Isolde Birdthistle

Principal Investigator

Sian Floyd

Principal Investigator

Judith Glynn

Co Investigator

James Hargreaves

Co Investigator

Antonio Durán

Project Coordinator

In my role as Project Coordinator, I am in charge of the financial and administrative side of things. I support the PI in the financial management of the project, work with our partners for the allocation of funds, submit finance reports for the funder, as well as deal with project recruitment, dissemination, etc. 

It is extremely rewarding to be involved in such a multidisciplinary, international project. 

Sarah Mulwa

Statistician

My work revolves around quantifying the uptake of DREAMS interventions in Nairobi - Kenya, as well as assessing factors that affect uptake. I am also a member of the Data Analysis Working Group, a platform where we discuss various methodologies relating to analysis of observational data. To better understand how the implementation is being done on the ground and the different contextual factors that can explain participation in DREAMS activities (or lack thereof), I also participate in the Social Science Working Group.

There are many lessons one can learn by being part of such a multi-disciplinary team like DREAMS IE. What I enjoy the most are the numerous opportunities to learn new methods through sharing lessons, ideas and potential solutions to some of the challenges the team may face.

Annabelle Gourlay

Epidemiologist

I chair the Data Analysis Working Group, including epidemiologists, statisticians and data managers from each of our partner organisations in Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as colleagues at LSHTM. Recent work has included summarising early awareness and uptake of DREAMS, using population-wide data platforms and/or nested cohorts of AGYW in each setting. I also participate in the Social Science Working Group to keep up-to-date with progress on the process evaluation and facilitate my understanding of the implementation of DREAMS, to help contextualise the quantitative findings.

I have learned that it is very complex to define and measure ‘exposure’ to DREAMS, and that this is a very challenging package of interventions to implement. However, there are encouraging signs from the early analyses and some interesting synergies across settings, despite the different contexts in which DREAMS is being implemented. I’ve also learned that we have a great team of researchers!

Bernadette Hensen

Epidemiologist

Joanna Busza

Social Scientist

Maryam Shahmanesh

PI, AHRI

Natsayi Chimbindi

Project Coordinator

I am the project manager on the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) DREAMS Impact Evaluation.

One thing I have learnt so far is that HIV prevention interventions for young people are complex and require time for scale up and adaptation to context for them to be a good fit. Personally, I have advanced working in a multi-disciplinary team from different sites – the exposure and experience has been enriching.

Kathy Baisley

Senior Statistician

Nondumiso Mthiyane

Statistician

Jaco Dreyer

Data Manager

I am the Data Manager on this Evaluation project and responsible for setting up tools to collect the data and export data to datasets for analysis.

I have seen that going into field with a small team that is focused on a specific set of questions is more effective than sending a big team that is trying to combine your questions with the questions from other projects.

Thembelihle Zuma

Social Scientist

I am working on the Social Science component of the IE, assessing how communities in Umkhanyakude, one of the DREAMS sites in South Africa are experiencing, perceiving and understanding Dreams.

To reduce HIV incidence among AGYW, multicomponent interventions such as DREAMS are essential, however, AGYW do not exist in isolation, interventions should also have a strong focus on their parents, partners, and spaces they interact with.

Janet Seeley

Senior Social Scientist

Abdhalah Ziraba

PI, APHRC

I am the DREAMS Impact Evaluation project manager at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). I oversee the technical (tools, field operations and data) and other management aspects including reporting and anchoring our participation in the consortium. I also serve on the Publications and Presentation working group.

I have learned that even the most complex of health and social interventions can be assessed for impact. Complex health challenges such as HIV/AIDS require complex interventions whose implementation is not straight forward and so is the measurement of impact attributable to such responses. Innovating to address and overcome some of these challenges is a big take away for me from this project.

Benedict Orindi

Statistician

I provide statistical support – in terms of sampling, data processing and statistical analysis – to the DREAMS IE site at APHRC in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition, I represent the African Population and Health Research Centre in the DREAMS IE Data Analysis Working Group.

