Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02148 CHALLENGES IN CONDUCTING MICROBICIDE PREPAREDNESS STUDIES IN URBAN AND RURAL SOUTH AFRICA 

Govinden Roshini*
Ramjee G*
Medical Research Council, HIV Prevention Research Unit, Durban, South Africa
HPTN GRANT NO: 1 UO1 A148008

Background:
Developing countries with high HIV prevalence rates are obvious sites for HIV prevention studies. Funding for these trials largely comes from developed countries committed to curbing the spread of the virus. Implementing protocols developed in the sponsor countries poses a great challenge for researchers in developing countries, primarily because these countries lack the basic health care and research infrastructure and clinics. Further, there is a strong divide between urban and rural communities based on socio-economic status, health care provision and health seeking behavior.

We describe the challenges faced in:
Obtaining ethical and regulatory approval
Community education and awareness and site development
Implementing the protocol specific activities
Challenges of high HIV prevalence rates
Recruitment and retentions strategies
Challenges of conducting laboratory tests

Results:
The unit had to seek approval from Provincial Health Department and the Ethics Committee. The ethics committee requested that a paragraph on the results of N9 be included in the informed consent form. Community education and awareness was a long process with several meetings between traditional leaders, service providers, women’s groups and the community at large. The high prevalence rates detected at both urban (Durban) and rural (Hlabisa) sites of 29.6% and 35.8% respectively, resulted in the need for extra study staff such as nurses, counselors and community educators. HIV positive women requested the need to be counseled by clinical staff and were reluctant to be referred elsewhere. The recruitment and retention to date has been successful at both Durban and Hlabisa sites having no participants lost to follow-up in the first 3 months of operations.

Multi-site study protocols can be implemented in developing countries provided there is adequate research infrastructure, trained and skilled staff, and community health care support.

Dr Roshini Govinden
P O Box 70380, Overport, 4067, Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
(Telephone) +27-31-2034700 (Fax) +27-31-2034702 (E-mail) roshini.govinden@mrc.ac.za