title: Strengthening the HIV/AIDS service delivery system in Liberia: an international research capacity-building strategy.
abstract: Liberia's prolonged post-conflict transition has negatively impacted its health infrastructure, including the functioning of its health care delivery system. Considering the current national health crises, a study was conducted to identify research gaps and the need to propose changes for improving the health care delivery system in the country. The study results clearly demonstrated a lack of HIV/AIDS research infrastructure including organizational structure, linkages, leadership, champions, expertise, resources, and policies and procedures. Alignment of research needs and practice, and research use to support HIV/AIDS service delivery programmes in the country was also limited. An international research capacity-building partnership is proposed as an effective planned change strategy to strengthen HIV/AIDS-related research infrastructure and to inform management and practice within the Liberian HIV/AIDS service delivery system. A proposed capacity-building planning model can also strengthen research infrastructure and the production and use of research to positively impact the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Liberia and other developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation (PIRE), Louisville Center, Louisville, KY 40208, USA. kwjohnson@pire.org
authors.forename: Knowlton
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Albert O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Adams
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Neace
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007988:Liberia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States