Data Analysis, GIS Mapping Training & Assessing the State of Medical Records and how they have been Affected by COVID-19
Consolidating research achievements and building capacity for cutting edge interdisciplinary research
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the world that biomedical solutions alone are not enough to solve health challenges, and thus the need for paradigm shift from multi- to inter- disciplinary ways of working cannot be more emphasised. Our activities have been undertaken across a large footprint of sites, institutions and consortia, and we therefore wish to use this grant to consolidate our research and research partners into one network, the St Andrews Africa Research (StAAHR) health network with a mission of using interdisciplinary approaches to address interactable global health challenges. As a network we will use this opportunity to translate research outputs into societal benefit and build interdisciplinary research capacity to answer questions important to partner countries.
Project Aims and approaches
- Strengthen and integrate research streams in our StAAHR network through a process of interdisciplinary research methods, data analysis training and collaborative write up of research findings focused on producing high quality interdisciplinary outputs for academic, policy and wider public audiences.
- Using qualitative research tools to explore how the treatment landscape and provision of medication from drug sellers and formal healthcare providers has changed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Extend the application of the diagnostic tools developed by the network and through interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, raise awareness and promote sustainable antibiotic stewardship.
Project outcomes
- Skilled research leaders and data analysts in the ODA partner countries.
- Attraction of more competitive research grants to University of St Andrews and partner institutions in East Africa.
- Evidence based policies for mitigation of COVID-19 impact and control of AMR.
- Improved clinical management of tuberculosis disease and increased treatment success rates.
Outputs
- StAAHR network collaborative relationships and skills strengthened, and ready to deliver cutting edge interdisciplinary research.
- Data analysts in the network will receive training and take part in knowledge exchange events focused on integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, and geospatial mapping skills
- At least two drafted articles for submission focused on inter-disciplinary approaches to the social science of infectious diseases.
- Website hosting research tools and methodologies generated by project partners.
- Write up of research on the impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic stewardship (prescription and dispensing) for policy and scholarly audiences
- Two partner sites in Kenya and Tanzania equipped with TBMBLA capacity to address TB/HIV and drug resistant TB questions. The Kenya TB-MBLA site will be the first in the whole country.
- Report and draft article of the underlying causes of indeterminate results in TB culture-based diagnosis. Note: culture is the gold standard for diagnosis of TB but has several unresolved challenges to effectively inform research and clinical decisions.
Brief overview of the project
St Andrews African Research (STAAHR) health network uses interdisciplinary approaches to address intractable global health challenges. The network aim at translating research outputs into societal benefit and build interdisciplinary research capacity to answers questions important to partner countries. For better improvement of health policy and health services delivery in low and middle income countries infectious diseases research have to be interdisciplinary, rooted in mutually nurturing, equitable and enduring partnerships.
In Tanzania, the StAAHR network is aiming at:
- Strengthen and further bind the threads in our partnership network of researchers through a process of interdisciplinary research methods and data analysis training and collaborative write-up of research findings focussed on producing high quality interdisciplinary outputs for academic, policy and wider public audiences.
- Explore how the treatment landscape and provision of medication from drug sellers and formal healthcare providers has changed in the wake of the pandemic.
- Extend the application of the diagnostic tools developed by the network and through interdisciplinary knowledge exchange seek to transform the view of diagnosis from just detection of diseases to ensuring stewardship of antibiotics and individual responsibility to public health, and effective management of multimorbidities.
Impact of the project
Through the StAAHR network the following has been done:
- Qualitative data analysis training offered to 10 CUHAS academic staff and 7 PhD and masters students. The train covered the review of the nature and purpose of qualitative data, manual coding and coding using NVIVO.
- Quantitative data analysis training using STATA for the junior academic staff members and 11 PhD and Master students offered by expert from epidemiology and biostatistics department of CUHAS. The training covered introduction to STATA, data cleaning and management, and exploring relationships between two variables.
- Quantitative data analysis training using R-studio conducted to 10 CUHAS academic staff members and 7 M.Sc. students. The training covered introduction to quantitative analysis, installing and being familiar with R-studios, Basic data management, univariate descriptive statistics and, Exploring relationships between two variables (bivariate statistics). The training was offered by expertise from St Andrews.
- Mapping training using ArcGIS offered to 2 academic staff members of CUHAS covering creating geoportal (GIS concepts, set up ArcGIS online developer account and creating web maps), setting symbology and analysis (Add layers, change symbology, spatial analysis process and sharing map), and sharing your map (creating web maps, customize the map, sharing the map and dashboard survey.
