The Addiction Training for Health Professionals (ATHP) program is primarily focused on training physicians to treat and prevent addictive diseases. The Frank Foundation supports this initiative through its monthly ATHP Research Institute Meetings. Our cohort of researchers includes specialists in addiction medicine and training, public health residents, alumni and tutors teaching in public health, and our public health and addiction trainees who are practicing physicians in various capacities. The residents enrolled at Public Health U (PHU) are presenting their research proposals and ideas to this cohort, who are providing expert support to enhance the impact and significance of these research ideas on public health and addiction.
Dr. Sulaiman Mansaray, an addiction concentration student at PHU, is researching Hepatitis. While there is data available on Hepatitis A and C, Dr. Mansaray noted a lack of significant data in West Africa on Hepatitis B and D. He initially proposed that he would like to investigate health interventions that focus on these areas while also exploring the epidemiological data. After discussion and feedback from the ATHP Research team, Dr. Mansaray was able to finalize his research focus by using available evidence from the U.S. and other European and Asian countries to look at the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and D and how addicts can be at greater risk of getting infected.
Dr. Ikhidero Aigboje-Uduangele presented his research proposal on maternal mortality rates in Nigeria. UNICEF reports that Nigeria has the fourth highest maternal mortality rate in the world, 576 per 100,000 live births. Dr. Ifeoma urged Dr. Ikhidero to investigate the role addiction to various substances plays in the high prevalence of maternal mortality and focus more on the addiction concentration areas of this topic to ensure that his research will bring light to new aspects of maternal mortality that were not previously taken into consideration. Dr. Ifeoma also offered to collaborate with Dr. Ikhidero through the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria, and this demonstrates the impressive teamwork and support available in joining our addiction medicine cohorts in these meetings.
Dr. Bob Kagoro will focus his research proposal on the role of alcohol abuse in domestic violence. Dr. Kagoro emphasized that there is a high rate of PTSD due to persons’ experiences during the 1994 genocide. The ATHP research team offered suggestions zeroing in on the effects of alcohol abuse on this topic as well as investigating the reasons that may cause persons with PTSD to turn to substances. Dr. Anthony Schlaff believes that this provides an opportunity to look at this topic from a 3- or 4-way perspective by looking at the protective roles in place against alcohol abuse, what direct exposure and effects of the genocide may have on these issues, and much more.
The ATHP research meeting is already making a significant impact through the critical feedback provided by all addiction medicine experts. By offering their invaluable opinions and sparking constructive discussions, PHU students now have the opportunity to refine their research proposals in a way that allows them to be impactful in the field of substance misuse and substance use disorders for individuals, families, and communities globally.
Samantha Baboolal
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