KESS2 East PhD in Public Health: Understanding the relationship between HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, sexually transmitted infections, and antimicrobial resistance in Wales (UNREST)
Background
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP for HIV, is the use of antiretroviral medication by HIV negative individuals whose sexual behaviour or potential exposure to HIV infection puts them at high risk.
The risk criteria for PrEP largely focusses on individuals who engage in repeated condomless intercourse and/or are known to clinics due to past diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, as PrEP only protects against HIV, there is a concern that its introduction could result in an increase in other STIs and that these STIs become resistant to antimicrobials. There is currently no robust evidence to either refute or support this concern. We are hoping to attract a student with strong quantitative skills who, in addition, may have had experience of conducting qualitative research or literature reviews. The student will be well supported by the supervisors on developing their research skills and training will be provided.
Project aims and methods
Working in partnership with Cardiff University, Public Health Wales, and Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru; this mixed methods KESS2 East PhD studentship will aim to understand the relationship between PrEP, STIs, and antimicrobial resistance in Wales.
The PhD will involve:
- Literature reviewing and critical appraisal of current evidence;
- Epidemiological research methods using routinely collected data;
- Qualitative interviews with individuals accessing PrEP through sexual health clinics;
- Causal modelling methods.
The student will join a research team that crosses the disciplines of public health, statistics, sociology, and systematic reviews. Research students are all members of Cardiff University’s Graduate College, which exists to foster an intellectually stimulating environment where students are encouraged to share and develop research interests with peers from other Schools and to feel part of a wider cross-disciplinary research community. The student will also spend time at the partnership organisations gaining considerable experience of HIV and sexual health from both public health policy and advocacy perspectives.
- Highly skilled researcher co-located with Public Health Wales and Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru, which will provide direct access to relevant networks (e.g. clinic contacts, Public Health PrEP networks across the UK, Welsh Government strategy groups, HIV and sexual health advocacy etc.)
- Recommendations to policy makers around appropriate interventions to support PrEP users and clinics in Wales
- Identification of further research required in this area
- High-quality academic publications and presentations
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding/view/kess2-east-phd-in-public-health-understanding-the-relationship-between-hiv-pre-exposure-prophylaxis-sexually-transmitted-infections-and-antimicrobial-resistance-in-wales-unrest