Featured Article

• Myers RS, Feldacker C, Cesár F, Paredes Z, Augusto G, Muluana C, Citao S, Mboa-Ferrao C, Karajeanes E, Golden M. Acceptability and Effectiveness of Assisted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Partner Services in Mozambique: Results From a Pilot Program in a Public, Urban Clinic. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2016 Nov;43(11):690–695. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000529

Assisted partner services (APS) involves offering persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) assistance notifying and testing their sex partners. Assisted partner services is rarely available in sub-Saharan Africa. We instituted a pilot APS program in Maputo, Mozambique.  Between June and September 2014, community health workers (CHWs) offered APS to persons with newly diagnosed HIV (index patients [IPs]). Community health workers interviewed IPs at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. At baseline, CHWs counseled IPs to notify partners and encourage their HIV testing, but did not notify partners directly. At 4 weeks, CHWs notified partners directly. We compared 4- and 8-week outcomes to estimate the impact of APS on partner notification, HIV testing and HIV case. Assisted partner services resulted in the notification of 22 additional partners, testing of 83 partners and 43 new HIV diagnoses. In relative terms, APS increased partner notification, testing, and HIV case finding by 13%, 101%, and 125%. The study found that assisted partner services is acceptable to Mozambicans newly diagnosed with HIV, identifies large numbers of serodiscordant partnerships and persons with undiagnosed HIV, and poses a low risk of adverse events.

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Botswana

• 6th Botswana International HIV Conference. Gaborone, Botswana, August 24-27, 2016.
• Kgwaadira BT, Katlholo T, Fiebig L, Boyd R, Kuate L, Agegnehu D, Mosime W,4 Wuhib T, Dikobe W, Petlo C, Nkomo B, Avalos A, Skiles M, Philips H, Finlay-Vickers A. Anticipated Reductions in Long-Term Tuberculosis Incidence and Associated Cost Savings with Adoption of the Treat All People Living with HIV Policy in Botswana, 2016–2035. 21st International AIDS Conference. Durban, South Africa. July 18-22, 2016.
• Wirth KE, Semo BW, Ntsuape C, Ramabu NM, Otlhomile B, Plank RM, Barnhart S, Ledikwe JH. Triggering the decision to undergo medical male circumcision: a qualitative study of adult men in Botswana.AIDS Care. 2016 Jan 11:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]

Cambodia

• Perrone LA, Voeurng V, Sek S, Song S, Vong N, Tous C, Flandin JF, Confer D, Costa A, Martin R. Implementation research: a mentoring programme to improve laboratory quality in Cambodia. Bull World Health Organ. 2016;94:743–751. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.163824

Caribbean Region

• Scott, E, Nartker A, St. Thomas S, Ali Z. Train, Transfer, and Sustain: Building Capacity for Online Learning at the University of the West Indies Diploma in the Management of HIV Infection Program. 7th Annual CUGH Global Health Conference. University of San Francisco. April 8-11, 2016.

Haiti

• Delcher C, Puttkammer N, Arnoux, R, Francois K, Griswold M, Zaidi I, Joseph YAP, Marston B. Validating Procedures used to Identify Duplicate Reports in Haiti’s National HIV/AIDS Case Surveillance System. J Registry Manag. 2016 Spring;43(1):10-15.

India

• Anusuya GS, Chockalingam C, Gurusamy M, Nadol P, Krishnaraj R and Radhakrishnan E. Various Immunologic and Virologic Responses to Second line Antiretroviral Therapy in Tambaram, India. J AIDS Clin Res. 2016;7:8. doi: 10.4172/2155-6113.1000601.

