INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
TRAINING IN BIOBEHAVIORAL HEALTH

HIV/AIDS Interventions

   The AIDS prevention curriculum will be modeled after the epidemiology of smoking curriculum with 4 primary modules: 1) pre-site training, 2) research plan, 3) data analysis, and 4) report preparation. Each module is carefully planned to provide the foundation for subsequent modules, culminating in student presentation of their research experience at the end of the 12 weeks period.

Pre-site Training – This module is designed to introduce students to the scope of the program, research project, site preceptors, goals and objectives of the summer training program. Students will receive instruction on the relationships between culture and health in the context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. At the end of this module, students will be able to:

• Discuss some of the cultural issues related to HIV prevention in South Africa.
• Critique selected HIV prevention intervention in Southern Africa.
• Describe critical ethical issues on HIV prevention and their implication for research.

Research Plan – In this module, students will be introduced to the process of conducting HIV/AIDS research among youths in South Africa. Findings from the focus group research and the subsequent translation of the findings into a survey questionnaire will be discussed. At the completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Identify the critical steps in translating findings from qualitative research into an instrument for quantitative research.
• Use the questionnaire that is developed in data collection in South Africa.
• Discuss the strengths and limitations of the data collection process.
• Discuss issues related to ethics and research based on their experience in the field.

Data Analysis – This module will allow students to acquire practical skills in the use of standard statistical analysis packages such as SPSS and SAS. At the completion of this module the students, under the direction of their mentor, will be able to:

• Conduct basic statistical analysis beginning with frequency distribution and crosstabulation analysis.
• Conduct other analysis that their mentor has prepared them for given the limited training time.
• Discuss ethical issues pertaining to data analysis.

Report Preparation – In this module, students will be expected to exercise and develop writing skills in preparation of reports summarizing study findings. At the end of this module, students will be able to:

• Write an abstract to be submitted for presentation at a scientific forum.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how scientific articles are prepared.
• Make a formal presentation based on MIRT experience to the study team.
• Relate the study findings to HIV/AIDS and minority communities in the U.S.

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