HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB

	HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB
Embracing positive living for our people

Prof Leickness Simbayi
Executive Director

HAST is a large multi-disciplinary team with over 50 full-time researchers trained in various social sciences disciplines and public health, many of whom hold doctorate degrees.

We collaborate with other research organisations and universities in South Africa, throughout Sub- Saharan Africa, and globally who are engaged in similar work.

HAST also provides some technical assistance and advice to the government, South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), civil society and donors/research grant makers within South Africa, throughout Sub-Saharan Africa through the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance (SAHARA), and also globally through its collaborating status with the Global HIV Prevention Working Group and other international organisations. HAST also provides excellent experiential training opportunities for young or novice researchers.

What we do

HAST undertakes applied social sciences and public health research on HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB. We also provide experiential training to young researchers and expert consultation to government, civil society organisations and international agencies on these issues.

Our research

HAST has conducted many groundbreaking studies on, among others, the following topics:

National HIV surveillance including HIV incidence both in the general population as well as in different sectors of the economy such as among educators and health workers in the public sector
Social and behavioural prevention intervention research on HIV, STIs and TB including reducing the impact of alcohol abuse, HIVAIDS-related stigma, and gender-based violence and using different models of HIV counselling and testing (HCT)
Various interventions to mitigate the impact of HIV on orphans and vulnerable children
Monitoring and impact evaluations of national HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB programmes including aspects of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV/AIDS and STIs in South Africa. We have also played a major role in undertaking the first Know- Your-Epidemic and Know-Your-Response (KYR) analysis on HIV/AIDS in South Africa on behalf of SANAC
Operational and implementation research on evidence-based interventions such as Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT), medical male circumcision, home-and clinicbased HCT including couples testing, HIV and STIs prevention among people who are HIVpositive including both men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers, and prevention of medical transmission of TB.

How we make a difference

HAST’s research is both cutting edge and policy relevant. For example, its flagship project is the triennially conducted population-based household surveys which started in 2002 during a time when such research was not favourably looked upon by some policy makers. We are now about to undertake the fourth (i.e. 2011/12) HIV survey in the survey series.

The HIV survey data is considered as critical information required by the country to help inform the development of sound policies and programmes to fight against the HIV epidemic in the country. The surveys are now an integral part of the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of NSPs on HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB in South Africa by SANAC and its partners. We also provide useful data on some UNGASS and MDGs indicators for South African national reports. Moreover, our survey methodology has also been replicated in a number of neighbouring African countries.

Furthermore, HAST also conducts intervention research and programme assessments that aim to improve the lives of South Africans as well as people in the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Conclusion

We provide a reliable national, regional and international resource for evidencebased research to prevent new infections and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB.

Contact details: 021 466 7946

Our national and international collaborations / partnerships

While HAST conducts most of its research in South Africa, the programme extends its reach through an extensive network of long-standing national, regional, and international collaborators. Researchers in the programme also act as consultants to a number of national and international organisations.

Some key funders and implementing networks

The work of the programme is supported by various local, regional and international partners including local and foreign government departments, foundations and civil society organisations, continental bodies, UN organisations and international funding agencies.