STI Research Programme

Prof. Heiner Grosskurth, Head of Programme

The Research Programme on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI) became operational in 2007. It focuses on STIs other than HIV infection, such as bacterial, protozoan and viral STIs including high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection that is associated with cervical cancer. It currently comprises 2 research projects. These are Good Health for Women Project (an STI research project among women at high risk of HIV infection and STIs in Kampala), and the HSV-2 study, which is a PhD research project.

Good Health for Women Project (GHWP)
Principal investigators: Judith Vandepitte, Heiner Grosskurth
Project coordinator: Justine Bukenya
Coinvestigators: Pontiano Kaleebu, Janet Seeley, Peter Hughes, Richard Hayes, Susanna Carter Francis

Collaborating institutions: Ministry of Health of Uganda; Women at Work International (WAWI); London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (MITU), Tanzania.

Funding: MRC Unit core funding and EDCTP through a grant held by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Background: Many studies from sub-Saharan Africa documented high rates of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among women engaging in high risk sexual behaviour. Most countries responded by designing targeted HIV prevention interventions, including screening and treatment for STIs, condom promotion and distribution, health education, voluntary HIV testing and counseling. However, targeted interventions and related research projects do not exist on a large scale in Uganda. Data on STIs and HIV infection in sex workers (SWs) in Uganda are scarce, although an early study conducted among bar and sex workers in a highway community in SW Uganda showed an HIV prevalence of 50%. more

GHWP clients attending a health talk