Global health research in narrative: a qualitative look at the FICRS-F experience.

For American professional and graduate health sciences trainees, a mentored fellowship in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) can be a transformative experience of personal growth and scientific discovery. We invited 86 American trainees in the Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars and Fellows Program and Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowship 2011-2012 cohorts to contribute personal essays about formative experiences from their fellowships. Nine trainees contributed essays that were analyzed using an inductive approach. The most frequently addressed themes were the strong continuity of research and infrastructure at Fogarty fellowship sites, the time-limited nature of this international fellowship experience, and the ways in which this fellowship period was important for shaping future career planning. Trainees also addressed interaction with host communities vis-à-vis engagement in project implementation. These qualitative essays have contributed insights on how a 1-year mentored LMIC-based research training experience can influence professional development, complementing conventional evaluations. Full text of the essays is available at http://fogartyscholars.org/.

Emergency obstetrics knowledge and practical skills retention among medical students in Rwanda following a short training course.

OBJECTIVE: To describe rates of improved knowledge following a structured 2-day emergency obstetrics training course. METHODS: Quantitative assessments to evaluate emergency obstetrics knowledge and practical skills were administered before, immediately after, and 3-9 months following the training course for 65 final-year medical students at the National University of Rwanda. A survey was administered during the final assessment. RESULTS: In total, 52 (80.0%) students demonstrated knowledge improvement after training. Fifty-seven (87.7%) students improved or maintained their scores from the post-training written test to the final assessment, and 32 (49.2%) retained practical skills. Twenty-one (32.3%) of the class demonstrated competency in both written and practical skills. According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, female gender was associated with overall competency (P=0.01), and use of the internet for academic purposes more than 3-5 times per week tended toward competency (P=0.11). CONCLUSION: A 2-day emergency obstetrics training course increased knowledge among medical students. Because educational policies are tailored to address high rates of maternal mortality in resource-poor settings, workshops dedicated to emergency obstetrics should be promoted.

Interferon gamma release assay compared with the tuberculin skin test for latent tuberculosis detection in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate agreement and correlation between the tuberculin skin test and an interferon gamma release assay for detecting latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in pregnant women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of pregnant women initiating prenatal care at a university-affiliated public hospital between January 5, 2009, and March 15, 2010. Eligible women received a questionnaire about TB history and risk factors as well as the tuberculin skin test and phlebotomy for the interferon gamma release assay. Agreement and correlation between tests were estimated, and different cutoffs for interferon gamma release assay positivity were used to assess effect on agreement. Furthermore, predictors of test positivity and test discordance were evaluated using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Of the 220 enrolled women, 199 (90.5%) returned for tuberculin skin test evaluation. Over 70% were Hispanic and 65% were born in a country with high TB prevalence. Agreement between the tuberculin skin test and interferon gamma release assay was 77.39 (κ=0.26). This agreement was not significantly changed using different cutoffs for the assay. Birth bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination was associated with tuberculin skin test positivity (odds ratio [OR] 4.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-13.48, P=.01), but not interferon gamma release assay positivity. There were no statistically significant predictors of the tuberculin skin test and interferon gamma release assay result discordance; however, birth in a high-prevalence country was marginally associated with tuberculin skin test-positive and interferon gamma release assay-negative results (OR 2.94, 95% CI 0.86-9.97 P=.08). CONCLUSION: Comparing the tuberculin skin test and interferon gamma release assay results in pregnancy, concordance and agreement were poor. Given that much is still unknown about the performance of interferon gamma release assays in pregnancy, further research is necessary before the tuberculin skin test is abandoned for screening of latent TB infection in pregnancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Is military sexual trauma associated with trading sex among women veterans seeking outpatient mental health care?

A robust association between sexual trauma and trading sex has been documented in civilian samples but has not been examined in veterans. Women veterans experience high rates of sexual victimization across the lifespan, including during military service (military sexual trauma [MST]). Associations between MST and trading sex were examined in 200 women enrolled in a crosssectional study of HIV risks and seroprevalence among women receiving outpatient mental health care at a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. Each woman completed an assessment interview composed of validated measures that queried childhood sexual trauma; substance use; and risk behaviors, including trading sex for money, drugs, shelter, food, or other things. History of MST was derived from mandated VA screening results and chart notes. Overall, 19.7% reported a history of trading sex. Those who reported trading sex had a higher rate of MST than those who did not report trading sex (87.2% vs. 62.9%, respectively). A multivariable logistic regression model examined the relationship between trading sex and MST, controlling a priori for substance abuse and childhood sexual trauma (both associated with trading sex in civilian samples) and education, which was associated with trading sex in our sample. In this adjusted model, MST was associated with trading sex: odds ratio = 3.26, p = .025, 95% confidence interval = [1.16, 9.18]. To our knowledge, this is the 1st report of an association between MST and trading sex. Results extend previously observed associations between sexual trauma and trading sex in civilian cohorts and underscore the pernicious influence of sexual victimization across the lifespan.

Racial/ethnic disparities in obstetric outcomes and care: prevalence and determinants.

Wide disparities in obstetric outcomes exist between women of different race/ethnicities. The prevalence of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, fetal demise, maternal mortality, and inadequate receipt of prenatal care all vary by maternal race/ethnicity. These disparities have their roots in maternal health behaviors, genetics, the physical and social environments, and access to and quality of health care. Elimination of the health inequities because of sociocultural differences or access to or quality of health care will require a multidisciplinary approach. We aim to describe these obstetric disparities, with an eye toward potential etiologies, thereby improving our ability to target appropriate solutions.