The UCLA-NPI Center for Community Health is partnering with a non-government organization in Uganda in an effort to build capacity and to implement a pilot study of HIV prevention effectiveness between street and urban youth. This effort is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

The capacity building activities will consist of two workshops to be held for the staff addressing how to design and analyze project data; how to use health intervention theories in projects; how to develop and implement projects including a review of effective interventions; how to document project activities and the number of participants encountered, and how to prepare and present the project results to government and professional groups and journals.

The application of these skills will be demonstrated by the implementation of a pilot study using an effective intervention that will be adapted for use among Ugandan street youth. The pilot study will entail two cities where 50 youth from each city will be recruited to participate in a 10 session HIV intervention curricula. The curricula will also address unintended pregnancy prevention and the role of alcohol and drug use in contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

As a result of implementing both the capacity building trainings and the pilot study, the two teams will produce the following deliverables: culturally- appropriate baseline and follow-up assessments; computerized tracking systems; access to internet resources and tools and culturally- appropriate intervention manuals. A solid working relationship to do future work between the two teams is also an expected outcome from this endeavor.