Chancellor Girod joins KUMC Department of Family Medicine faculty on Kenya trip to learn about research work

Chancellor Doug Girod, and Department of Family Medicine Chair, Dr. Belinda Vail joined Family Medicine faculty Dr. Sarah Finocchario-Kessler, and Dr. Natabhona Mabachi, Global Health Innovations (GHI) President Brad Gautney and Senior International Officer of the KUMC Office of International Programs Kimberly Connelly on a trip to Kenya in June 2018.

The goal of the trip was to learn more about the research that Dr. Kessler, Brad Gautney and their team have been conducting in HIV/AIDS and more recently Cervical Cancer screening in health care facilities across the country. The trip provided an opportunity for KUMC to solidify existing relationships with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) through signing a partnership agreement and for the exploration of new partnerships with medical and research centers.

The KUMC and GHI delegation visited the Nairobi headquarters of Kenya's leading center of excellence in research for human health - Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), to sign a partnership agreement between KEMRI, the University of Kansas Medical Center and Global Health Innovations. The Director of KEMRI Dr. Yeri Kombe, the Chancellor of the University of Kansas Dr. Douglas A. Girod and Mr. Brad Gautney, President of Global Health Innovations signed an agreement to collaborate in the areas of research, education and cultural exchange.

The trip ended on a high note where Kenya HITSystem team members from all the sites came to Nairobi to share a celebratory dinner with the KUMC and GHI delegation at the historic New Stanley hotel. Team members were recognized for their hard work and dedication over the years that have contributed to the success of the HITSystem program in Kenya.

Chancellor Girod being presented with a gift by KEMRI Director Dr. Yeri Kombe.

 GHI Kenya Director May Maloba presented with a certificate by Chancellor Girod, Brad   Gautney and Dr. Sarah Kessler at a celebratory dinner.

Recent Publications:

2021

• Implementing at-birth, point-of-care HIV testing in Kenya: a qualitative study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
  
  
• "Friendly reminder: hi! It's that time again :)" Understanding PMTCT care test message design preferences amongst pre- and post-partum women and their male partners
   
• Provider Perspective on Navigating Relationship Challenges in Assisting HIV-Affected Couples to Meet Their Reproductive Goals: Lessons Learned from a Safer Conception Counseling Intervention in Uganda
  
  
• Piloting the Feasability and Preliminary Impact of Adding Birth HIV Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing to the Early Infant Diagnosis Guidelines in Kenya
  
  
• "Our Choice" improves use of safer conveption methods among HIV serodiscordant couples in Uganda: a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating two implementation approaches
  
  
• A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Impact of the HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem 2.0) on Priority Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Outcomes
  
  
• Reproductive Intentions and Corresponding Use of Safer Conception Methods and Contraception Among Ugandan HIV Clients in Serodiscordant Relationships 
  
  
• ART Initiation for Infants Diagnosed with HIV through Point-of-Care and Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing in Kenya: A Case Series
  
  
• A Checklist to Assess Childbearing Intentions and Promote Referral to Preconception Care or Contraception: A Multi-Site Study

2020

• Maternal viral load monitoring: Coverage and clinical action at 4 Kenyan hospitals

• Predictors of Early ART Initiation Among HIV + Infants in Kenya: A Retrospective Review of HITSystem Data from 2013 to 2017

• "It was my obligation as mother": 18-Month completion of Early Infant Diagnosis as identity control for mothers living with HIV in Kenya

• Predictors of Mortality Among HIV-exposed Infants Through 18 Months of Age in Kenya: A Retrospective Review of Programmatic Data.

2019

• Rates and Predictors of HIV-Exposed Infants Lost to Follow-Up During Early Infant Diagnosis Services in Kenya

• eHealth Interventions for Early Infant Diagnosis: Mothers' Satisfaction with the HIV Infant Tracking System in Kenya

• Adapting the HIV Infant Tracking System to Support Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Kenya: Protocol for an Intervention Development Pilot Study in Two Hospitals

• Infant HIV testing at birth using point-of-care and conventional HIV DNA PCR: an implementation feasibility pilot study in Kenya

• "Closing the Gap": Provider Recommendations for Implementing Birth Point of Care HIV Testing

2018 and earlier

• High report of miscarriage among women living with HIV who want to conceive in Uganda

• Evaluation of the HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem) to optimize the quality and efficiency of early infant diagnosis: a cluster-randomized trial in Kenya.

• Implementing eHealth Technology to Address Gaps in Early Infant Diagnosis Services: Qualitative Assessment of Kenyan Provider Experiences.

• Progress Toward Eliminating Mother to Child Transmission of HIV in Kenya: Review of Treatment Guidelines Uptake and Pediatric Transmission Between 2013 and 2016 -- A Follow Up.

• Evaluating turnaround times for early infant diagnosis samples in Kenya from 2011-2014: A retrospective analysis of HITSystem program data. 

• Predictors of Infant Age at Enrollment in Early Infant Diagnosis Services in Kenya.

• Progress Toward Eliminating Mother to Child Transmission of HIV in Kenya: Review of Treatment Guideline Uptake and Pediatric Transmission at Four Government Hospitals Between 2010 and 2012.

• Implementing eHealth Technology to Address Gaps in Early Infant Diagnosis Services: Qualitative Assessment of Kenyan Provider Experiences.

• If you text them, they will come: using the HIV infant tracking system to improve early infant diagnosis quality and retention in Kenya