The impact of HIV and AIDS research: a case study from Swaziland
- PDF / 390,344 Bytes
- 10 Pages / 595.276 x 793.701 pts Page_size
- 39 Downloads / 183 Views
RESEARCH
Open Access
The impact of HIV and AIDS research: a case study from Swaziland Alan Whiteside1*†, Fiona E Henry2† From Strengthening the research to policy and practice interface: Exploring strategies used by research organisations working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV and AIDS Liverpool, UK. 18-19 May, 2009
Abstract Background: Swaziland is experiencing the world’s worst HIV and AIDS epidemic. Prevalence rose from four percent of antenatal clinic attendees in 1992 to 42.6 percent in 2004. The Report ‘Reviewing ‘Emergencies’ for Swaziland: Shifting the Paradigm in a New Era’ published in 2007 bought together social and economic indicators. It built a picture of the epidemic as a humanitarian emergency, requiring urgent action from international organisations, donors, and governments. Following a targeted communications effort, the report was believed to have raised the profile of the issue and Swaziland - a success story for HIV and AIDS research. Methods: Keen to understand how, where and why the report had an impact, Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division commissioned an assessment to track and evaluate the influence of the research. This tapped into literature on the significance of understanding the research-to-policy interface. This paper outlines the report and its impact. It explores key findings from the assessment and suggests lessons for future research projects. Results: The paper demonstrates that, although complex, and not without methodological issues, impact assessment of research can be of real value to researchers in understanding the research-to-policy interface. Conclusion: Only by gaining insight into this process can researchers move forward in delivering effective research.
BACKGROUND HIV and AIDS Research in Swaziland The HIV and AIDS Epidemic
The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small, landlocked Southern African country with a population of about one million. In the 1980’s it experienced a significant upturn in investment and growth, benefiting from a regional advantage due to war in Mozambique and apartheid in South Africa. This was combined with relative political stability, sound macroeconomic policies, and a cheap and productive workforce, and resulted in significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Between 1985 and 1999 the growth rate was 6% and the well-being of the * Correspondence: [email protected] † Contributed equally 1 Director and Professor, Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Swazi’s was on a modest upward trajectory [1]. Since 2000 these gains have been reversed, largely due to the impact of HIV and AIDS. Swaziland has the distressing distinction of having the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. Its epidemic spread with exceptional speed, from four percent of antenatal clinic attendees in 1992 to 42.6 percent in 2004 [2]. The 2006 data seemed to offer some hope with a decline to 39.2 percent, but the 2008 survey record
Data Loading...
