Global Health Leadership | UIC College of Nursing

WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre For International Nursing Development In Primary Health Care: HIV/AIDS International Nursing Capacity Development

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Programs & Resources

UNAIDS estimated that in 2006, 39.5 million people in the world were living with HIV. Successful approaches to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention must be expansive in nature, addressing realities of politics, financial and human resources, education, gender inequity, and other factors that shape affected populations.

The holistic focus of nursing care, particularly Primary Health Care models, places nurses in an ideal position to research, design and implement such approaches. As a WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre for International Nursing Development in Primary Health Care, the UIC College of Nursing is in a unique position to collaborate with institutions worldwide with the goal of developing capacities to tackle the virus that is affecting the entire globe.

The following programs are among the efforts undertaken by College of Nursing faculty in partnership with international nursing leaders.

Botswana

After successful utilization in Chicago, a nurse/peer advocate model geared toward raising awareness of HIV/AIDS among women was adapted and tested in Botswana. A graduate of the UIC College of Nursing who helped pilot initial research went on to become Botswana 's Minister of Health. Outcomes included an increase in knowledge of safer sex practices, which continued after the project concluded.

Documents and publications resulting from this project include:

Norr, K.F., McElmurry, B.J., Moeti, M., and Tlou, S.D. (1992). AIDS prevention for women: A community-based approach. Nursing Outlook, Nov/Dec, 250-256.

Norr, K. L, Tlou, S.D, Norr, J. L., McElmurry, B. J., & Moeti, M.M. (2004), Impacts of peer group education for AIDS prevention for women in Botswana . Health Care for Women International 25 (3) 210-226.

Norr, K.F., Tlou S.D., & McElmurry, B.J. (1996). AIDS awareness and knowledge among Botswana women: Implications for prevention programs. Health Care for Women International. Vol. 17 No. 2, March/April.

For more information about this program, contact the Global Health Leadership Office, University of Illinois at Chicago, at 312.996.0621 or ghlo@uic.edu or Kathleen Norr, PhD, (knorr@uic.edu).

Chile

A longstanding partnership with the Pontificia Universidad de Chile (PUC) School of Nursing has resulted in numerous collaborations. A W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded initiative to strengthen community-based nursing in the PAHO/WHO region, and an NIH-funded Minority International Research Training (MIRT) program exchange both furthered work to train, support and facilitate AIDS research, prevention, treatment and care studies. The Mano a Mano AIDS Research Program at PUC is the first PUC research unit focusing on AIDS and its social consequences. Chile is also one of the sites of the UIC AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP).

Documents resulting from this work include:

Mano a Mano Health Worker Manual (in Spanish - 8 sessions)To obtain a copy of this manual, contact Escuela de Enfemeria, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

For more information about this program, contact Kathleen Norr, PhD, (knorr@uic.edu), or the Global Health Leadership Office, University of Illinois at Chicago, at 312.996.0621 or ghlo@uic.edu.

China

Collaborations with Xian and Sichuan Universities have resulted in capacity-building programs to enhance nursing leadership in HIV/AIDS care. Incorporation of non-governmental organizations, governmental bodies and political leaders has been an important component in the programs. Additional research and community health work has occurred via graduate students from the UIC College of Nursing. China is also one of the sites of the UIC AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP)

Documents and publications resulting from this project include:

Christiansen, C., Solheim, K., Underleider, L., Kim, S., Mbezwa, E., McCreary, L. & Buseh, A. (2003). China Nursing Leadership Initiative for HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction. University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Chicago, IL.

For more information about this program, contact the Global Health Leadership Office, University of Illinois at Chicago, at 312.996.0621 or ghlo@uic.edu.

India

Collaborative work in India has included a feasibility study for a nursing college at Bel-Air Hospital in Maharashtra, a health care facility that focuses on HIV/AIDS, follow-up collaborations for curriculum development at that site, and a collaborative research and education endeavor with Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune. The focus of each of these efforts is to promote HIV/AIDS education, prevention, treatment, and research, and to further the role of nursing in India 's efforts to address the epidemic.

