More and Better Grant Proposals? The Evaluation of a Grant-Writing Group at a Mid-Sized Canadian University

Obtaining external funding has become increasingly difficult for Canadian researchers in the social sciences and humanities. Our literature review suggests that grant-writing groups and workshops make an important contribution to increasing both applications for external funding and success in funding competitions. This article describes an 8-month grant-writing group for 14 social scientists in a mid-sized Canadian university. The goal was to increase applications and successes in funding competitions. The group integrated several strategies perceived by Porter (2011b) to encourage more and better grant proposals: offering homegrown workshops that were ongoing rather than occasional, sharing successful proposals, coaching and editing, bringing together emerging researchers with established ones, and placing participants in reviewers\u27 shoes. These strategies were combined in a series of monthly sessions that required participants to write each section of a grant proposal and share it with others for feedback. Participants perceived this approach to work well; it appeared to provide useful feedback and examples, and develop a sense of accountability and community. The number of applications submitted for funding increased 80% from the funding cycle just prior to the group (2013-2014) to the funding cycle during or immediately after the group (2015-2016). The rate of success in obtaining funds from internal and external grant submissions increased from 33% to 50% over this same time period. The greatest increase in submissions and success were experienced by emerging and alternative academic researchers. From their program evaluation, authors conclude that grant-writing groups are a useful way to build researcher confidence and commitment to submitting proposals to funding competitions and contribute to success, especially for researchers with limited experience in such competitions

Impact of AIDS on adolescent sexuality

Bibliography: p. 334-371

Bridging Theory and Practice in HIV Prevention for Rural Youth, Nigeria

Thirty years into combating the spread of HIV through behaviour change interventions experience has grown in the application of multiple approaches from one-for-one counseling and small group workshops, information sessions, and activities to large-scale rallies and mass media campaigns with reducing the spread of HIV. These approaches have been variously guided by best field practice and theoretical frameworks developed to understand health-related behaviours and behaviour change. This article reviews the dominant theoretical approaches used to develop behaviour change interventions and strategies and presents the theoretical frameworks guiding the multi-level strategy to reduce youth vulnerability in Edo State, Nigeria known as HIV Prevention for Rural Youth (HP4RY). HP4RY is set within the multi-level Ecological Framework and specifically uses Sexual Scripting Theory and the AIDS Competent Community theoretical framework to guide an Action Research project that uses research to enhance the Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE) programme delivered in Junior Secondary Schools and a Community Mobilization programme led by members of the National Youth Service Corps. The benefits to using these theories and their fit with contemporary thinking in the field of HIV prevention through behaviour change are reviewed here (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 39-53).Après trente ans de la lutte contre la propagation du VIH à travers des interventions basées sur la modification du comportement, l'expérience s'est accrue dans l'application de multiples approches partant des conseils seul à seul et des ateliers à petits groupes, des sessions et des activités d'information jusqu'à des rassemblements et des campagnes à grande échelle pour réduire la progression du VIH. Ces approches ont été guidées par de meilleures pratiques sur le terrain et des cadres théoriques qui ont été élaborés pour comprendre les comportements associés à la santé ainsi que la modification dans le comportement. Cet article passe en revue les approches théoriques prédominantes dont on se sert pour élaborer des interventions et des stratégies qui visent la modification de comportement et présente des structures théoriques qui dirigent la stratégie à plusieurs niveaux pour réduire la vulnérabilité de la jeunesse dans l'état d'Edo, Nigeria, connu comme la Prévention du VIH pour la jeunesse rurale (HP4RY). HP4RY se situe au sein d'un cadre écologique à plusieurs niveaux et utilise la Théorie du Scripting Sexuel et le cadre théorique de la communauté Compétente du VIH pour guider un projet de Recherche d'Action qui se sert de la recherche pour améliorer les programmes de la Vie Familiale et l'Education du VIH (VFEV) assurés aux Collèges et un programme de la mobilisation d'une Communauté mené par les membres du Corps du Service National de jeunes. Les benefices tirés de l'utilisation de ces théories et leur place dans le contexte de la pensée dans le domaine de la prévention du VIH à travers des modifications de comportement font l'objet de cette étude (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 39-53)

Licensing Sex Work: Public Policy and Women's Lives

The population health promotion model directs our attention to the impact of public policy, and the interface between various levels of policy, on health and well-being. This model is applied in a case study of the effect of municipal licensing of the escort industry on the health and well-being of escorts in Windsor, Ontario. Attention to municipal licensing and policing practices applied to the escort industry reveals that although the potential exists for such policies to enhance the health and well-being of sex workers, as such policies currently operate in Windsor, they are not healthy public policies. This is in part because of the way police use the information and resources made to them through licensing. It is also related to the ambiguous position in which municipalities and escort agencies are placed, in order to implement licensing without violating federal criminal statutes related to prostitution.

