Ramona Finnie, MPH, CHES student, School of Public Health
	Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding TB, Care-Seeking for TB, and the Extent of Compliance and Non-Compliance of TB Patients in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Tuberculosis (TB) is associated with nearly 2 million deaths each year, making it the biggest infectious killer in the world. South Africa has the 9th largest burden of TB in the world.  Last year, Ramona Finnie, MPH, CHES, and doctoral candidate at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, was invited to work with a group of researchers from the University of Maastricht (The Netherlands) and the University of Venda (South Africa) to help develop an adapted DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy Short Course) intervention to address the growing TB epidemic in Limpopo Province, South Africa.    This past summer, Finnie traveled with her advisor to South Africa to meet the rest of the research team, masters and doctoral level nursing students from the University of Venda, and to develop the project’s work plan.  Individual projects will focus on 1) assessment of health beliefs and risk factors related to TB among the community, 2) factors related to compliance and noncompliance among patients with TB only and patients with TB and HIV, 3) perceptions about TB and treatment among family members of TB patients, and 4) evaluation of the current DOTS program and development of a adapted program.   High TB/HIV co-infection rates in Limpopo Province will provide helpful information in each project when considering how the TB and HIV epidemic interrelate. Finnie applied the International Programs Award to help fund her return trip to South Africa this year.  She heard about the award from a faculty member and a former award recipient.  Finnie feels this award is a great way to encourage student participation in collaborative research internationally and is especially helpful to students taking part in the global health concentration at UT-SPH. Finnie plans to complete formative research and questionnaire design in South Africa in the later part of 2008. The work she completes during her 3 to 4 month stay in South Africa will aid the development of the intervention and provide the foundation for her doctoral dissertation research.
Ms. Balanganini, Ms. Joice Sukumane (kneeling: left to right) Prof. Bart van der Borne, Mrs. Grace Shilubane, Prof. Lunic Base Khoza, Prof. Patricia Dolan Mullen, Ms. Tiyan Edith Mabunda, Mrs. Ester Lekhulemi, Ms. Ramona Finnie (standing: left to right) (Not Pictured: Ms. Racheal Lebese and Mrs. Rebecca Ruisenga)