Implementation Science Research Grant for Young HEARD Researcher

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Dr Phiwe Nota, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division (HEARD), has been awarded the Implementation Science Research Grant by the International Paediatric Symposium in Africa (IPHASA).

This is an 18-month implementation science grant which Nota will utilise for research purposes under the supervision of Professor Gavin George Programme leader of the Health Systems Strengthening Programme.

The IPHASA grant process is a competitive initiative and sought to award three early-career researchers in Africa. The other grant recipients are from Uganda and Kenya. The grant awards were announced at the 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada, which took place 29July to 2 August 2022. Nota and George have been working together for the past two years on a monitoring and evaluation programme with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) aimed at the implementation of evidence-informed sexuality and HIV prevention education programmes in schools. They are currently also developing a national framework for the DBE on Learner Support Agents (LSAs) in schools as part of the psychosocial support provision in schools.

Under the IPHASA grant, Nota’s research will focus on the implementation of the Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP), focusing on KwaZulu-Natal schools which requires intersectoral collaboration between the Department of Health, DBE and the Department of Social Development. Nota explained: ‘This research is critical because in many instances, adolescent girls in South Africa do not access the sexual and reproductive health services they need to prevent HIV infection (and other sexually transmitted diseases), unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and psychosocial support.’

She added that schools remain important in identifying vulnerable adolescent girls and linking them to the services they need. ‘School-going adolescents spend more time in schools than anywhere else, making schools ideal platforms for reaching this vulnerable population group,’ said Nota.

The South African government initiated the ISHP with the aim of improving the health of school-going children and youth, however, schools, like other service sectors, are faced with an implementation gap where there is often slow adoption or uneven implementation of policy and evidence-based practices as part of routine service delivery, thus stalling the goal of improved learner health outcomes.

Nota’s research will not only focus on the adoption and implementation of the ISHP but aims to provide recommendations to strengthen the coordination, collaboration, and adoption of the ISHP by the school, healthcare facilities and social development services.

The overall objective of the IPHASA grant award is to facilitate the translation of evidence and good practices in the paediatric HIV response for implementation and adaptation across the African continent.

Nota feels honoured to have been awarded the grant and said: ‘It is very exciting to advance the implementation research on paediatric HIV. A long road lies ahead in strengthening the implementation of policy, but research such as this has the potential to bring positive change. I am grateful for the mentorship I received from my supervisor during the grant proposal development and most grateful to God for this prestigious grant award.’

George congratulated Nota on her achievement, saying: ‘The IPHASA Implementation Science award is a huge feather in the cap of Dr Nota. For the past two years, we have been working closely with the South African DBE reviewing health promotion activities within schools. This award will augment the great work already done, and provides Dr Nota with the resources to review how DBE policies are being implemented within schools. The results will provide invaluable information to the DBE in their efforts to improve education and health outcomes among school-going adolescents. I am really happy that Dr Nota won, and I look forward to working alongside her in the forthcoming 18 months.’

This grant includes additional funding for the recipients to attend IPHASA 2023 to present the research findings.

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied