| Behavioural
science
Socio-behavioural research group
 Contacts:
Leslie Swartz
E-mail: lswartz@sun.ac.za;
Ashraf Kagee
E-mail: skagee@sun.ac.za
Zuhayr Kafaar
E-mail: zkafaar@sun.ac.za
In 2003 the University of Stellenbosch was
asked by SAAVI to develop a socio-behavioural
research arm for the Cape Town HIV Vaccine Trials
Consortium. During
these discussions issues emerged regarding the
broader national initiative. These included the fact
that there was no dedicated socio-behavioural
research agenda and a shortage of personnel to
provide conceptual and methodological input to
the NIS; the need for social science research
capacity at all four sites; and, the need for
a dedicated team and central leadership to initiate,
implement and co-ordinate socio-behavioural research.
The group therefore was formed with the following
objectives:
- National co-ordination of all SAAVI-funded
socio-behavioural activities.
- To provide a methodologically sound framework
for socio-behavioural research as part of HIV
vaccine trials in South Africa.
- To become a national resource for SAAVI-funded
sites: strengthening capacity building; providing
input into staff needs and recruitment; providing
assistance with protocol development, funding
requirements and training of staff; facilitating
co-ordination between existing research; and,
managing data among sites.
- To facilitate communication among national
and regional SB researchers, trial-site PIs
and CAB members on socio-behavioural issues.
- To liaise, inform and educate researchers,
CAB members and fieldworkers on socio-behavioural
research.
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Partners
Making the vaccines
 The University of Cape Town (UCT)
Testing the vaccines
HIV Vaccine Research Unit, MRC, Durban
HIV Vaccine Division of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU)
Aurum Health
Cape Town Clinical Trials Consortium
Immunology assessment
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)
Ethical issues
HIV/AIDS Vaccine Ethics Group (HAVEG), University of KwaZulu-Natal
Community involvement
Masikhulisane SAAVI Community Involvement Group
Behavioural science
Socio-behavioural research group
Actuarial assessments
Actuarial Group
Data and bioinformatics
Data Management (MRC) |
