Uganda: Rakai Health Sciences Program, SSTAR Rakai Project
The Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) commits to conducting innovative and relevant health research in infectious diseases, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and reproductive health to provide health-related services in order to improve public health and inform policy. The Rakai Health Sciences Program was established in 1987 as a collaboration between researchers at Makerere, Columbia and John Hopkins Universities, the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious diseases and the International Centre for Excellence Research (ICER).
This is a site with the Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH); Global Pop works in coordination with MSPH'S Office of Field Practice to offer these opportunities.
Columbia Mentor: John Santelli, MD, MPH
Site Mentor: Fred Nalugoda, PhD, MHSc
Research opportunities available at this site:
Summer Research Projects, Scholarly Projects, and Research Year
Thematic Research Areas at this site:
Social Determinants of Health, Epidemiology, Adolescent Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Education, Infectious Diseases (HIV)
Global Pop funds students from the following CUIMC Schools at this site:
VP&S and MSPH
Language requirement:
No
Potential activities that could be carried out by students at this site:
Literature Review, Attend regular Team/Site meetings, Data analysis, Manuscript writing, Summarizing/Disseminating results
Other requirements or information:
This site offers on-site orientation upon arrival
https://www.rhsp.org/
About Projects with the Rakai Health Sciences Program in 2024
Project #1 Title: Measuring Orphanhood Over Time
Project #1 Description: This project will measure the burden of orphanhood over time among children and adolescents ages 0-19 using census data from the RCCS. Students will contribute to ongoing quantitative analysis to assess trends in orphanhood type, timing of orphanhood, household configuration, and variance across SES. Students may be involved in literature reviews, data management, data visualization, and/or development of a policy memo (supervisors: Fred Makumbi and John Santelli).
Project #2 Title: Influence of Orphanhood on Adolescent Social Outcomes and Behavioral Risk for HIV
Project #2 Description: Through life history interviews, this project will explore the mechanisms by which orphanhood and age at orphaning may influence HIV risk among adolescents and young adults and related adolescent social outcomes. The project will assess how programs can be tailored to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. Students will help finalize interview guides for youth and their adult caretakers. Students may contribute to literature reviews, strategies for participant recruitment, and other tasks in preparation for interviews to take place (supervisors: Phil Kreniske and Neema Nakyanjo/William Ddaaki).
Project #3 Title: Adolescent Research Ethics
Project #3 Description: The SSTAR bioethics study collected qualitative data in 2020-2022 and explored attitudes and experiences of adolescents, parents, and community and policy stakeholders (RCCS researchers, IRB members, community leaders) regarding adolescent research participation and the balance between autonomy and protection, comparing the views of stakeholders with those of adolescents and parents. The student will be involved in qualitative data analysis, literature reviews, data management, and/or development of a code book (supervisors: John Santelli, Phil Kreniske, and Tom Lutalo).
Project #4 Title: Analysis of trends in adolescent pregnancy and contraceptive use within the Rakai community
Project #4 Description: The questionnaire for the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS) incorporates measures on sexual activity, contraceptive use, and pregnancy. Students will conduct a quantitative analysis to explore patterns of sexual activity, contraceptive use, and current pregnancy over time and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The student will be involved in quantitative data analysis, literature reviews, data visualization, and manuscript preparation (supervisors: John Santelli and Robert Ssekubugu)
Project #5 Title: Cross-sectional analysis of puberty among adolescent and young adults
Project #5 Description: This quantitative analysis uses data from the Rakai Community Cohort Study seeks to describe age of puberty, examine whether differences exist across social and structural factors, and assess associations between puberty and HIV risk factors as mediated by social and structural factors. The student will be involved in quantitative data analysis, literature reviews, data management, and/or development of a code book (supervisors: John Santelli and Fred Nalugoda).
Student Participation: In-person
Number of Students: 4
Travel Location: Rakai, Uganda
Mentored Research Project in 2023
Examining AGYW Risk Factors in Relation to DREAMS Program Completion in Kyotera Cluster, Uganda
Student: Meg Nolta (MSPH)
Mentored Research Project in 2022
Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on HIV and Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (RMNCH) Services in Maska Region, Uganda
Student: Sara Rashidi (MSPH)
Mentored Research Projects in 2021
Adolescent research inclusion, informed consent, autonomy, and protection: An exploration of key stakeholder knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives in Uganda
Student: Fiona McAuley (VP&S)
Assessment of cognitive capacity of adolescents and parents to provide informed consent in Rakai, Uganda
Student: Nao Haba, MD (MSPH)