Joyce Olenja , Sabina Wakasiaka, Gaudensia Mutua, Jacquelyn Nyange, Omu Anzala, Bashir Farah.

1. Building HIV Vaccine Literacy and Acceptance among communities through training of Tutors at Kenya Medical Training Institutions. Joyce Olenja, Sabina Wakasiaka, Gaudensia Mutua, Jacquelyn Nyange, Omu Anzala, Bashir Farah.

2. Background and context • KAVI- Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative is a research institute based at University of Nairobi • Well known for vaccine trials since 2001 • KAVI in collaboration with Universities of Manitoba and Toronto received a grant from the GHRI to address HIV vaccine knowledge translation. • Establishing KAVI as a centre of excellence for HIV vaccine/prevention trials in the East African region • Incorporating Social Science Perspectives

3. Key Objective---- Build HIV vaccine literacy and enhance community engagement in clinical research

4. Expected Outcomes • Improved vaccine literacy among various stakeholders • Improved advocacy for HIV vaccine research development by policy makers • Improved community participation in vaccine trials- especially women • Improved participation by Most At Risk Populations (MARPs)

5. Background and Context • HIV Prevalence remains a challenge especially in Africa region(Kenya 6.3%) • Expansion in development and advocacy for prevention measures • Search for a vaccine bears the highest promise. • Vaccine literacy among stakeholders as critical

6. Why Focus on community literacy? • The importance of understanding the socio- cultural context • Employing a holistic perspective • Awareness Creation and capacity building • Advocacy for change • More so for complex research as clinical trials • The need for community participation • The challenges of behaviour change

7. PEP PrEP Prevention of vertical transmission Comprehensive HIV prevention Treatment as prevention ARV Cervical barriers: vaginal diaphragms Male circumcision Clean injecting equipment Voluntary counselling and testing

8. Methodology • Mapping stakeholders with potential influence on vaccine development • Policy makers • Community leaders • Health service providers • Community as volunteers and significant others • Kenya Medical training college as entry for vaccine literacy training • Trains the largest(90%)of health service providers nationwide • Have geographic spread

9. Training- The Approach Sensitization of KMTC administration. Local agreement between the Institutions &certification Letters of Invitation were done by KAVI. Feed back & on- going dialogue on inclusion of Vaccines in the curriculum Regional Training sessions Nairobi, Coast & Eastern, Western, Rift Valley Unit Presentations Skills building activity Q & A

10. Training Focus • Update on HIV Epidemiology • Vaccine basics • Clinical trials basics • Ethical issues in research - Rights, respect and protection - Consent • Community engagement in vaccine trials -Gender Issues and decision making -Misconceptions - Fears and Concerns

11. Results • Six trainings conducted between 2010 and 2012: 177 Tutors trained • Increased knowledge on HIV clinical trials. • Identified role as advocates for vaccine literacy • Positive feedback from KMTC management • A decision by management to incoporate a module on vaccines within the training curriculum

12. Workshop Ratings Nairobi

13. Workshop Ratings Mombasa

14. Lessons learnt • Knowledge translation can be attained using existing structures • Service providers require an integrated set of clinical and social skills • Service providers appreciate the importance and relevance of community perspectives in research • Community understanding • The role /place of gender in decision making regarding participation in clinical research

15. Conclusion • Tutors pivotal position as trainers of service providers have the potential to cascade vaccine literacy. • This finding highlights the importance of strategic targeting for support to HIV vaccine development. • This approach addresses sustainability and efficiency in knowledge translation and is relevant for other programmes