You are here: Home Activities Country-based Operational Research

Country-based Operational Research Activities PDF Print E-mail
Locally relevant operational research is a high priority for national TB programs. The inclusion of 'enabling and promoting research' as one of the components of the expanded Stop TB Strategy has reinforced the vital role of research in successful TB control efforts. Yet many countries have been unable to fully incorporate operational research into program activities due, in part, to limitations in both local capacity and available technical assistance.


Operational Research Assistance Project

With support from the USAID mission in Pretoria, TREAT TB is working with the Desmond Tutu TB Centre at Stellenbosch University to build a sustainable focus on and more unified approaches to operational research as an integral component of the National TB Control Program through the Operational Research Assistance Project (ORAP). This initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of South African professionals at national, provincial, and local levels to conduct operational research independently.  ORAP incorporates a number of activities including research protocol development workshops, mentoring to refine research protocols, support for implementation of operational research, and support for data analysis, report writing and publication of research findings.

Research Period: 2010-2013
Research Partners: Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Provincial and City Health Departments, Academic Institutions, and the National TB Control Programme
Status: Ongoing

 

Drug Resistant TB in Children

In addition to ORAP, the Desmond Tutu TB Centre is also leading a study on drug-resistant TB among children in South Africa. Drug-resistant TB is primarily a man-made problem arising due mainly to ineffective, non-completed, or inadequate treatment regimens.  Currently there is no consensus among TB experts on how to manage children with MDR-TB or children who are in close contact with adults who have MDR-TB.  The objective of this study is to examine the management of children exposed to drug-resistant TB, while also assessing the treatment of young people in centralised versus non-centralised settings.

Research Period: 2010-2012
Research Partners: Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Western Cape Provincial Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – South Africa
Status: Ongoing

 

Support for Operational Research in India

With funding from the USAID mission in New Delhi, TREAT TB launched an initiative to support operational research in India in 2012.  The activities associated with this project include building the capacity of local health professionals to develop and implement operational research as well as facilitating a review of national operational research priorities.

Research Period: 2012-2013
Research Partners: The Union South-East Asia Office
Status: Ongoing

 

usaid