Better reproductive and sexual health care for people with disabilities in Tanzania
Official title: Training Healthcare Professionals to Address Reproductive Health for Persons with Disabilities in Tanzania
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11393446 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project teaches Tanzanian doctors, nurses, and students to provide reproductive and sexual health care that meets the needs of people with disabilities, including safer care around HIV, STIs, and pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $128,074 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD110999-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393446 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and adults with disabilities in Tanzania who seek reproductive or sexual health services, including those living with or at risk for HIV or other STIs.
✕Less likely to help
People who live outside Tanzania or who do not attend participating clinics or training sites are unlikely to see direct benefits in the near term.
What this research studies
You would be served by healthcare workers who completed an Afrocentric reproductive and sexual health curriculum adapted for people with disabilities. The team is running a randomized trial at Muhimbili University in Dar es Salaam that trains nursing, midwifery, and medical students and measures changes in provider attitudes, skills, and follow-up care. The study focuses on real-world care for HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy where people with disabilities face extra barriers. If the training works, it could be rolled out to more clinics and schools to make routine care more inclusive.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make reproductive and sexual health services more accessible, respectful, and safer for people with disabilities, potentially reducing HIV/STI risk and unintended pregnancies.
How similar studies have gone: Rigorous trials of provider training for reproductive health needs of people with disabilities are rare, and this Afrocentric curriculum represents a relatively novel, locally adapted approach building on WHO/PAHO materials.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mark, Kristen Patricia — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Mark, Kristen Patricia
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.