Research Highlights
MCH-Star in India
CIHD will provide the technical expertise to the project and partner with Indian institutions to build capacity to provide evidence-based advice on maternal and child health to the Indian government, to develop and implement applied research and evaluation studies, and to create a system to track research requests and manage the procurement of research services. In addition, CIHD will be involved with Indian partners in policy analyses, preparation of White Papers, and advocacy for maternal and child health programs.
HIV and Child Sexual Abuse in Zambia: An Intervention Feasibility Study
Assistant Professor of International Health Laura Murray was awarded a grant by the National Institute of Mental Health to study HIV and Child Sexual Abuse in Zambia. Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a devastating experience that has negative short and long-term consequences. Recent research suggests that many HIV prevention programs are not as effective for those with sexual abuse histories and emphasizes the need to address CSA in the context of HIV and violence prevention.
Many African HIV Patients Drop Out of Treatment, According to BUSPH IH Study
More than one-third of patients receiving HIV medication in Africa die or discontinue their treatment within two years, according to a study by international health assistant professors Sydney Rosen, Chris Gill, and Matt Fox. The investigations are now focused on the identification of intervention strategies to improve adherence to drug regimens. More...
Department of Geography Maps Cities as They Grow
Worldwide, cities continue to grow, transforming woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural land into more densely populated urban environments. To better understand the impact of such urbanization, researchers need to be able to clearly identify where cities end and farmland or forests begin. A major step toward clarifying such boundaries has recently been made by Annemarie Schneider (GRS’04), a graduate student working with CAS Professor Curtis Woodcock and Associate Professor Mark Friedl in the department of geography. “While urbanization cannot be halted,” say the authors, “identifying and anticipating the location, size, and growth rate of urban areas is an important component to understanding and mitigating many aspects of global population growth, and by extension, global change.” Further information about this project can be found at http://duckwater.bu.edu/urban/.
Culturally COmpetent Trauma Therapy
Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the BU School of Medicine, Janet Osterman, recently completed a study to develop culturally competent trauma therapy. The global impact of war and violence has resulted in many who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While the efficacy of several variants of cognitive behavioral treatments (CBT) for the treatment of PTSD have received empirical support for PTSD related to a wide variety of traumatic experiences, these studies have been largely conducted in treatment samples from western cultural groups. Little evidence to support the use of CBT for PTSD in diverse cultural groups existed. The project entailed working with the Eritrean Ministry of Health and Eritrean community in Boston to achieve a culturally and linguistically acceptable translation of the therapy, and a pilot study with Eritrean refugees and immigrants in the Boston area to assess both acceptability and efficacy of the treatment is underway.