qure.
The research methodology which he has recommended to gather the information is called the Participatory Ethnographic Evaluation and Research (PEER).
This innovative research tool uses programme design, evaluation and research.
It makes use of existing relationships of trust to understand behaviour in a detailed social context and is useful for groups that are hard to reach.
Just last spring Dr Nicholas Adomakoh, a consultant with Associates International Development, stopped off in the TCI during a trip around the region to carry out a needs identification survey.
This involved a review of country documents on HIV, their response to the epidemic and discussions with a wide range of stakeholders.
“Findings suggested that the response in the TCI is robust with a strong coordinating unit in the National Aids Programme, and a comprehensive array of prevention, treatment care and support services,” he said.
“However, as with many of the countries in the region, information for planning interventions, and monitoring and evaluating outcomes is lacking.”
He added that the area of vulnerable groups was particularly lacking leading to the “highest prevalence in the sub-region.”
“Preliminary investigations into the drivers of the epidemic indicate that vulnerable groups may have a significant but, as yet, not fully quantified role to play in the course of the local HIV epidemic.”
This January the National Aids Programme developed a proposal for formative research for behaviour change communication among vulnerable groups in the Turks and Caicos.
The information they hope to acquire with Mr Joseph’s help will allow the programme to plan interventions aimed at promoting responsible behaviour change and lessen the impact of HIV on vulnerable groups in the TCI. |
| [ 21-07-2009 ] |
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