May 26, 2023

Global WACh participates in the DGH LAPIS Symposium

 

On May 19th in the Hans Rosling Center, the Learning for Action in Policy Implementation and Health Systems (LAPIS) Initiative–a resource hub aiming to foster collaboration across the Department of Global Health and support the integration of health policy or health systems objectives into research grants and training–held its first event in the Global Health Systems and Policy Implementation Symposium Series.  The event included lightning talk sessions, poster abstract sessions, and opportunities for networking. Multiple centers, programs, and initiatives of the department, including Global WACh, participated in the symposium to showcase their efforts in health systems strengthening, policy implementation research, and education and training.

Below are some of Global WACh’s notable key achievements that Dr. Anjuli Wagner, Assistant Professor in Global Health, summarized in a lightning talk:

Health Systems Strengthening

• Improving PrEP integration in MCH clinics in Kenya
  • Seeking approaches to overcome challenges in implementation in health system and decreases health care workers’ loads and enhances client experience
  • Determining best model for optimized PrEP delivery during pregnancy
• Utilizing the novel Mobile WACh SMS platform
  • PrEP adherence during pregnancy through postpartum period; evaluate acceptability by patients and providers, and cost-effectiveness
  • Connect mothers with community health volunteers; evaluate clinical outcomes, service outcomes, implementation outcomes (acceptability, uptake, fidelity)
  • Reproductive health counseling and integrated reproductive health/HIV services among women receiving routine HIV care.
• Building a Community of Practice (CoP) to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)
  • Developing a digitally supported CoP for African NTD program managers, where they can learn from one another and collaborate in pursuit of reaching national and global NTD goals
• Reviewing guidelines and guideline update for pediatric care in Kenya
  • Identifying factors influencing guideline use
  • Mapping health system level determinants affecting uptake of guideline-recommended care for children
  • Developing organization and team-level strategies to improve uptake of guideline recommended care practices

Policy Implementation Research

• Launched a Policy IS sub working group of our Working in Implementation Science (WISE) Working Group
• Submitted a PHI Tier 1 grant application submitted to focus on reimagining policy implementation science in a global context. This was done in collaboration with researchers from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance.
• Developed a Target Policy Profile to guide translation of soil-transmitted helminth evidence into WHO guidelines and national policy
• Submitted an abstract that was accepted to a special Implementation Science issue of Frontiers in Health for an opinion piece on reimagining policy implementation science in a global context.
• Addition of a policy implementation science module to the UW summer intensive course in implementation science
• Leveraged mathematical modeling to guide maternal HIV retesting and dual HIV/syphilis testing policies
• Conducted policy reviews on maternal HIV retesting, integration of HIV testing into family planning, and triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B

Education/Training

• Organizing monthly meetings for the Working in Implementation Science (WISE) Working Group
  • In Fall 2022, they invited Dr. Jodi Sandfort (Dean of Evans School of Public Policy & Governance) and Dr. Sultani Hadley Matendechero (Head of the Kenya National Public Health Institute) as guest speakers. Recordings available here.

In addition, students and staff affiliated with the Center presented four poster abstracts:

• Esther Choo, PhD Candidate in Global Health – The Food Environment Rapid Assessment Index: Measuring food environments in Nepal
• Sarah Hicks, PhD Student in Epidemiology – Integrating PrEP in maternal and child health clinics in Kenya: analysis of a Service Availability and Readiness (SARA) Survey
• Kellie List, Global WACh Grant and Program Manager – Reimagining Policy Implementation Science in a Global Context
• Priyanka Shrestha, PhD Student in Global Health – Recommendations for Kenya Community Health Strategy: Identifying potential disparities in access and delivery of SMS-based healthcare module using the ASPIRE framework