Studentships 2010
China's Emerging Role in Global Health Governance: Navigating between Access to Medicines and Economic Development
Cost Effective Delivery Strategies for the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Crystallisation of the Multifunctional Receptor Clustering Protein Gephyrin
Development of Word Naming and Knowing in Children aged 3-7: A Behavioural and Computational Modelling Study
Exploring Cognitive and Genetic Explanations for the Overlap Between Autism and Other Mental Health Problems in Adolescence
Generation of Zebrafish Models of Neurodegeneration
Good Health at Low Cost - Understanding the Contribution of Political, Economic and Structural Factors Promoting Good Health
Kinesin Molecular Motors as Targets for Malaria Treatment
Land and Law in War to Peace Transitions in Africa
Mobile Learning for Development: Participatory Design of an Open Mobile Knowledge Exchange Network for the Detection, Identification and Monitoring of Infectious Disease
Social and Educational Determinants of Sexual Partner Choice and HIV Risk Among Young Women in South Africa
The Development of Problem-Solving Abilities in Typical and Atypical Development
Validation of the Mitochonrial Translocator Protein (Mtspo) in Comparative Cancer Biology and Molecular Chemotherapy

Social and Educational Determinants of Sexual Partner Choice and HIV Risk Among Young Women in South Africa

Supervisor: Dr James Hargreaves (LSHTM)

Co-Supervisor Professor Richard Wiggins (IoE)

In Sub-Saharan Africa, most new HIV infections among young women are acquired from their male sexual partners via heterosexual transmission. Understanding the determinants of sexual partnership formation and risk behaviour within those partnerships is essential to guide HIV prevention efforts in the region.

Young South African women tend to form relationships with partners who are a few years older than themselves and who are from a similar socioeconomic background. Within partnerships, condom use may be more common early in relationships, but then be dispensed with over time as trust grows between partners. It remains unclear what factors, including the social networks in which young people are embedded, affect sexual partner choice or risk behaviours within partnerships; whether school attendance or practice influences these decisions; and how these factors influence both the overall burden and level of inequality in HIV infection rates.

Aims

The aim of this studentship is to identify factors that influence sexual partnership formation and HIV risk within these partnerships, with a particular focus on social networks, educational institutions and life transitions.

Research Questions

1. To describe characteristics of sexual partnerships involving young women in rural South Africa.

2. To assess how characteristics of partnerships change in association with growing up and school leaving.

3. To assess the influence of key factors including the social network and educational factors on partnership characteristics.

4. To assess how sexual partnership characteristics influence HIV risk.

Methodology

This studentship will benefit from being nested within a randomised controlled trial of the influence of conditional cash transfers on school attendance and HIV risk among young South African women. This study is funded by the US National Institutes of Health, and is itself nested within a Demographic Surveillance Site - the Agincourt DSS - in northeast South Africa. More details of the trial are available from the lead supervisor on request. The student will design data collection tools for implementation within the trial surveys, conduct new fieldwork in South Africa during the second year of the PhD and analyse the data for their thesis, drawing principally on the theory and methods of social epidemiology and social network analysis. Some experience in these methods will be an advantage though opportunities for further training will also be available during the PhD.

Key References

1. Hargreaves, JR., Morison, LA., Kim JC., Phetla, G., Porter JDH., Watts, CH., et al. Characteristics of sexual partnerships, not just of individuals, affect condom use patterns and risk of HIV infection in rural South Africa. AIDS Care. 2009;21(8): 1058-70.

Further details about the project may be obtained from:

Supervisor: Dr James Hargreaves, james.hargreaves@lshtm.ac.uk

Co-Supervisor: Professor R D Wiggins, r.wiggins@ioe.ac.uk

How to Apply

Applications should consist of :

Research Application Form: http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/prospectus/howto/research_app_form_2009-10.pdf
Research Applicant Reference Form: http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/prospectus/howto/research_ref_form_2010-11.pdf
Equal Opportunities Form: http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/prospectus/howto/equal_opp_form_2010-11.pdf
A full, original transcript of the applicant's academic record
A two-page CV, including the names of two academic referees
A covering letter, stating why you wish to do a PhD in this area at the School
Your current postal, e-mail address and telephone number.

Applications must be in writing and must clearly state which studentship you are applying for, eg. BCPhD: Hargreaves

Please send completed application forms to:

Registry
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
50 Bedford Square
London
WC1B 3DP
Tel: 00 44 (0) 20 7299 4646
Fax: 00 44 (0) 20 7323 0638
E-mail: registry@lsthm.ac.uk

Closing date for applications is: 1st March 2010

The Bloomsbury Colleges, University of London: Birkbeck; Institute of Education; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; School of Oriental and African Studies; The School of Pharmacy; Royal Veterinary College.