Documents and publications resulting from this project include:

Solheim, K., & Marks, B. (2005). Feasibility study report: Advancing nursing education at Bel-Air Hospital. University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Chicago, IL: The Global Health Leadership Office/WHO Collaborating Centre.

For more information about this program, contact Karen Solheim, PhD (ksolheim@uic.edu), or the Office of Global Health Leadership, University of Illinois at Chicago, at 312.996.0621 or ghlo@uic.edu.

Indonesia

Collaborative HIV/AIDS work in Indonesia has centered around UIC graduate nursing student involvement in research and postdoctoral studies in Indonesia. Indonesia is also one of the sites of the UIC AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP).

Lithuania

An assessment of nurses' knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the implementation of health education in K-8 equivalent schools were two of the primary foci for collaborative education and outreach efforts in Lithuania. Keys to the successful replication and sustainability of these programs included the involvement of government and non-governmental organizations, media placements that addressed outcomes, and cost-efficient activities.

Documents and publications resulting from this project include:

Norr, K. L., Slutas, F, McElmurry, B. et al. (2001). Mobilizing Lithuanian Health Professionals as Community Peer Leaders for AIDS Prevention: an International Primary Health Care Collaboration. Nursing and Health Care Perspectives, May/June.

Slutiene, P., Slutas, F., Norr, K., & McElmurry, B. (1999). Visuomenine ŽIV/AIDS Prevencija. WHO Collaborating Centre for International Nursing Development in Primary Health Care, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Chicago, IL.

* A manual for health workers is available in Lithuanian.

For more information about this program, contact the Global Health Leadership Office, University of Illinois at Chicago, at 312.996.0621 or ghlo@uic.edu.

Malawi

The Centre of Excellence in Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences Research, located within the Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) at the University of Malawi, was initiated by Dr. Chrissie P. N. Kaponda, a graduate of the UIC College of Nursing doctoral program. The KCN Research Center collaborates with the UIC WHO collaborating Centre for Nursing Development of Primary Health Care through the leadership of Dr. Beverly McElmurry.

The Mobilizing Health Workers in Malawi Initiative is a rural project which uses the Mzake ndi Mzake (Friend to Friend) peer group intervention to mobilize rural health workers for HIV prevention. Click here for more details. This project was created and conducted in collaboration with Malawi-based institutions and will lead to full-scale research proposals.

Malawi is also one of four countries that partner with the UIC AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) at UIC. Drs. Judith Levy (SPH) and Beverly McElmurry (CON) direct the program which draws upon participating faculty from both CON and SPH. Dr. Kaponda serves as the UIC-AITRP Country Coordinator for Malawi and Dr. Kathleen Norr coordinates Malawi AITRP HIV/AIDS training and programming.

Building upon reserach relationships established through the UIC-AITRP, Dr. Kaponda (Malawi P.I.) and Dr. Judith Levy (U.S. P.I.) received funding from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to establish an AIDS Research Program within the Center for Nursing Reseach at KCN. The award for “Building AIDS Research Training through the UIC AITRP in Malawi ” comes from the NIH's Partnership with Africa Initiative. The grant matches seasoned researchers with young investigators to build research capacity, support staffing, establish a small HIV/AIDS library and basic infrastructure services, and provide funding for three HIV/AIDS pilot community-based studies:

Acceptability of male circumcision as a prevention strategy in Malawi (R. Bailey, PI, R. Nagalande)
The Share the Care model of social support for women caring for family members with HIV (L. Hatchett, PI, C. Kaponda, J. Levy and L. McCreary co-I's)
A traditional birth attendant training program that will enable them to reduce HIV transmission for themselves, childbearing women and families (G. B. Keeney, Address Malata).