Kenya

• Kang’a S, Puttkammer N, Wanyee S, et al. A National Standards-Based Assessment on Functionality of Electronic Medical Records Systems Used in Kenyan Public-Sector Health Facilities. Int J Med Inform. 2017 Jan;97:68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2016.09.013. Epub 2016 Sep 23.
• O’Hara E, Nuche-Berenguer B, Kirui NK, Cheng SY, Chege P, Buckwater P, Laktabai J, Pastakia SD. Diabetes in rural Africa: what can Kenya show us? Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016 Oct;4(10):807-9. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30086-9.
• Antilla J, Wall, L, Atelu C, Muthee V, Liku N, Puttkammer N. Building Human Capacity for Optimal Use of an Electronic Medical Record System in Kenya: Results of a Pilot Evaluation of Two eLearning Modules. 7th Annual CUGH Global Health Conference. University of San Francisco. April 8-11, 2016.
• Wirth KE, Semo BW, Ntsuape C, Ramabu NM, Otlhomile B, Plank RM, Barnhart S, Ledikwe JH. Triggering the decision to undergo medical male circumcision: a qualitative study of adult men in Botswana. AIDS Care. 2016 Aug 11:1-6.
• Muthee V, Liku N, Puttkammer N. Institutionalization of a Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA) Procedure for Improved Data Quality of Electronic Patient Medical Records in Kenya. 7th Annual CUGH Global Health Conference. University of San Francisco. April 8-11, 2016.

Malawi

• Kohler PK, Tippett Barr BA, Kangʼombe A, Hofstee C, Kilembe F, Galagan S, Chilongozi D, Namate D, Machaya M, Kabwere K, Mwale M, Msunguma W, Reed J, Chimbwandira F. Safety, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the PrePex Device for Adult Male Circumcision in Malawi. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2016 Jun 1;72 Suppl 1:S49-55. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000774.
• Tweya H, Feldacker C, Gadabu OJ, Ng’ambi W, Mumba SL, Phiri D, Kamvazina L, Mwakilama S, Kanyerere H, Keiser, Mwafilaso J, Kamba C, Egger M, Jahn A, Simwaka B, Phiri S. Developing a point-of-care electronic medical record system for TB/HIV co-infected patients: experiences from Lighthouse Trust, Lilongwe, Malawi. BMC Res Notes. 2016 Mar 5;9(1):146. doi: 10.1186/s13104-016-1943-4.
• Kohler PK, Namate D, Barnhart S, Chimbwandira F, Tippet-Barr BA, Perdue T, Chilongozi DA, Tenthani L, Phiri O, Msungama W, Holmes KK, Krieger JN. Classification and rates of adverse events in a Malawi male circumcision program: impact of quality improvement training.BMC Health Serv Res. 2016 Feb 17;16(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s12913-016-1305-x.
• Phiri S, Feldacker C, Chaweza T, Mlundira L, Tweya H, Speight C, Samala B, Kachale F, Umpierrez D, Haddad L. Integrating reproductive health services into HIV care: strategies for successful implementation in a low-resource HIV clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2016 Jan. pii: jfprhc-2013-100816. doi: 10.1136/jfprhc-2013-100816.

Mozambique

• Myers RS, Feldacker C, Cesár F, Paredes Z, Augusto G, Muluana C, Citao S, Mboa-Ferrao C, Karajeanes E, Golden M. Acceptability and Effectiveness of Assisted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Partner Services in Mozambique: Results From a Pilot Program in a Public, Urban Clinic. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2016 Nov;43(11):690–695. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000529
• Sathane I, Horth R, Young P, Inguane C, Nalá R, Miranda AE, Lane T, Raymond HF, Cummings B, McFarland W. Risk Factors Associated with HIV Among Men Who Have Sex Only with Men and Men Who Have Sex with Both Men and Women in Three Urban Areas in Mozambique. AIDS Behav. 2016 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print]
• “Jornadas de Saúde” [posters in Portuguese]. Maputo, Mozambique. September 16-18, 2015.

Namibia

• Beima-Sofie KM, Brandt L, Hamunime N, Shepard M, Uusiku J, John-Stewart GC, OʼMalley G. Pediatric HIV Disclosure Intervention Improves Knowledge and Clinical Outcomes in HIV-Infected Children in Namibia. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 May 1;75(1):18-26. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001290.
• MacLachlan EW, Potter K, Hamunime N, Shepard-Perry MG, Uusiku J, Simwanza R, Brandt LJ, O’Malley G. “We Are Now Free to Speak”: Qualitative Evaluation of an Education and Empowerment Training for HIV Patients in Namibia. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 7;11(4):e0153042. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153042. eCollection 2016.
• Maclachlan EW, Shepard-Perry MG, Ingo P, Uusiku J, Mushimba R, Simwanza R, Likoro J, Brandt LJ, Thomas KK, Kasonka C, Hamunime N, O’Malley G. Evaluating the effectiveness of patient education and empowerment to improve patient-provider interactions in antiretroviral therapy clinics in Namibia. AIDS Care. AIDS Care. 2016;28(5):620-7. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2015.1124975. Epub 2015 Dec 23.

