International Collaboration for AIDS-Related Research

Uganda is committed to contribute to International efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In basic research the country has participated actively in global networks for development and clinical evaluation of treatments and HIV vaccines. Operational research has benefited from inter-agency and inter-institutional multicentre cooperation. The scientific advantages and the ethical; social and organisational impendiments encountered are reviewed to aid planning and policy formulation

Development and Evaluation of Guidelines for the Clinical Management of HIV Infection in Adults and Children in Uganda

Objective: To assist health workers in diagnosis and treatment and rational use of drugs in symptomatic HIV infection. Methods: The different stages of the development and evaluation: 1. Development of draft guidelines through national consensus of policy makers; programme managers and AIDS Care workers. 2. Training of personnel in selected health units in the use of the guidelines. 3. Field testing of the guidelines for a period of 5 months. 4. Evaluation workshop. 5. Second National Consensus Seminar. Results and Conclusions: 1. The guidelines were applicable in the field and were mostly used by nurses and medical assistants. 2. Restriction of the number of drugs was difficult because of the multiple complaints of the patients: 24; of the patients received more than 3 different drugs. 3. Most conditions were easily managed but for chronic diarrhoea only 40of the health workers adhered to the treatment guidelines. 4. Further training with regular evaluation is required in the use of the guidelines