Dr. Mudhune’s STD/HIV Abstract Impress KGS Panel

BY PATRONILLA GOREN

It was an exciting opportunity for KEMRI Graduate School (KGS) PhD student Dr. Victor Mudhune to present his abstract at STD/HIV/SRH Collaborative Research Group Annual Review that was held on 26^th January in Nairobi. The STD/HIV/SRH Collaborative Research Group forum takes place annually with its focus on HIV and related diseases research especially on research that takes place in Kenya.

Dr Mudhune is a public health researcher / clinical trialist with significant experience in clinical trials management, ethical concerns in human subjects, protocol preparation and research implementation. He is a Principal Research Scientist at the Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR) in Kisumu.

He expressed his delight having made his presentation at multidisciplinary forum that brought together researchers from Africa and other International countries such as Finland, Canada, USA and Sweden among others.  “ My PhD project is titled ‘Acceptability and Cost-Effectiveness of HIV Self-Testing in the Context of Assisted Partner Notification Services in Kisumu and Homa Bay, Kenya’.  It is a collaborative study in Western Kenya that also includes University of Washington and PATH. “The abstract I presented was part of the PhD research, and was focused on evaluating acceptability of using HIV self-testing method amongst sexual partners of those who have tested positive, as part of a program known as ‘partner notification services. The findings were based on feedback from identified sexual partners, and we evaluated their knowledge and experience regarding self-testing, after they had been given an opportunity to test with either oral self-testing kits or facility-based testing.

The findings shed light on how to improve community uptake of HIV self-testing kits, especially targeting those who do not want to visit health facilities for testing. These results will be incorporated with further views from Ministry of Health HIV testing service providers and community dispensing pharmacists, who provided testing service and distribution of the test kits, in a broader evaluation of acceptability of the testing method” he said.

Speaking after the event, Dr.  Mudhune’s supervisor, Dr. Rose Bosire, Programme Coordinator for Global Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics at the KEMRI Graduate School applauded the forum noting that it assisted in building communication for research engagement, and that the platform offers an opportunity for researchers to benchmark. Dr. Bosire further congratulated Dr. Mudhune for the high standard abstract he presented. 

At the same time, she appreciated the KEMRI Graduate school for encouraging their Masters and PhD students to participate in local and international conference, citing that the exposure will assist the students to international standings.