Can all research strengthen links between policy and practice in HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support, in Zambia?

Abstract

This reflection on research and policies on HIV and AIDS is to identify issues that assist to close the policy-practice gap in the prevention, care and support of HIV and AIDS programming, in a resource constrained, setting like Zambia. The paper focuses on a study on assertiveness towards services, by pregnant women, done in Zambia. It reflects on the policy-practice gap, which is wide and challenges the paradigm of compartmentalization of activities pertaining to the areas of research, policy and practice. The weakly coordinated national efforts in countries like Zambia, in research are discussed, while the wealth of existing research, which could be better utilized, is acknowledged. A number of studies with potential to influence research- policy- practice linkages to save lives are noted. The assertiveness study done in Zambia, demonstrates the potential to integrate Reproductive Health and HIV services and also, the intricate relationship of research, policy and practice. Others studies, like the prevention of mother -to-child transmission, narrow this gap and give hope to families to have sero-negative offspring. There is need to redirect the mindset of various stakeholders to the synergistic existence and the potential of research to add value to practice, while it also influences policy, to save lives in the fight against HIV and AIDS.