Adolescent Health in Myanmar
Support Burnet’s Adolescent Health Programs in Myanmar today.
Support Burnet’s Adolescent Health Programs in Myanmar today.
Support Burnet’s Adolescent Health Programs in Myanmar today.
Support Burnet’s Adolescent Health Programs in Myanmar today.
Image: (L-R) Dr Win Aung, Professor Margaret Hellard, President (MLF) Professor Khin Pyone Kyi, Dr Yi Yi Sein, Dr Mu Mya at Than Sitt Charity Clinic
The CT2 Study is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial assessing the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a community-based testing and treatment program for hepatitis C (HCV).
Image: A laboratory assistant taking blood
Objectives
The two broad aims of the CT2 study are:
To determine the feasibility, effectiveness, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of a de-centralised approach to hepatitis C testing in people at high risk of hepatitis C in two different populations attending community-based clinics in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar.
To determine the feasibility, effectiveness, acceptability and cost effectiveness of a de-centralised approach to hepatitis C treatment using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), with support from specialist liver services, in patients testing HCV RNA positive in two community-based clinics in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar.
Study design
This is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial. There are two study sites:
Thingangyun Key Population Service Centre (Burnet Institute, serving people who inject drugs primarily), No.63B, Ground Floor, Yadanar Thukha Street, Thingangyun Township, Yangon
Than Sitt Charity Liver Clinic – 1 Yangon (Myanmar Liver Foundation, serving general population), No.33-35, Ground Floor, Pathein Street, Sanchaung Township, Yangon
This study is funded by the Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).
Study inclusion criteria:
Aged ≥18 years
Attendance at study site
Willing and able to provide written informed consent
Study exclusion criteria:
Confirmed HCV RNA positive result (chronic HCV infection) prior to study recruitment
Treatment experienced (either DAA or pegylated interferon)
HBV infected
HIV infected
eGFR <30
Active tuberculosis (if known active tuberculosis or as per symptom screening assessment)
Pregnant women
Serious drug-drug interaction with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir, or a drug that the patient is unwilling or unable to stop taking
Patients with confirmed HCV RNA positive results will receive standard of care in Myanmar. This will involve receiving services provided through the government testing and treatment program or through philanthropic services providing testing and treatment.
Ethical considerations
The study protocol, site-specific informed consent forms, recruitment materials, as well as any subsequent modifications, are approved by Department of Medical Research Institutional Review Board in Myanmar and Alfred Ethics Committee in Melbourne.
Written informed consent is obtained from every study participant.
Publication
The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and abstracts submitted for relevant conference presentations. No identifying information from study participants will be included in any publications, reports or presentations. Results presented will only contain aggregate data.
Results
The results of this study will inform any potential scale-up of community-based primary care provision of hepatitis C services in Myanmar and other resource-constrained settings. Preliminary results of the first 250 participants recruited were presented at INHSU Conference in September 2019 with poster available online.
Image: A counselor chats with clients outside the Burnet Institute Thingangyun Clinic
For any general enquiries relating to this project, please contact:
Deputy Director (Programs); Adjunct Professor, Monash University, DEPM.