Whereas I apply statistics in a wide variety of fields, my main areas of interest are Bayesian inference, factor analytic methods, complex data, healthcare experiences and infectious diseases. I developed interest in HIV/AIDS research, with a particular interest in knowledge gaps that result from statistical challenges.

Jane Osindo

Social Science Research Officer

My role on the DREAMS Impact Evaluation involves oversight on project activities at the field level. I am responsible for  logistics for the quantitative and qualitative data collection which involves community sensitization on project related activities, preparation of data collection teams through training and field logistics, supervision of data collection activities and data monitoring and quality control. I am also involved in the process evaluation activities through which the progress of the DREAMS implementation gets monitored. I participate in the qualitative data analysis and interpretation and support scientific writing for the quantitative and qualitative arms of the evaluation.

Evaluating the intervention has taught me that despite the efforts to support the most vulnerable in the communities new challenges arise but the work still goes on.

Beatrice Maina

Research Assistant

Elvis Wambiya

Statistician 

My role in the DREAMS impact evaluation at the African Population and Health Research Centre site involves project management, supporting project implementation activities, data quality assurance, management and analysis. I am an active member of the data analysis working group and participate in scientific writing for the project.

I have learnt that evaluation of complex interventions for a complex phenomenon such as HIV among adolescent girls and young women (influenced by multiple contextual factors) invites innovative and multi-pronged approaches so as to best capture the effects of the intervention. The project also sheds light and reiterates the importance of quality assurance during data collection which ultimately leads to quality data for the evaluation.

Frances Cowan

PI, CeSHHAR

Tarisai Chiyaka

Project Coordinator

Sungai Chabata

Statistician

Phillis Mushati

Social Scientist

Daniel Kwaro

PI, KEMRI - LSTM

Penelope Phillips-Howard

Co-PI, KEMRI-LSTM

Vivienne Kamire

Study Coordinator

As the study coordinator I have been assisting with the day–to-day survey implementation and work with the PI in developing an in-depth understanding of the study design and goals, and fully participate in the successful implementation and execution of the study. I have Participated in both county and community engagement which involves stakeholder consultation and community mobilization to discuss the study objectives and implications. I have ensured that the field staffs are well trained on the study protocol to enable them execute the field activities as required.

The lesson learnt so far is that before the study is commenced, holding meetings with various stakeholders both at the County and Community level to comprehensively discuss the aims and objectives is very crucial to avoid creating unrealistic expectations. Through this we have seen a positive response from the sampled participants and stakeholders where they are voluntarily participating in the study.

Sammy Khagayi

Statistician

I provide statistical support at the KEMRI DREAMS IE site in Gem-Western Kenya. I also oversee the overall data processing, management and analysis. I am also part of the DREAMS IE Data Analysis Working Group.

I have been greatly impressed by the ability of this multidisciplinary group to dig deep into the data and come up with different and important initial findings that not only inform the overall DREAMS objective but also increase our individual skills in complex data analysis.

Faith Magut

Data Manager

I work as a data analyst at the KEMRI DREAMS IE site in Gem-Western Kenya. Besides data analysis, I also manage the data in preparation for analysis. I am also part of the DREAMS IE Data Analysis Working Group.

There are many good lessons learnt from the work so far. The ability to incorporate complex analysis in our analysis with focus on details in order to draw conclusions has been the most important one. The platform has also helped gaining new and improving analytical skills and sharing ideas in order to achieve the objectives.

Moses Otieno

Data Manager

My role in DREAMS impact evaluation is to provide support in data preparation and statistical analyses of different outcomes in GEM Western Kenya.

I am part of DREAMS IE Data Analysis Working Group. I have had an opportunity to learn quite a lot majorly on the impact of DREAMS on the population of interest. The lessons learnt through the Data Analysis Working Group that majorly revolves around complex analysis has largely boosted my analytical skills. Working with such a great team is wonderful and very impactful. 

Kenneth Ondeng’e

Social Scientist