{"id":11546,"date":"2018-08-10T23:06:56","date_gmt":"2018-08-10T23:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/gwach\/?p=11546"},"modified":"2026-04-01T06:48:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T13:48:53","slug":"global-wach-attends-aids-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/globalwach\/2018\/08\/10\/global-wach-attends-aids-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Global WACh Attends 2018 AIDS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The International Aids Society hosted the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018)<\/strong> in Amsterdam from July 23-27, 2018.<\/p>\n

This year, the\u00a0conference objectives\u00a0focused on advancing knowledge of HIV through research findings, promoting evidence-based HIV responses tailored to key populations, activating and galvanizing political commitment and accountability, addressing gaps in and highlighting the critical role of HIV prevention, as well as spotlighting the epidemic and HIV response in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.<\/p>\n

Global WACh faculty, staff, student research assistants, and international collaborators had a strong presence at the conference to share and discuss a number of selected abstracts.\u00a0 In total, 12 members attended, with four selected abstracts for oral presentations and seven poster abstracts<\/strong> at AIDS 2018.\u00a0 Some members participated in the pre-conference event, the 10th Workshop on HIV Pediatrics<\/strong> from July 20-21, where eight selected poster abstracts were featured.<\/p>\n

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Researchers at the HIV Pediatrics Workshop Posterwalk:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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  • HIV-exposed uninfected children have\u00a0poorer neurocognitive outcomes than HIV-unexposed children<\/strong> (Rabi Yunusa, MPH Student)<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>
    \nThis abstract compared neurocognitive outcomes in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed\u00a0uninfected (HUU) school-aged children in Kenya. The\u00a0results show that HEU children had significantly lower\u00a0processing speed, memory, and attention scores.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    • Intensified case finding and tuberculosis preventive treatment among HIV-infected adolescents in Kenya<\/strong>\u00a0(Danae Black, Epidemiology PhD student)
      \n<\/em>Danae’s descriptive research methods aim to quantify tuberculosis (TB) symptom screening and isoniazid (an antibiotic used to treat and prevent TB) preventative treatment use which is not well quantified in Kenya.<\/li>\n
    • PrEP uptake among pregnant and postpartum women: results from a large implementation program <\/strong>(Dr. John Kinuthia, MBChB, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya)<\/em>
      \nThis abstract was also selected as an oral presentation at the IAS main stage (see summary below).<\/li>\n
    • Newly diagnosed HIV-infected children: a unique index case to improve HIV diagnosis and linkage to care of parents\u00a0<\/strong>(Jillian Neary, MPH, Study Coordinator)
      \n<\/em>The abstract’s conclusions can inform interventions to improve testing, diagnosis, and linkage to HIV care for previously undiagnosed parents of newly diagnosed HIV-infected children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      • Transitioning adolescents to adult HIV care: Health facility models of care and transition practices in Kenya<\/strong>\u00a0(Dr. Irene Njuguna, MBChB, Kenyatta National Hospital; Epidemiology PhD Student)
        \n<\/em>The abstract\u00a0described the varying models of care and transition practices among health care facilities that serve adolescents moving to adult HIV care. Developing a consensus in uniform high quality care can help improve the health of this population and lower HIV transmission.<\/li>\n
      • Cofactors of mortality among hospitalized HIV infected children newly initiating ART in Kenya <\/strong>(Dr. Irene Njuguna, MBChB, Kenyatta National Hospital; Epidemiology PhD Student<\/em>)
        \n<\/em>This abstract highlighted the need to rapidly identify HIV-infected children who are hospitalized for acute infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, and initiate HIV treatment before symptoms of the disease worsen. This strategy can improve the chances of survival among this vulnerable population.<\/li>\n
      • Adolescent-specific provider training and provision of services is associated with retention in Kenyan HIV clinics<\/strong> (Dr. Kate Wilson, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Global Health; with Cyrus Mugo,\u00a0MBChB, University of Nairobi, Kenya
        \n<\/em>This abstract was also featured at AIDS Conference (see summary below).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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        • Youth perspectives on and access to a WhatsApp-based HIV treatment support tool in Nairobi, Kenya <\/strong>(Dr. Keshet Ronen, PhD, Research Scientist, Global Health)<\/em>
          \nThis abstract highlighted the desires among youth living with HIV for a free-form communication platform with peers to provide emotional, instrumental, and companionship support.\u00a0This is a promising strategy to connect this population to health education, motivation and behavioral skills for ART adherence, and social support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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          Oral presentations given by Global WACh researchers at AIDS 2018:<\/strong><\/h3>\n