[Micky Hingorani]

1. Formative research is a means of understanding the community within which the research will take place. we can use this platform to find out how knowledgeable the community is about HIV and HIV prevention research. Once this has been ascertained, we can go back into the community with the correct tools and activities to inform them about HIV and HIV preventions research thereby engaging them and getting them to be familiar and comfortable with the research.

2. In May this year we hosted a HIV Vaccines Awareness Day to inform the community of Soweto about HIV Vaccine trials. Local stakeholders were involved, like the LGBTI and local NGOs that perform HIV testing and counselling. Instead of having a general information session, we played games with the community and gave away prizes to those who participated in the games. This was a great way to educate and involve the community. At the end, there was an information and answer session where they were free to ask questions. They were also encouraged to go to the stalls in the venue to find out more information.

[Micky Hingorani]

Formative research is the first activity done to deepen the level of research knowledge, experience and preparedness amongst site team and populations that will be involved in, affected by, or have influence over the trial, which will in turn, help  plan community engagement activities accordingly.

This process also assist research team to gain an understanding of attitude, beliefs and socio behavioural factors among the potential trial population that could interfere with recruitment, retention or trial conduct.  Once all this information has been gathered, it is then site can be plan well tailored community engagement activities.

[Micky Hingorani]

1. Formative research in my understanding helps to gain an understanding of the communities that the trail will be conducted in and helps understand all the communication chanells that are used by the population at hand , this is a  fundemental step for good community engagement as it sets a good understanding of the communities that you will set out to reach
2. We have worked with the District Councils to up date the list of leadership hirachy as a way of keeping track  how information and communitation moves from the Traditional Authorities right down to the block leaders   and to the house holds in our catchment area. We also work with other stake holders to see how best the national events can best be layed out to be able to reach out to communities.

[Micky Hingorani]

There is a lot of sensitization in the community regarding sexual gender based violence. There has been establishment of Village victim support units which are supported by different non governmental organisations where the victims report the cases. All the cases end up in the hands of the police and perpetrators are put to justice.

The only problem in Malawi is under reporting of such cases. Most of the people think these are just family issues and should be dealt with indoors as a family issue. This is why most organisations are coming in to sensitize the communities.

[Micky Hingorani]

In Malawi  these matters are handled by the police , they have special unit the handles such such cases called the Victims Surport Unit, in is very vibrant and recieves funding from Donners. So they have sensetizations in th ecommunities urging victems and communities to report cases to the police.

Local leaders have been trained to be able to intervine in Gender based violence and be able to involove the police in matters that arise in the communities.

[Micky Hingorani]

Hi all:

Has your engagement with health providers affected by roll out of Option B+? For example, has there been concern about your site’s referrals of HIV-infected participants and impact on the public sector? In some countries, there are big issues with procurement and stock outs of course. So I am just wondering out loud about how this policy/systems change has affected your conversations on the ground?

[Micky Hingorani]

Hi Charles and others:

Thank you for the feedback! And sorry for this annoyance! I have reported the Exit button issue to our developers.

Not to worry. The LMS tracks each time a learner attempts the module and when the learner completes the Knowledge Check questions.

So you are safe!

 

[Micky Hingorani]

Hi GPP facilitators,

I completed the lesson 3 lesson check, clicked the exit button and it did not respond. does it mean I will have to go through it again? please advice, thanks.

 

thanks.

[Micky Hingorani]

Dear Erica,

I believe that involving community is very much important, that also help with identifying stakeholders that might have a negative impact in the trial process. by the look of things you are targeting stakeholders in different levels that a brilliant idea. Understanding channels of communication is very important as one of the formative research activities.

[Micky Hingorani]

Hi  Denver and Steve,

In my community the situation is similar to yours, HIV epidemic is high in general population more women are infected than men. Also Mother to child transmission had a greater uptake but now is getting better with presence of  PMTCT -B plus in place

 

[Micky Hingorani]

1.  I think formative research is part or step of community  engagement that assists the research team to understand the study population and trying to set the right foot in the community for the success of the trial

2.  For our upcoming Vaccine trial at this stage we have involved the CAB members about the trial in general ( tTarget population,  numbero f participants to be enrolled, objectives, duration, number of visits and general procedures). Also together we reviewed the participant informed consent to be used for the trial . we have discussed recruitment plans/strategies.  We are still waiting for ethical clearance from the IRBs, once we receive approval we are planing to conduct a meeting or community forum with community leaders and other stakeholders like street leaders,area government leaders, health officers, religious leader, previous vaccine trial participants and other influential people in the target area, there after we plan to hold a press conference with local media personnel and from there we will continue with information seminars, community meeting and radio talk shows

[Micky Hingorani]

1. As we know Formative Research enables Research team to gain understanding of the local populations, it social, cultural, norms and practices that helps a lot in engaging with the community, because understanding the community you working with assist a lot in the trial process. Understanding the channels of communication is also very important because for example in rural areas we still have Chiefs and we use certain way to address any issues to them that includes trials that we might be conducting, importance of dress code, language used but all that happens only if there is an engagement with community because some of research team members are coming from different areas which are unique from where the trial is conducted therefore engaging with the community helps in overcoming all possible situations that may cause delays and study to be unsuccessful. The difference between the two is that, when the study is conducted protocol is developed and the protocol need to be followed and there are situations whereby the community might have different views when it comes to the how the protocol is drafted and it is impossible to put everything according to what some of community members prefer that is why its important to involve community in different levels.

2. We conducted community events in rural areas where the community is still naïve when it comes to research and we involved community members who are very influential in those communities, we also involved CAB members whom we consider as our community stakeholders.  We also had a Soccer Tournament that was attended by all municipalities that are under UThukela District Municipality and the main purpose of that tournament was Male involvement. It all started with a march that was lead by the Mayor of UThukela District and the March was all about  “No woman will be abused in my name” “No woman will be infected in my name” and Brothers for life was part of that March and the whole event. We believe that if male partners are involved in research trial it will be much easier for women to participate and adhere to trials that are conducted.

 

[Micky Hingorani]

In Uganda, cases of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) are to village or local council chair persons in the area. This varies with the preference of the victim. It is from that point that the chairman will address the issue to his best of knowledge and latter on refer to them to the police, civil society organisations that handles these cases.

At national levels are specific legal acts and proposals that look into protection of human rights and support of SGBV survivors to include; Penal Code Act which seeks to compensate the sexually abused and punish the offenders, Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation 2010 (RHU, 2013)

Proposals and policy discussions on HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, Sexual offences bill are ongoing and if well stated will translate beneficial policies on the latter (ACORD Uganda, 2008)

 

There is generally commitment to combat SGBV in the nation with reference to regional (Great Lakes) Goma Declaration 2008, UN resolutions on SGBV. They can be reflected in different policy manual of the nation and are backed by political commitment to effect them.

[Micky Hingorani]

Alice and Wadi– I love your reflective and honest answers. Question for you –what is one realistic and immediate change you could implement, based on what you have learned so far?

[Micky Hingorani]

thanks Edna!