Rwanda Women’s Interassociation Study and Assessment (RWISA)

In January 2005, WE-ACTx developed a longitudinal cohort study , enrolling nearly 1000 women in the Rwanda Women’s Interassociation Study and Assessment (RWISA). With the approval of the Rwandan government Ethics Committee and the Institutional Review Board of the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY, RWISA is the largest research study in Rwanda, led by both US and Rwandan investigators. RWISA follows 936 Rwandan women, 710 HIV+ and treatment naïve at study enrollment, and 226 HIV-negative. Most of the HIV+ women have initiated antiretroviral treatment, and by participating in the study to help assess the effectiveness and toxicity of ART in treatment naïve women, assess the influence of post-traumatic stress symptoms on wellness and treatment adherence, and the impact of nutrition on HIV disease progression and response to therapy. RWISA staff are integrated into grassroots partner organizations, to ensure follow-up and study retention, and to provide psychosocial support.