There are about 292 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Zambia. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
A new approach to HIV prevention currently being studied includes the use of topical microbicides and orally administered anti-HIV drugs. The purpose of this study is to better understand the impact of microbicides in women who are diagnosed with HIV-1 during participation in previous microbicide trials.
The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of community-based management of pneumonia and malaria by community health workers (CHWs) in a rural district of Zambia.
This trial will address the question of whether early application of the Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) at the Satellite Health Facility (SHF) level before transport to a Referral Hospital (RH) will decrease maternal mortality and morbidity. The available evidence indicates that the NASG substantially decreases blood loss, but there is no evidence that its application will reduce extreme adverse outcomes. It is also not known if possible side effects associated with NASG use might outweigh potential benefits. This study would rigorously test the effectiveness of the NASG using an experimental design with adequate power to detect statistically significant decreases in morbidity and mortality.
The objective of the project is to develop and test an intervention to promote exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), to assess its impact on infant health in African contexts where a high prevalence of HIV is a barrier, and to strengthen the evidence base regarding the optimal duration for EBF. Promotion of EBF is the most effective child health intervention currently feasible for implementation at the population level in low-income countries. It can lower infant mortality by 13%, and by an additional 2% were it not for the fact that breastfeeding transmits HIV. Only recently proven to be possible in hot and even dry climates, EBF without even offering water is still little appreciated by mothers or supported by health workers. EBF rates are especially low in Africa but the potential for rapid implementation may be high. A few studies elsewhere suggest that peer counselling can often achieve dramatic increases. Thus the investigators will run the first randomised trial to develop and test models for applying this approach in four African countries and to quantify health benefits, cost-effectiveness, and implications for the health care system. While experts realize that the HIV threat ought not to present much of a biological constraint to promoting EBF, in heavily affected countries it does represent a cultural constraint. Overcoming this will require the development of a safe and effective means of promoting EBF that is HIV-sensitive by taking into account the need to minimise postnatal HIV transmission. Another scientific constraint to the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for six months, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is uncertainty about its impact on the micronutrient status of infants. In a substudy, the investigators will carefully follow markers of infant micronutrient status to see how they vary by feeding pattern, including EBF, for a longer period than has been examined previously.
The main objective is to compare the safety and efficacy of 4 artemisinin-based combinations (ACT) [amodiaquine-artesunate (AQ+AS), dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAPQ), artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and chlorproguanil/dapsone plus artesunate] for single and repeat treatments of uncomplicated malaria in children. Safety will be determined by registering adverse events and grading, laboratory, and vital signs evaluations. Their incidence will be compared between the different study arms. TO BE NOTED: following GlaxoSmithKline decision to discontinue the clinical development of the fixed-doses combination of Lapdap (Chlorproguanil-Dapsone) and artesunate, the Lapdap plus Artesunate arm was immediately discontinued in this study, on 17th February 2008. A formal amendment has been submitted to all the concerned ECs and competent authorities. The leading EC approved the amendment on 2nd June 2008. TO BE NOTED: since the batches of the study drug DHAPQ expire at the end of October 2008, and because of the unavailability of a new batch of DHAPQ from the manufacturer, the recruitment in the DHAPQ arm had to be discontinued on 30th October 2008. A formal amendment has been submitted to all the concerned ECs and competent authorities.
Blood is the most commonly used specimen to test for HIV. In the past 20 years, use of saliva as an alternative specimen for HIV testing has been explored. Today, very sensitive tests have been formulated and have been used for diagnosing HIV in adults and older children. OraQuick, a rapid test, is one such example. It is a devise that can be used to collect as well test the saliva. Most studies done on the use of saliva have been carried out in adults and have produced very good results. However very few such studies have been done in children, especially infants. In adults, use of saliva has also highlighted the advantages of ease of collection and increased acceptability of testing. HYPOTHESIS OraQuick rapid test can detect antiHIV antibodies as well as the Abbott determine test and oral fluid testing is more acceptable than blood testing.
This is a randomized placebo controlled trial. Malaria chemoprophylaxis with mefloquine in asymptomatic HIV-infected adults living in a malaria endemic region of Luanshya, Zambia will be compared to a placebo control group and followed up for 18 months.
To compare Azithromycin plus Chloroquine versus Mefloquine to treat uncomplicated plasmodium falciparum malaria.
The WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) developed a Community-Directed Treatment (COMDT) approach, which has been adopted in the control of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. WHO has recommended the use of COMDT approach in the control of schistosomiasis and STH infections. The COMDT approach has been compared with the school based programmes in certain African countries,but not with the health-facility based approach. The project will be implemented in Mazabuka district of Zambia where COMDT approach will be implemented in the catchment area of Rural Health Centres (RHC) as a supplement to the health-facility-based approach. After each round of treatmenttreatment coverage and factors responsible for the treatment coverage will be measured in both areas. The health impact of the health facility based approach with and without the COMDT approach will be compared. The effect of the COMDT as a control approach of STH infections will be monitored on infections in the community of children aged 12 to 59 months.
The study is designed as a randomized, controlled trial with specific observational objectives. All HIV-seropositive pregnant subjects electing to breastfeed their child will be counselled to exclusively breastfeed through 4 months of age. All live-born children will be randomized (1:1) at birth to one of two counseling programs: A) to encourage abrupt weaning at 4 months of age, or B) to encourage exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months of age with the introduction of typical weaning foods ad lib.