A multi-level model of condom use among male and female upper primary school students in Nyanza, Kenya

Although several studies have emphasized the relevance of community level variables to AIDS prevention among young people in sub-Saharan Africa, few have tested the empirical connections between such variables and sexual behaviors. Using data from 3645 sexually experienced grade 6 and 7 students from 160 schools, modeled on (Fisher and Fisher, 2000) and (Fisher and Fisher, 1993) and Campbell's identification of community influences (2003), this study applies hierarchical linear models to estimate the effects of individual and community level variables on condom use among youth in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Four separate models were fit for both males and females. Results show significant differences across schools and communities regarding condom use. The predictors of reported condom use at last intercourse for both males and females were ethnicity, pressure to engage in sexual intercourse, and condom self efficacy. While age, religion, rejecting myths about the spread of HIV, and talking to male relatives about HIV/AIDS were all positively related to condom use for males, risk perception, socio-economic status of the school and school sponsorship by a religious group were negatively related to the outcome variable. For females, abstinence self efficacy and HIV prevention programming in community festivals were additional significant predictors, both increasing the odds of condom use. Our results suggest that there are marked differences in factors influencing reported condom use among males and females in Nyanza, Kenya. While some of these factors exist at the individual level, others exist at the school/community level. Based on our findings, we recommend that AIDS prevention interventions take account not only of individual-level factors, but also school/community influences on the sexual behaviors of youth.Kenya HIV/AIDS Condom use Youth Schools Communities Gender

Peer-led interventions to reduce HIV risk of youth: A review

One approach in HIV prevention programming targeting youth is to use peer leaders in what is referred to as peer education programming. This paper critically reviews and synthesizes the results and lessons learned from 24 evaluated peer-led programs with an HIV/AIDS risk reduction component that target youth in the communities where they live and are delivered in low- and middle-income countries. Interventions were identified through a comprehensive search of the peer reviewed AIDS-related literature as well as publication lists of major organizations in the UN family that address HIV and AIDS. Our synthesis of study results finds that these programs have demonstrated success in effecting positive change in knowledge and condom use and have demonstrated some success in changing community attitudes and norms. Effects on other sexual behaviors and STI rates were equivocal. We include an overview of characteristics of successful programs, a review of program limitations, and recommendations for the development and implementation of successful community-based peer-led programs in low-income countries.Peer education HIV prevention Evaluation review

Meeting the Challenges of North-South Collaboration: The Case of HIV Prevention for Rural Youth, Edo State, Nigeria

Despite the significant contributions of the various North-South research partnerships during the past five decades to enhancing research capacity in the South, they have faced a number of challenges associated with the various partnerships. There have been limited attempts to critically examine the successes and challenges associated with these partnerships. Based on the experiences of implementing the 'HIV Prevention for Rural Youth' programme by a Canadian-Nigerian partnership during a four year period, this paper outlines the successes achieved and the challenges faced. The paper reviews the context of contemporary North-South research collaboration which provided the framework for the implementation of the HIV Prevention for Rural Youth. It then examines the benefits which the implementation of the programme have stimulated as well as the various challenges which confronted the partnership and how they were handled. The implications of the project's implementation experiences for future North-South collaborative research programmes are highlighted (Afr J Reprod Health 2012(Special Edition); 16[2]: 127-146).Malgré les contributions importantes des divers partenariats de recherches de Nord-Sud, au cours de cinq dernières années, vers la promotion de la capacité de la recherche au Sud, un certain nombre de difficultés sont liés aux divers partenariats. On a tenté d'une manière limitée, à examiner de façon critique les succès et les défis liés à ces partenariats. En se fondant sur les expériences de la réalisation du programme de la « Prévention du VIH pour la jeunesse Rurale » par un partenariat Canadien-Nigérian au cours de quatre ans, cette étude met en lumière le succès accompli et les défis rencontrés. L'étude passe en revue le contexte de la collaboration de la recherche Nord-Sud contemporaine qui a donné le cadre pour la réalisation de la prévention du VIH pour la jeunesse rurale. Elle étudie les avantages que le programme a stimulé aussi bien que les divers défis auxquels le partenariat a fait face et comment ils ont été résolus. Nous avons souligné les implications des expériences de la réalisation du projet en vue des futurs programmes de recherches collaboratrices Nord –Sud (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 127-146)

Attitudes, comportements sexuels et contraceptifs chez les cégepiens de Montréal : résultats généraux /

Inséré dans un portefeuilleBibliogr.: f. 47-4

HIV Prevention for Rural Youth in Nigeria: Background Overview

The negative impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been a major challenge to sub-Saharan Africa. Although the rate of new HIV infections in sub-continent has decreased, the total number of people living with HIV continues to rise. Most of the people infected with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa are within the age bracket of 15 to 35 years. It has been estimated that about 80% of the infected group are aged 20-29 years. It is against the background of the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS to young people that the Canadian-Nigerian partnership Action Research on HIV Prevention for Rural Youth was conceived. This paper provides the background to the outcomes reported in this special edition of this journal by reviewing the HIV/AIDS situation in sub-Saharan Africa and the nature of the associated response; discussing the rationale for the Action Research which focuses on Nigeria; and outlining the key components of the research (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 25-38).Les conséquences négatives de l'épidémie du VIH/SIDA ont constitué un défi important en Afrique subsaharienne. Bien que le taux de nouvelles infections du VIH dans le sous-continent ait diminué, le nombre total de gens qui vivent avec le VIH ne cesse de s'accroitre. La plupart des jeunes atteints du VIH/SIDA en Afrique subsaharienne sont âgés de 15 à 35 ans. On estime qu'environ 80% du groupe atteint sont âgés de 20 à 29 ans. C'est dans le contexte des défis posés par le VIH/SIDA aux jeunes gens qu'a été conçu le partenariat canadien-nigérian de la recherche d'Action sur la Prévention du VIH en faveur de la jeunesse rurale. Cet article présente le contexte des conséquences qui ont été rapportées dans ce numéro spécial en passant en revue l'état du VIH/SIDA en Afrique subsaharienne et la nature de la réponse qui y est liées ; en discutant le raisonnement pour la recherche d'action qui se concentre surtout sur le Nigéria et en décrivant les composants clé de la recherche (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 25-38)