STI Syndromic approach (Concerted Action)

OBJECTIVES
Identify strategies and tools to improve the use of the syndromic approach to optimise Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) management/prevention in resource poor settings with high incidence of STI and HIV
Ensure continuation of a collaborative network of researchers, to appraise existing STI management/prevention/control programs using the syndromic approach in 4 Southern and Eastern African countries.
Enhance co-operation between scientists and policy makers involved in health systems development and development of preventive methods, new diagnostic tools and therapeutic regimens, in order to enhance the effectiveness, coverage and quality of care in existing primary health care services and programmes.
 
ACTIVITIES
To review the International and National literature justifying the introduction of the syndromic approach for STI management in resource poor settings.
To research the factors favouring or constraining the introduction and progressive adoption by health care providers (access to relevant literature and information sources, the national policy and planning processes, availability of resources, training and continuing education programmes, prevalence factors, cultural factors, donor influences...) of syndromic STI management.
To review and compare the current status of the syndromic management of STI: policies, guidelines, managers awareness, resources, support systems (manuals, education and training programmes), clinicians knowledge, actual practices of different categories of health workers and field performance at different levels of the health delivery system in each country.
To assess the level of acceptability of the syndromic approach, clinical practices and associated reasons among public and private health care providers and users.
To identify areas and means for potential improvement of acceptability and field performance of syndromic STI management.
Recommend strategies and tools to improve policy and service development towards more efficient and sustainable management of integrated STI services.
 
EXPECTED RESULTS
This concerted action is expected to contribute to the improvement of quality of reproductive health care. By the end of the concerted action contract, we expected to present new strategies and improve policy and service development towards more efficient and sustainable management of integrated STI services, though the final phase will need to be realised with new funding, as the recommendations still need further discussions. Through joint action research we will in the future identify ways to test some of these recommendations in pilot projects. This is highly relevant for the DC region concerned, STI and AIDS being a major public health problem in the area.
 

Funding agencies

European Commission

Team

Brigitte De Hulsters, Wouter Arrazola de Onate, Kathia van Egmond, Patricia Claeys, Marleen Temmerman

Partners

Edward Kirumira (Makerere University, Uganda); Robin Broadhead (University of Malawi, Malawi); Avertino Barreto (University of Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique); Job Bwayo (University of Nairobi, Kenya); Paulo Ferinho (AssociaƧao para o Desenvolvimento e cooperaƧao Garcia de Orta, Portugal); Loretta Brabin (University of Manchester, United Kingdom): Anita Hardon (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Period

January 01, 2002 - September 30, 2004

Project status

Project closed

Team members

Ms. Marleen Temmerman

Countries

Belgium
Kenya
Malawi
Mozambique
Netherlands
Portugal
Uganda
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Themes

HIV & AIDS
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)