Evaluating the HITSystem to Improve PMTCT Retention and Maternal Viral Suppression in Kenya

University Of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City KS

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Summary/Abstract The candidate for this diversity supplement is Christina M. Pacheco, JD, MPH, an American Indian (Cherokee and Quechua) - Latina (heritage from Bolivia) researcher and faculty member at The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). As an early career investigator, long-term career goal is to become a fully independent investigator in public health research, obtaining a tenure track faculty position, and continuing her efforts to address health inequities among global populations by making major contributions to public health. Specifically, her goal is to develop, implement and evaluate culturally tailored interventions/strategies that address individual, social, political, cultural and environmental factors that contribute to health inequities among global underserved/historically resilient populations and to translate those results into support for health policies. The goals of this supplement are for Ms. Pacheco to 1) Receive training in implementation science as it relates to the theories and methods relevant to design strategies to facilitate health intervention uptake and sustainability, 2. Increase her knowledge about the global factors (social/cultural, political, environmental, etc.) impacting implementation of proven cost-effective interventions at different stake-holder levels, in varied resource settings, and 3. Establish a track record of scholarly publications and enhance her grant writing so that she can launch an independent research career with global underserved/ historically resilient populations. She will accomplish these goals under the mentorship of Drs. Sarah Finocchario Kessler, Ed Ellerbeck and Ms. May Maloba and by joining the team of American and Kenyan researchers on the parent R01, taking the lead on a sub-project contained within the scope of the parent grant, completing formal courses and seminars, publishing her work, and presenting at national conferences to build her skills and research network. The proposed research experience of this diversity supplement will be an integral component of the parent R01, which evaluates the efficacy of the HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem) 2.1 to increase the complete prevention of mother-to-child transmission retention with guideline-adherent services and to increase viral load suppression and appropriate clinical action through the extended period of 6 months postpartum. Ms. Pacheco’s sub-study will build on the parent grant’s understanding of the implementation of the HITT System cost-effectiveness. The research aims of this supplement are to: 1. Conduct 34 interviews with key stakeholders at the national (n=4), county (n=6), and hospital- level (n=24) to gather feedback on implementation considerations for HITSystem scale up. 2. Based on data from key stakeholder interviews, develop and refine 3-4 implementation strategies (e.g., use of a clinic champion, incentivizing use of HITSystem, etc.) for varied resource settings. Refinement will be done using a Delphi method.