Projects and Programs Research Exchange The research exchange is one of the unique features of GNR-MENA; it is a forum for members to engage in the free flow of knowledge and issues about HIV/AIDS in MENA or surrounding countries. Participation in the research exchange requires abiding by certain scholarly and ethical standards for which researchers should be responsible and aware. See guidelines below. Research Exchange Guidelines: 1. Research submitted to the research exchange may be works in progress,
published works (peer reviewed or non-peer reviewed) or outlines for which
the researcher would like feedback. It may be in the form of an article,
research proposal, executive summary, report, website, or similar written
form. GNR-MENA Publications A copy of GNR-MENA's recent publication, "Investing in Research and Education: GNR-MENA defines the struggle against HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa can be downloaded here. This report highlights GNR-MENA's history, past and future collaborations as well as a list of members and a sample of publications that GNR-MENA members have worked on. This file is available for download in both Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat PDF versions. Click here for the Word Version and here for the PDF Version. Action Letters This letter was sent to the Libyan government in response to the trial involving Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor allegedly infecting Libyan children with the HIV virus. Click here for the Word Version and here for the PDF Version. List of Recent Articles on HIV/AIDS in MENA Member Nada Farrooqui compiled a list of recent articles on HIV/AIDS in MENA. This list is available for download in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF. Click here for the Word Version and here for the PDF Version. List Updated every 6-8 Months. Click here for the Word Version and here for the PDF Version. Mapping of Children, Young People
and HIV/AIDS Activities The recent UNICEF publication, Mapping of Children, Young People and HIV/AIDS Activities in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Potential Good Practices and Lessons Learned, is available to download. Please note the file is quite large and might take a while to download. Click here for the Word Version. Examples of Current Research
Projects of GNR-MENA members: Kamiar and Arash Alaei work in Iran. The BBC did a video project about the Alaei's work in Iran. Please visit the link to learn more about their research and projects. Permission given by the BBC to post this link. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_world/3791889.stm Debra Budiani has conducted research on HIV/AIDS among asylum seeker populations, commercial sex workers, and their clients in urban Egypt examining their concepts of the disease, risk behaviors, treatment options and strategies. She has also examined Egyptian doctors’ concepts of HIV/AIDS and how it shapes their clinical practices. Kate Dolan in collaboration with Drs. Alex Wodak,
Anthony Shakeshaft and Carolyn Day are working on a project titled, "Program
of International Research and Training (PIRT)." This project has
an international focus specifically in the countries of Iran and Indonesia.
The project is partially an assessment of the best publications HIV prevention
and care for injecting drug users. An extensive literature review was
carried out to assemble the 50 best articles on HIV prevention and care
in injecting drug users. This project also carried out a rapid assessment
of injecting drug use and risk behaviors in Indonesian persons. This project
is being funded partially by the International Harm Reduction Association
and the World Health Organization. More information about the project
can be found on the PIRT website: Suliman Eid directs the AMAN Center for AIDS and Sexual Health, a program affiliated with the "National Center for Community Rehabilitation (NCCR)". NCCR is working in Gaza Strip since 1995. It has more than 10 rehabilitation programs and employs more than 60 persons in different rehabilitative programs. The AMAN Center started its activities in 2003 and is run by expert group of doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and laboratory experts. The team members had carried studies and participated in workshops and conferences and some of them working in the field for more than 10 years. AMAN Center for AIDS and Sexual Health aims at providing pre-marriage counseling for youth, and comprehensive services for high risk groups and patients of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and Sexually transmitted infections. It also aims at providing the community awareness, and individual counseling by all possible means. AMAN Center aims at developing a monitoring and information system for the related subjects and carrying studies for follow up of patients, services, and related risky behaviors in Gaza Strip. Angel M. Foster, D.Phil., M.A. studies young women's health and sexuality in five countries in the Arab World. This project examines the sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of unmarried women, aged 18 to 30. One component of this study examines knowledge and practices regarding HIV/AIDS and STIs. Jeff Lazarus works on sexual and reproductive health of young people in Europe, a joint IPPF, Lund University, WHO/Europe project (2004-2007) as well as access to antiretroviral treatment in Europe. Etaf Maqboul works at Bethlehem University/Palestine, as a lecturer in the faculty of nursing and health sciences as well as the coordinator of the emergency higher diploma program. She is also a board member in the Diabetics Fiends Society in Bethlehem as well as a board member in the Center for community health and sustainable development in Bethlehem. Moqboul and co-investigator, Wafa' Abu Ayyash Ramahi RN, MPH are working on research entitled, "Assessment of Knowledge and Attitudes Among Palestinian University Student Toward HIV/AIDS Patients." This research aims at assessing the level of knowledge among Palestinian youth on issues related to HIV/AIDS and at finding their attitudes towards HIV/AIDS related issues in addition to making recommendations on HIV/AIDS prevention and education programs for Palestinian youth. Once the study is complete the plan is to conduct awareness campaigns for youth about HIV/AIDS. This project is partially funded by The Palestinian Society for Family Planning and Protection. Norma Claire Moruzzi is working on a book length manuscript titled, Negotiated Citizenships: Transformations in Iranian Women's Lives Since the Revolution. This work is an ongoing fieldwork-based project examining intersecting cultural and political changes, including issues of family and sexuality. Kathleen F. Norr, is a health sociologist who has conducted research on primary health care innovations. Dr. Norr and her colleagues have developed and tested (in Botswana) a peer group intervention for community HIV prevention, as well as 4 supplemental sessions for health workers, and this intervention is available for adaptation to MENA region countries. In collaboration with the University of Malawi,
Kamuzu College of Nursing, Norr is working on a project titled, "Mobilizing
Health Workers for HIV Prevention in Malawi." This intervention based
on the World Health Organization's primary health care model, mobilizes
rural health leaders who then provide HIV prevention to rural communities.
The intervention also enhances the HIV prevention capacities of health
workers and health facilities. The peer group intervention is based on
the social-cognitive learning model, with 6 sessions for community members
and 4 additional sessions especially for health workers. Currently the
project is expanding the intervention to serve rural adolescents. The
Co Investigators for this project are: Dr. Chrissie Kaponda, S. Kachingwe,
M. Mbeba and D. Jere (from the University of Malawi) and from the University
of Illinois at Chicago the investigators are K. Crittenden, B. Dancy,
L. McCreary, J. Norr and M. Talashek. This project is funded by the National
Institute for Nursing Research and the National Institutes of Health.
Wafa' Abu Ayyash Ramahi
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