Got 10 Minutes? Help this Grad Student out!!

And take this brief anonymous survey on intimate partner violence and HIV. Details about this very interesting study below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ql5Y_2bbbWhirGZpdIXa_2fZIg_3d_3d
 

Dear Colleague,
 
I am a MPH candidate at The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services conducting a research study under the direction of Dr. Monica Ruiz of the Department of Prevention and Community Health at The George Washington University (GWU). As part of my final research project, I would like to gain a better understanding of the impact of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on female participation in HIV clinical trials. You are being invited because you, as an advocate, are aware of the contexts of women's lives that could make access to HIV prevention and treatment difficult and, as such, why improved access to these services are necessary. As such, you can be a valuable resource in determining what is needed to move forward in this arena.

IPV, in relation to this project, will be defined as abuse occurring between two people in a heterosexual relationship. Abuse is described as being in the form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, threats, and emotional abuse (such as verbal abuse or controlling behavior).

Recognizing the relationship between IPV and HIV infection, the overall goal of this project is to assess whether HIV clinical trials worldwide, specifically microbicide, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and HIV Treatment trials, address this association in order to prevent and/or reduce further susceptibility to HIV/AIDS. Further, this project seeks to understand advocates' perspectives about whether or not IPV is a factor that could determine whether or not a woman participates in a clinical trial for HIV prevention or treatment. 

This online survey will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. There are no physical risks associated with this study. Although this is an anonymous survey, you may stop your participation in this study at any time and you may refuse to answer any of the questions. Taking part in this research is entirely voluntary. Your participation in this survey will be a result of your consent to participate in this research.

I sincerely hope you will be willing to participate. The success of this project depends on adequate response. Please complete this survey no later than April 21, 2009.

Regards,
Shiromi Perera