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A new research chair focusing on African women with HIV who choose to have babies is Simon Fraser University’s latest endeavour in AIDS prevention research.

Angela Kaida holds SFU’s new Canada Research Chair on Global Perspectives in HIV, and Sexual and Reproductive Health. She’s looking at how expanding access to HIV treatment services, including the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), influences reproductive decision-making, behaviours and outcomes among women in high-risk areas, primarily sub-Saharan Africa.

“In this region women of childbearing age comprise 61 per cent of people living with HIV - that’s more than 12 million women – raising concerns about the risk of pregnancy,” says Kaida. “These concerns relate to the health and survival of the mother and risks of HIV transmission to her partners and infants.”

Despite these risks, 30-50 per cent of the more than 1.4 million annual pregnancies among HIV-positive women are intentional. However little is available in terms of information or support services to help HIV-affected couples seeking pregnancy to minimize risks.

Kaida has spent the past four years conducting related social and health research studies in South Africa, Uganda and other HIV endemic regions. Among her findings: expanding availability of regular HIV prevention and treatment services is having a positive influence on the overall sexual and reproductive health of HIV-positive women.

She hopes the next phase of her research will help lead to the development of health policies and programs to support HIV-affected individuals safely achieve their reproductive goals while minimizing health and HIV transmission risks.

New to SFU this fall, Kaida is also tracking the reproductive trends and needs of HIV-positive women in Canada.

Funding for Kaida’s (Tier 2) chair and eight other renewed chairs at SFU was announced today by Minister of Industry Tony Clement. The funds are part of a $275.6 million investment in more than 300 new or renewed CRCs across Canada during the program’s 10^th year.

Earlier this week SFU molecular biologist Mark Brockman and colleagues, together with South African scientists, received $1.8 million in funding from the Global Health Research Initiative to bolster the efforts of research facilities in Africa carrying out much needed HIV prevention research trials.

Word of the new SFU research projects precedes World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

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