141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

290145
Multipurpose prevention technologies for sexual and reproductive health: Establishing a novel, collaborative way for scientific agenda development

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Bethany Young Holt, PhD, MPH , Coalition Advancing Multipurpose Innovations (CAMI), Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT), Folsom, CA
Diane Royal, MS , Coalition Advancing Multipurpose Innovations (CAMI), Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT), Folsom, CA
Kathryn Stewart, MPP , Coalition Advancing Multipurpose Innovations (CAMI), Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT), Folsom, CA
BACKGROUND: Those working to develop prevention methods for unintended pregnancies, HIV and STIs have typically worked in silos. As a result, effective prevention methods that account for more than one of the risks associated with unsafe sex are minimal. Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) include products that simultaneously prevent unintended pregnancies, HIV and other STIs. The Coalition Advancing Multipurpose Innovations (CAMI) serves as Secretariat for the Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT), an international coalition of experts working to advance the development and introduction of MPTs.

METHODS: To foster cross-disciplinary collaborations and advance the scientific agenda, CAMI.IMPT has identified three priority working groups: the Scientific Agenda Working Group (SAWG); Communications and Advocacy Working Group (CAWG); and Acceptability and Access Working Group (AAWG).

RESULTS: The SAWG considered the alignment of technologically feasible products with ‘ideal' products. In addition, Target Product Profiles (TPPs) define key attributes for MPT products in regions of the world with high unmet need. This collaborative effort informs product developers and donors in pipeline decisions. Simultaneously, the CAWG worked with regional representatives to develop key messages for MPTs in India. In December 2012, CAMI.IMPT helped convene a symposium on MPTs in India to identify research priorities and define an agenda for research relevant to India.

CONCLUSIONS: A collaborative multidisciplinary approach to advancing the scientific agenda for MPTs helps ensure that early in product development, developers listen to end-users and providers as women's needs greatly vary. By working together, CAMI.IMPT members can better advance the development and introduction of MPTs.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to inform the scientific agenda for early product development of multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) for sexual and reproductive health.

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Reproductive Health Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Holt directs the Coalition Advancing Multipurpose Innovations (CAMI), and is also a Principle Investigator (PI) with the Public Health Institute, which houses CAMI. Dr. Holt has nearly 20 years of experience working in reproductive health and HIV/STI prevention in the U.S. and internationally, including multi-level analyses, social determinants of health, microbicide acceptability studies, and market research. She received her MPH in Maternal and Child Health and PhD in Epidemiology from UC Berkeley.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.