South Africa

• Kohler PK, Marumo E, Jed SL, Mema G, Galagan S, Tapia K, Pillay E, DeKadt J, Naidoo E, Dombrowski JC, Holmes KK. A national evaluation using standardised patient actors to assess STI services in public sector clinical sentinel surveillance facilities in South Africa. Sex Transm Infect. 2017 Jan 27. pii: sextrans-2016-052930. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2016-052930.
• Galagan S, Jed S, Sumitani J, Gilvydis JM, Bakor A, Cooke R, Naidoo E, Winters D, Weaver MR. Improving Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Treatment Monitoring in South Africa: Evaluation of an Advanced TB/HIV Course for Healthcare Workers. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2016 Dec 7;4(1): ofw248. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofw248
• McConnico C, Jed SL, Marumo E, Mazibuko S, Mema GM, DeKadt J, Holmes K, Kohler P. Systems Mapping of Sexually Transmitted Infection Services at Three Clinical Sentinel Surveillance Sites in South Africa: Opportunities for Integrated Care. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2016 Sep 17. pii: S1055-3290(16)30121-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2016.09.004.
• Lippman S, Shade S, Sumitani J, DeKadt J, Gilvydis J, Ratlhagana M, Grignon J, Tumbo J, Gilmore H, Saberi P, Barnhart S, Steward W. Evaluation of short message service and peer navigation to improve engagement in HIV care in South Africa: study protocol for a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2016 Feb 6;17:68. doi: 10.1186/s13063-016-1190-y.

Zimbabwe

• Bertman V, Petracca F, Makunike-Chikwinya B, Jonga A, Dupwa B, Gwashure S, Jenami N, Nartker A, Wall L, and Downer A. Health Worker Text Messaging for Training: Peer Support, and Mentoring in Pediatric and Adolescent HIV/AIDS Care: Lessons Learned in Zimbabwe. 8th Annual CUGH Global Health Conference. Washington, D.C. April 6-9, 2017.
• Feldacker C, Bochner AF, Herman-Roloff A, Holec M, Murenje V, Stepaniak A, Xaba S, Tshimanga M, Chitimbire V, Makaure S, Hove J, Barnhart S, Makunike B. Is it all about the money? A qualitative exploration of the effects of performance-based financial incentives on Zimbabwe’s voluntary male medical circumcision program. PLoS One. 2017 Mar 16;12(3):e0174047. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174047. eCollection 2017.
• Bochner AF, Feldacker C, Makunike B, Holec M, Murenje V, Stepaniak A, Xaba S, Balachandra S, Tshimanga M, Chitimbire V, Barnhart S. Adverse event profile of a mature voluntary medical male circumcision programme performing PrePex and surgical procedures in Zimbabwe. J Int AIDS Soc. 2017 Feb 20;19(1):1-6. doi: 10.7448/IAS.20.1.21394.
• Xiao Y, Bochner AF, Makunike B, Holec M, Xaba S, Tshimanga M, Chitimbire V, Barnhart S, Feldacker, C. Challenges in data quality: the influence of data quality assessments on data availability and completeness in a voluntary medical male circumcision programme in Zimbabwe. BMJ Open. 2017; 7(1): e013562. Published online 2017 Jan 27. doi:  10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013562
• I-TECH Zimbabwe. Implementing the PEPFAR Pivot: Experiences from Zimbabwe’s Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Program. International AIDS Conference. Durban, South Africa, July 18-22, 2016.
• I-TECH Zimbabwe. Adverse Event Profile of a Mature Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Program. International AIDS Conference. Durban, South Africa, July 18-22, 2016.