A resource that provides background on the need for research in pregnant and lactating populations and how advocates can advance inclusion.
An Advocate’s Guide to Research in Pregnant and Lactating Populations
Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration Advocacy Roadmap
This roadmap addresses the critical need for integrated sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV services. This integration is essential for enhancing public health outcomes, socio-economic benefits, and individual health and rights. The Roadmap aims to revitalize and sustain advocacy efforts for SRH and HIV integration, empower communities to hold stakeholders accountable for implementation, increase political and program support to enable the shift from policy to practice, and foster dynamic partnerships across research, advocacy, implementation, and policy sectors.
It was developed by Copper Rose Zambia (CRZ) as part of the Coalition to Accelerate and Support Prevention Research (CASPR). It draws on extensive input, including desk reviews, interviews, focus group discussions, and a specialized workshop held at the 2023 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA).
Inclusion of Pregnant and Lactating People in HIV Research
What you need to know
Produced and hosted by Jeanne Baron
People who are pregnant or lactating (PLP) have historically been excluded from research because of concerns for the developing fetus. But this has led to a dearth of data on new interventions against health threats for this population. In the case of HIV, pregnancy raises the risk of acquiring HIV by up to three times, but providers often do not have the data to know whether a new intervention is safe or how it will work for pregnant patients. As a result, PLP and their physicians are left to make difficult decisions around the use of proven HIV prevention products as they await more data specific to pregnancy and lactation.
But change is in the air. Champions for the inclusion of PLP in research are paving the way for a paradigm shift—one that will redefine this population from needing protection from research to being better protected through research. In this episode of Px Pulse, AVAC’s Manju Chatani-Gada takes us through conversations with a trial participant who became pregnant, researchers, policymakers and donors to understand why this population gets excluded, the impact it has and what to do about it.
Tune it to hear:
- Dr. Anne Drapkin Lyerly, Principal Investigator of the PHASES Project to advance equitable inclusion of pregnant women in HIV research and its follow-on project, PREPARE, focused on ethical HIV research in adolescents who are pregnant.
- Elisia Madende, trial participant in the HPTN 084 trial in Zimbabwe
- Dr. Ashley Lima, Health Science Specialist and Lead Technical Advisor for Socio-behavioral Research — USAID Office of HIV/AIDS Research Division
- Dr. Takunda Sola, HIV Prevention and Key Populations Medical Officer — Zimbabwe MoH AIDS/TB Unit
Links:
Advocacy Resources:
- Report: Advancing HIV Prevention Research in PLP: Think Tank Report & Action Plan
- Advocates’ Guide: An Advocate’s Guide to Research in Pregnant and Lactating Population
- Factsheet: Including Pregnant and Lactating Populations in HIV Prevention Research
- Infographic: Pregnant and Lactating People (PLP) in Ongoing HIV Prevention Trials
- Webinar: More than Vessels: Pregnant people deserve inclusion in HIV prevention research
- Guidance: PHASES Guidance: Ending the evidence gap for pregnant women around HIV & co-infections
- Meeting Report: Call to accelerate the study of new drugs for HIV in pregnant and breastfeeding women
- JIAS Special Issue: ‘Approaches to enhance and accelerate investigation of new HIV drugs in pregnancy’
Pregnant and Lactating People (PLP) in Ongoing HIV Prevention Trials
Advancing HIV Prevention Research in Pregnant and Lactating People (PLP): Think Tank Report & Action Plan
The work of the AVAC/PHASES think tank to advance HIV prevention research with pregnant and lactating people was importantly grounded in a trio of conceptual frameworks: 1. Reproductive Justice, 2. Conceptual shifts articulated in the Pregnancy and HIV/AIDS: Seeking Equitable Study (PHASES) Ethics Guidance and 3. WHO/ IMPAACT framework for accelerated inclusion of pregnant women in pre-licensure clinical trials.
More than Vessels: Pregnant people deserve inclusion in HIV prevention clinical and implementation research
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
During this webinar, panelists explored the need for Pregnant and Lactating Populations (PLP) to be included HIV prevention clinical and implementation research
Speakers included Dr. Elaine Abrams, Raniyah Copeland, Dr. Lisa Noguchi and Dr. Lynda Stranix-Chibanda. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Dvora Joseph Davey.
MTN 016 (EMBRACE)
MTN 043/ B-PROTECTED
MTN 042/ DELIVER
RINGing the Bell for Choice: Actions and Solutions on Dapivirine Ring Access
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Hear the latest updates from African advocates leading the advocacy for access to the dapivirine ring. Plus tune in for the Population Council’s plans for moving the ring forward on multiple fronts, from roll-out of the monthly ring to research around the 3-month ring and multipurpose ring.