Global Health Studies - Center for Women's Reproductive Health

View our current global health studies below.

Reducing Perinatal Hepatitis B Transmission in Cameroon (REVERT-B)

Hepatitis B is a common infection among pregnant women in central Africa with a prevalence of 5-10%. This clinical trial (called REVERT-B) is enrolling pregnant women with active hepatitis B in Cameroon and randomizing them to maternal and/or neonatal antiviral therapy to understand how to prevent perinatal transmission. It is funded by NIH/NICHD and led by Dr. Jodie Dionne at UAB and Dr. Pius Tih in Cameroon and conducted by the Cameroon Health Initiative Research Team (CHI UAB).

Improving Maternal Mortality Rates in Cameroon (mMIST)

This purpose of this NIH-funded study is to adapt and evaluate the implementation of a mobile phone based medical information service via telephone (mMIST) hotline system to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in Cameroon, a nation which has the 9th highest maternal mortality ratio and one of the highest rates of perinatal mortality in the world. We leverage a participatory approach involving stakeholders and representative expert steering groups. Three frameworks inform this study: WHO Model for Quality of Care, ADAPT-ITT, and the implementation science Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) model. The Contact PI is Dr. Alan Tita with the UAB Heersink School of Medicine; mPIs / Co-PIs are Dr. Henna Budhwani in the UAB School of Public Health and Dr. Comfort Enah with the University of Massachusetts Lowell Solomont School of Nursing.

For more details on this study, contact Dr. Alan Tita at atita@uabmc.edu.

Preventing HIV Infection in Women at Risk in Cameroon

Young women in Africa are particularly vulnerable to infection with HIV and certain risk groups including female sex workers have high rates of infection. Two research studies led by Dr. Laia Vazquez-Guillamet (with expertise in HIV prevention) and Hassanatu Blake (with expertise in health behavior) at UAB are focused on the delivery and assessment of a social media intervention to increase the awareness and uptake of HIV prevention medications among female sex workers in Cameroon.

Improving Outcomes of Malaria in Pregnancy

Working closely with investigators Dr. Eric Achidi, Dr. Tobias Apinjoh and Dr. Judith Anchang-Kimbi at the University of Buea in Southwest Cameroon, Dr. Jodie Dionne conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing two different regimens to prevent malaria and sexually transmitted infections in pregnancy. CHI UAB team efforts are working to elucidate the changing roles of parasite transmission, antimalarial resistance, and placental pathology on trends in malaria prevalence and outcomes in pregnant women.

Reducing the Impact of HPV-related Disease on Women’s Health in Cameroon

Female sex workers (FSWs) have higher predisposition to HPV and consequently HPV-related diseases due to occupational exposure since HPV is the commonest sexually transmitted infection worldwide. We screened 1000 FSWs in Cameroon in 2020 for cervical cancer and HPV genotyping through a grant from US Prevent Cancer Foundation. The PI was Dr. Simon Manga and he worked closely with Dr. Tita, Dr. Liang and Dr. Scarinci. This year, through a grant from the US Conquer Cancer Foundation, we are currently following up all the FSWs who were positive in 2020 with repeat cervical cancer screening and HPV genotyping. In addition, through a grant from UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health, we are conducting a qualitative study to explore the socio-cultural and structural challenges of access and utilization of health care facilities among FSWs in Cameroon. The overarching goal is to develop a model to promote the health of FSWs from a woman-centered perspective. In this project, Dr. Manga is working under the supervision of Dr. Isabel Scarinci.

Though HPV vaccination is available in Cameroon, the vaccination uptake is very low. Through a grant from US TogetHER for Health Foundation, we are currently piloting a Mother-Daughter approach to cervical cancer prevention where mothers and being screened for cervical cancer and HPV while their daughters are receiving HPV vaccination at the same time. We hypothesize that this approach will enhance uptake of the HPV vaccination.

Improving Family Planning Access and Usage Among FSWs in Cameroon

Through a grant from Gates Institute of Population and Reproductive Health, we are investigating techniques of improving access and usage of family planning services among FSWs in Cameroon using the FSWs peer leaders. The PI is Dr. Simon Manga and he is working together with Dr. Henna Budhwani.

Improving Treatment Outcomes of Syphilis in Pregnancy in Zambia

Syphilis in pregnancy can lead to devastating outcomes including congenital syphilis if infection is not diagnosed and treated on time. This CWRH-funded study focused on documenting treatment and birth outcomes is led by Drs. Jodie Dionne and Albert Manasyan (UAB Pediatrics) conducted with partners at the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Lusaka, Zambia including Dr. Mwangelwa Mubiana-Mbewe (Pediatrics) and Maureen Mzumara. A parallel pharmacokinetic study that aims to identify new treatment options for syphilis is being conducted by Drs. Dionne and Subramaniam at UAB.