HEARD is celebrating the graduation of one of our students, Dr Agnes Nyabigambo, who was supported in her studies through the HEARD PhD Scholarship Programme. Below are a few insights on Dr Nyabigambo’s PhD journey.

Your thesis topic: Effectiveness of Clinic-Based Patient-Led HPV DNA Self-Sampling among Women Living with HIV in Uganda

What inspired you to start your PhD: My eagerness to start the PhD was derived from having a deeper understanding of sexual reproductive health and rights among women living with HIV. I believe by carrying out part of my PhD research on the effectiveness of patient-led high risk HPV DNA self- sampling among women living with HIV, will provide me with insights into the merits and limitations of the current approaches for molecular diagnostics for HPV, and how these may eventually be implemented in Uganda and Africa at large. It is hoped that this research will provide us with new cost-effective strategies that may be used in conjunction with the existing strategies.

The main findings of your PhD: Based on our findings, the clinic-based HPV self-sampling approach was found to be effective in reducing provider-related barriers to cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV (WLWH) at a rural HIV clinic. The current study findings contribute to policy strengthening/development and the planning of cervical cancer screening strategies incorporating a clinic-based HPV self-sampling approach to improve the uptake of Cervical Cancer screening, especially among WLWH.

Your plans for the future:  To design technological and social innovations that will enhance HPV and its co-infection screening within Africa and, hence, early screening, detection, and treatment of cervical cancer.