Dr Tabitha Nyawira Gitahi
| Call | Career Development Fellowship (CDF) |
| Programme | EDCTP2 |
| Start Date | 2021-08-01 |
| End Date | 2024-07-31 |
| Project Code | TMA2020CDF-3234 |
| Status | Active |
Title
Enhanced m-health mental health screening for adolescents living with HIV transitioning into adult care.
Host Organisation
| Institution | Country |
|---|---|
Current Organisation
KEMRI
Current Job Title
clinical research scientist
Memberships
| Role | Committee/board | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| secretary | Gold Star Kenya | 2022 |
Education
| Institution | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Jomo Kenyatta University, Kenya | Doctorate in Global health | 2022-06-28 |
| Moi University, Kenya | Masters in Public health | 2014-09-29 |
| University of Nairobi, Kenya | Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery | 2006-12-29 |
Areas Of Specialisation
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)
Publications
Projects
Fellow:
Tabitha Nyawira Gitahi
Collaborators:
| Name | Country | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Nyawira Gitahi | Kenya | KEMRI |
| Prof. E. Bukusi | Kenya | KEMRI |
| Prof. L. Atwoli | Kenya | KEMRI |
Objectives:
The overall objective is to address the mental health gap in this vulnerable population in Kenya by establishing the feasibility, acceptability and adoptability of a self-administered m-health-based mental health screening tool for depressive illness, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse among Kenyan adolescents and young adults living with HIV SPECIFIC AIMS:
The specific objectives of the study are as follows:
Specific aim 1: Determine the feasibility, adoptability and acceptability of integrating a digital mental health screening approach within routine care for older adolescents and young adults living with HIV transitioning to adult care
Specifically, we will evaluate the following: 1) Experienced level of comfort and ease of understanding by adolescents and young adults living with HIV of the digital mental health screening approach among older HIV positive adolescents and young adults using a survey lasting 15 minutes; 2) Individual-level factors that influence acceptance by adolescents and young adults living with HIV of the self-administered m-health tool and its integration tool within routine HIV care among this population using qualitative interviews.
Specific aim 2: Determine the prevalence, severity, (socioeconomic and psychosocial) determinants- associated HIV virological outcomes of mental illness among older adolescents and young adults
Specific aim 3: Identify health system barriers and facilitators towards the integration of a digital mental health screening approach within routine care for adolescents and young adults living with HIV as perceived by health care workers
Sites:
The study will take place in the following sites -Kenyatta National hospital and Coptic Hospital- Dagoretti subcounty, Lea Toto clinics -Kariobangi North and South), Gertrude's hospital -Westlands sub-county, Dream Centre, Mbagathi hospital and Kibera community hospital -Langata sub-counties and Mama Lucy -Embakasi West sub-county.
Study Design:
cross-sectional study
Subjects:
100
Outcomes:
1. The feasibility, adaptability and acceptability of integrating a digital mental health screening
2. Prevalence, severity and determinants- associated HIV virological outcomes of mental illness among older adolescents and young
adults
3. health system barriers and facilitators towards the integration of a digital mental health screening approach
Start Date:
2021-08-01
End Date:
2024-07-31