Under the leadership of Dr. Kaponda (P.I.) and Dr. Johnstone Kumwenda (Co-P.I.),The Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) and the College of Medicine (COM) of the University of Malawi received a Phase I International Clinical, Operational, and Health Services Research Training Award (ICOHRTA) for AIDS and Tuberculosis from the U.S. NIH. KCN and COM collaborated in applying for funding with the three Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Programs in Malawi (The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of North Carolina) as institutional partners. Michigan State University faculty and other Malawi-based stakeholders also joined in the effort. The ICOHRTA program supports research training to strengthen the capacity of institutions in low- and middle-income countries to conduct clinical, operational and health services where AIDS, TB, or both are significant problems.

Documents and publications resulting from these projects in Malawi include:

Dancy, B. L., Kaponda, C., Kachingwe, S., & Norr, K. (2006). Risky sexual behaviors of adolescents in rural Malawi: Evidence from focus groups. Journal of National Black Nurses Association, 17(1), 22-8.

Hatchett, L.A., Kaponda, C. P. N., Chihana, C. N., Chilemba, E., Nyando, M., Simwaka, A., Levy, J. (2004) Health-seeking patterns for AIDS in Malawi, AIDS Care, 16 (7), 827-833.

Kachingwe, S., Norr, K., Kaponda, C. P. N., Norr, J., Mbweza, E., & Magai, D. (2005). Preparing teachers as HIV/AIDS prevention leaders in Malawi: Evidence from focus groups. International Electronic Journal of Health Education, 8, 193-204.

Kaponda, C., Norr, K.F, & Norr, J.L. (in press). HIV prevention: Part I Adapting an intervention for Malawi. Malawi Medical Journal. Kaponda, C., Dancy B, Norr, K., Kachingwe, S., Mbeba, M., Jere, D. (in press). Community consultation to develop an acceptable and effective adolescent HIV prevention intervention. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

Mbweza, E., Norr, K.F., Kaponda, C.P.N. (in press). HIV prevention: Part II Gender differences and women's vulnerability to HIV. Malawi Medical Journal.

Ngalande Rebecca C., Levy, Judith A., Kaponda, Chrissie P.N., and Robert C. Bailey. (2006). “Acceptability of Male Circumcision for Prevention of HIV Infection in Malawi,” AIDS and Behavior, 10:377-385.

Norr, K., Kaponda, C., Crittenden, K., Dancy, B.L., Jere, D.L., Kachingwe, S.I., et al. (2006). A primary health care intervention to mobilize health workers for HIV prevention in Malawi. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 7(4).

Talashek, M., Kaponda, C.P., Jere, D., Kafaulafaula, U., Mbeba, M., McCreary, & Norr, K. (in press). Identifying what rural health workers in Malawi need to become HIV prevention leaders. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

For more information about these programs, contact Kathleen Norr, PhD, (knorr@uic.edu), or the Global Health Leadership Office, University of Illinois at Chicago, at 312.996.0621 or ghlo@uic.edu.

Swaziland

This program addresses rapid assessments and planning for development of HIV/AIDS responses. The Swaziland Ministry of Health identified a rural health motivators program for development that is now being used by the Ministry of Health. The program prepares lay people (primarily women) to work with public health nurses in outreach efforts to families living with HIV/AIDS. Over time, these women became employees of the Ministry of Health, and standardized curriculum that is consistent with WHO guidelines was developed. Publications by both UIC-affiliated and Swaziland-based participants have resulted from this work.

Documents and publications resulting from this project include:

Dresden, E., McCreary, L. & Popovich, J. (2003). Midterm Evaluation of the Swaziland Rural Health Initiative: A Program for Community Home-Based Care and HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction. University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Chicago, IL.

For more information about this program, contact the Global Health Leadership Office, University of Illinois at Chicago, at 312.996.0621 or ghlo@uic.edu.

Thailand

Collaborative work in Thailand is extensive and varied. Several graduates of the UIC College of Nursing doctoral program returned to Thailand to focus on Primary Health Care and the health of women and children, with HIV/AIDS as a backdrop. A growing number of Thai doctoral students who graduated from UIC continue to assume leadership and capacity-building roles that directly influence Thailand 's ability to address issues related to HIV/AIDS education, prevention, treatment and care.