Promoting HIV-Related Behavioral and Social Science Research Training in Africa: A Case of Uganda

Abstract

Raymond Felix Odokonyero,1 Khamisi Musanje,2,3 Ruth Mpirirwe,2 Charles Patrick Namisi4,5 1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Educational, Social and Organizational Psychology, School of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 4Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 5Dean’s Office, School of Medicine, Uganda Martyrs’ University, Mother Kevin Postgraduate School, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Raymond Felix Odokonyero, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Email [email protected]: HIV/AIDS is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Several gaps in HIV/AIDS care persist despite advancements in bio-medical care approaches. Socio-behavioral approaches have been identified to have the capacity to plug these gaps. This calls for HIV- related behavioral and social science research (BSSR) capacity building. Adopting BSSR in HIV may provide insights into the HIV care continuum that is contextual and cost-effective and reveal the missing layer in the fight against HIV on the African continent. The Makerere University Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (Mak-BSSR) program has responded to the call to strengthen capacity in BSSR. This commentary is a call to promote, support, and sustain the collaborations needed to integrate behavioral and social science research into HIV in SSA.Keywords: behavior, social science, research, training, HIV/AIDS, Uganda

Keywords

• behavior
• social science
• research
• training
• hiv/aids
• uganda