Avina Sarna, M.D.
Senior Associate and Country Director
Avina Sarna is a senior associate and director of the Population Council's office in India.
Sarna has spearheaded high-impact research on a variety of topics. Under the Council’s Horizons program, she led the Access to HIV Treatment global operations research agenda. She completed studies comparing an innovative directly administered antiretroviral therapy approach with the standard approach in Kenya and documenting barriers to antiretroviral treatment services in India. She has also conducted research on community-based prevention approaches for people living with HIV in Kenya; factors that prevent HIV infected children from accessing care in India; and links between reproductive health and HIV services in India.
Sarna currently is principal investigator on a large-scale project to avert HIV infection among injecting drugs users and their sexual and injecting partners and to increase the coverage and uptake of comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment services for this vulnerable population.
Before joining the Council, Sarna practiced as a physician in India, Poland, Bhutan, Switzerland, and the United States. She also conducted research on nutrition in Iran and high-dose folic acid therapy for hemodialysis patients in the United States. Sarna coordinated an FDA-sponsored clinical trial at the Division of Nephrology at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, and has consulted with the World Health Organization and UNICEF in Iran and Switzerland.
Sarna received her M.B.B.S. from Guru Nanak Dev University in India, specializing in internal medicine and achieving distinction in preventive and social medicine. She received her Ph.D. from Ghent University in Belgium. Sarna has published extensively on issues related to HIV and AIDS and has given presentations at conferences and workshops around the world.
Avina Sarna, M.D.
Senior Associate and Country Director
The AVHI Project: A Peer-driven Approach to Providing Injecting Drug Users with HIV Prevention Services in New Delhi, India (more)
Council researchers aim to avert HIV infections among injecting drugs users (IDUs) and their sexual and injecting partners in Delhi and increase the coverage and uptake of HIV prevention services, including counseling and testing, through an innovative, peer-driven strategy that recruits and enrolls IDUs into a comprehensive HIV prevention program.
(6/2010 - 2/2013)
Topics: Behavior change; HIV prevention; Injecting drug users; Vulnerable populations
Countries: India
A Simulated Clinical Trial to Explore Willingness to Participate and Methods for Improving Reporting of Adherence Among a Sex-worker Cohort in Nellore, India (more)
A simulated microbicides clinical study is being conducted in India to develop and test strategies for improving recruitment, adherence, and the reporting of adherence for future microbicides clinical trials.
(1/2008 - 1/2012)
Topics: Microbicides; Sex workers
Countries: India
Avina Sarna, M.D.
Senior Associate and Country Director
An evaluation of methods to improve the reporting of adherence in a placebo gel trial in Andhra Pradesh, India (abstract) (HTML)Abbott,Sharon; Friedland,Barbara A.; Sarna,Avina; Katzen,Lauren L.; Rawiel,Ulrike; Srikrishnan,Aylur K.; Shalini,C.S.; Tun,Waimar; Kelly,Christine A.; Solomon,Suniti; Mensch,Barbara S.
AIDS and Behavior 17(6): 2222-2236
Publication date: 2013
Characteristics of female sex workers in southern India willing and unwilling to participate in a placebo gel trial (abstract) (HTML)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Friedland,Barbara A.; Abbott,Sharon; Katzen,Lauren L.; Tun,Waimar; Kelly,Clifton A.; Sarna,Avina; Srikrishnan,Aylur K.; Solomon,Suniti
AIDS and Behavior 17(2): 585-597
Publication date: 2013
Effectiveness of a community-based positive prevention intervention for people living with HIV who are not receiving antiretroviral treatment: A prospective cohort study (abstract) (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Musenge,Eustasius; Okal,Jerry; Chersich,Matthew F.; Tun,Waimar; Mall,Sabine; King'ola,Nzioki; Kalibala,Sam
Global Health: Science and Practice 1(1): 52-67
Publication date: 2013
High uptake of HIV testing in a cohort of male injection drug users in Delhi, India: Prevalence and correlates of HIV infection (abstract) (HTML)
Sarna,Avina; Tun,Waimar; Sharma,Vartika; Sebastian,Mary Philip; Madan,Ira; Yadav,Amita; Sheehy,Meredith; Lewis,Dean; Thior,Ibou
AIDS and Behavior Published online ahead of print, 10 March
Publication date: 2013
Pretreatment loss-to-follow-up after HIV diagnosis from 27 counseling and testing centers across India: Findings from a cohort study (abstract) (HTML)
Sarna,Avina; Sebastian,Mary Philip; Bachani,Damodar; Sogarwal,Ruchi; Battala,Madhusudana
Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care Published online ahead of print, 15 February
Publication date: 2013
Sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health morbidity in a cohort of female sex workers screened for a microbicide feasibility study in Nellore, India (abstract) (HTML)
Sarna,Avina; Friedland,Barbara A.; Srikrishnan,Aylur K.; Katzen,Lauren L.; Tun,Waimar; Abbott,Sharon; Rawiel,Ulrike; Kelly,Christine A.; Shalini,C.S.; Solomon,Suniti; Mensch,Barbara S.
Global Journal of Health Science 5(3): 139-149
Publication date: 2013
Assessment of unsafe injection practices and sexual behaviors among male injecting drug users in two urban cities of India using respondent driven sampling (abstract) (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Tun,Waimar; Bhattacharya,Aruna; Lewis,Dean; Singh,Yummam Shashikumar; Apicella,Louis
The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 43(3): 652-667
Publication date: 2012
Sexual behavior of HIV-positive adults not accessing HIV treatment in Mombasa, Kenya: Defining their prevention needs (abstract) (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Pickett,Melissa; Chersich,Matthew F.; Okal,Jerry; Geibel,Scott; King'ola,Nzioki; Temmerman,Marleen
AIDS Research and Therapy 9: 9-
Publication date: 2012
Validation of a dye stain assay for vaginally inserted hydroxyethylcellulose-filled microbicide applicators (abstract) (HTML)
Katzen,Lauren L.; Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Sarna,Avina; Murugavel,Kailapuri G.; Gawarecki,Daniel; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Mensch,Barbara S.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 38(11): 1050-1055
Publication date: 2011
Access to antiretroviral therapy for adults and children with HIV infection in developing countries: Horizons studies, 2002-2008 (abstract) (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Kellerman,Scott E.
Public Health Reports 125(2): 305-315
Publication date: 2010
Implementation of clinic-based modified-directly observed therapy (m-DOT) for ART: Experiences in Mombasa, Kenya (abstract) (HTML)
Munyao,Paul; Luchters,Stanley; Chersich,Matthew F.; Kaai,Susan; Geibel,Scott; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Temmerman,Marleen; Rutenberg,Naomi; Sarna,Avina
AIDS Care 22(2): 187-194
Publication date: 2010
Looking back, moving forward: Access to antiretroviral therapy for HIV infected adults and children in developing countries: Horizons Studies, 2002 to 2008 (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Kellerman,Scott E.
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010
Perceived stigma among patients receiving antiretroviral treatment: A prospective randomised trial comparing an m-DOT strategy with standard-of-care in Kenya (abstract) (PDF) (HTML)
Kaai,Susan; Bullock,Sandra; Sarna,Avina; Chersich,Matthew F.; Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Munyao,Paul; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Temmerman,Marleen; Rutenberg,Naomi
Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS 7(2): 62-70
Publication date: 2010
Prevention with positives: How do we reach them in the community? (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Okal,Jerry; Luchters,Stanley; King'ola,Nzioki; Geibel,Scott
Publication date: 2010
Changes in sexual risk taking with antiretroviral treatment: Influence of context and gender norms in Mombasa, Kenya (abstract) (HTML)
Sarna,Avina; Chersich,Matthew F.; Okal,Jerry; Luchters,Stanley; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Rutenberg,Naomi; Temmerman,Marleen
Culture, Health and Sexuality 11(8): 783-797
Publication date: 2009
Satisfaction with peer educators among HIV infected persons (abstract) (PDF) (HTML)
Suwanteerangkul,Jiraporn; Chariyalertsak,Suwat; Oberdorfer,Peninnah; Thapinta,Darawan; Wu,Albert W.; Sarna,Avina; Guest,Philip
Chiang Mai Medical Journal 48(3): 95-104
Publication date: 2009
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and its determinants amongst HIV patients in India (abstract) (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Pujari,Sanjay; Sengar,A.K.; Garg,Rajiv; Gupta,Indrani; van Dam,C.Johannes
Indian Journal of Medical Research 127(1): 28-36
Publication date: 2008
Engaging communities in supporting HIV prevention and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Zambia (PDF)
Samuels,Fiona; Simbaya,Joseph; Sarna,Avina; Geibel,Scott; Ndubani,Phillimon; Kamwanga,Jolly
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2008
'If you build it, will they come?' Kenya healthy start pediatric HIV study: A diagnostic study investigating barriers to HIV treatment and care among children (PDF)
Kiragu,Karusa; Schenk,Katie D.; Murugi,Julie; Sarna,Avina
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2008
Safer sexual behaviours after 12 months of antiretroviral treatment in Mombasa Kenya: A prospective cohort (abstract) (PDF)
Luchters,Stanley; Sarna,Avina; Geibel,Scott; Chersich,Matthew F.; Munyao,Paul; Kaai,Susan; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Shikely,Khadija; Rutenberg,Naomi; Temmerman,Marleen
AIDS Patient Care and STDs 22(7): 587-594
Publication date: 2008
Sexual risk behavior and HAART: A comparative study of HIV-infected persons on HAART and on preventive therapy in Kenya (abstract) (HTML)
Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Kaai,Susan; Munyao,Paul; Shikely,Khadija; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; van Dam,C.Johannes; Temmerman,Marleen
International Journal of STD and AIDS 19(2): 85-89
Publication date: 2008
Short- and long-term efficacy of modified directly-observed antiretroviral treatment in Mombasa, Kenya: A randomised trial (abstract) (HTML)
Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Chersich,Matthew F.; Munyao,Paul; Kaai,Susan; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Shikely,Khadija; Temmerman,Marleen; Rutenberg,Naomi
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 48(5): 611-619
Publication date: 2008
Assessment of sexual behaviours and sexual networks of injecting drug users in Delhi and Imphal, India
Sarna,Avina; Tun,Waimar; Bhattacharya,Aruna; Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Apicella,Louis; Selhore,Neville; Singh,Arjun
Publication date: 2007
Changes in stigma among a cohort of people on antiretroviral therapy: Findings from Mombasa, Kenya (PDF)
Kaai,Susan; Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Munyao,Paul; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Shikely,Khadija; Temmerman,Marleen; Rutenberg,Naomi
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007
Continuum of care for HIV-positive women accessing programs to prevent parent-to-child transmission: Findings from India (PDF)
Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Mudoi,Rupa; Oinam,Archana; Pakkela,Venkat; Sarna,Avina; Panda,Sucheta; Rau,Ashok; Birendrajit Singh,L.; Rutenberg,Naomi
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2007
Current research and good practice in HIV and AIDS treatment education (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Weiss,Ellen
Publication date: 2007
Exploring the barriers to accessing care and treatment for HIV-infected children in India: A diagnostic study (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Ahmad,Jaleel; Alexander,Glory; Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Rau,Ashok; Singh,Arjun; Rutenberg,Naomi
Update, (April)
Publication date: 2007
Identifying areas for linkages between HIV and SRH for vulnerable populations: An exploratory study to assess female sex workers' sexual and reproductive health needs (PDF)
Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Mehrotra,Sushma; Srikanthi,B.; Panda,Sucheta; Sarna,Avina; Jayasree,A.K.; Prasad,Rajendra; Rutenberg,Naomi
Update, (April)
Publication date: 2007
Impact of antiretroviral therapy on household economics: Findings from Mombasa, Kenya (PDF)
Homan,Rick; Jaikishan,Desai; Munyao,Paul; Sarna,Avina; Geibel,Scott
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007
Injecting drug users in India: Understanding sexual behaviours and sexual networks to design effective behaviour change strategies (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Tun,Waimar; Bhattacharya,Aruna; Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Selhore,Neville; Singh,Arjun; Apicella,Louis
Update, (April)
Publication date: 2007
Promoting adherence through a directly administered antiretroviral therapy strategy in Mombasa, Kenya (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Chersich,Matthew F.; Munyao,Paul; Homan,Rick; Kaai,Susan; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Temmerman,Marleen; Rutenberg,Naomi
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007
Sexual risk behaviors of HIV-positive persons receiving ART in Mombasa, Kenya: Longitudinal study findings (PDF)
Luchters,Stanley; Sarna,Avina; Geibel,Scott; Chersich,Matthew F.; Munyao,Paul; Kaai,Susan; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Rutenberg,Naomi; Temmerman,Marleen
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007
Examining adherence and sexual behavior among patients on antiretroviral therapy in India (PDF)
Sarna,Avina; Gupta,Indrani; Pujari,Sanjay; Sengar,A.K.; Garg,Rajiv; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2006
Operations research (PDF)
Kaai,Susan; Sarna,Avina; van Dam,C.Johannes; Hawken,Mark; Ritzenthaler,Robert
from Delivering Antiretroviral Therapy in Resource-Constrained Settings, pp. 105-112
Publication date: 2005
Sexual behaviour of HIV-infected men currently on ART
Sarna,Avina; Pujari,Sanjay; Gupta,Indrani; Sengar,A.K.; Garg,Rajiv; van Dam,C.Johannes
from Enhancing Male Partnerships in Sexual and Reproductive Health, pp. 165-178
Publication date: 2005
Avina Sarna, M.D.
Senior Associate and Country Director
Effectiveness of a community health worker delivered HIV prevention intervention for people living with HIV not receiving ART: A prospective cohort study (PDF)Poster presentation at the XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC, 24 July
Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Musenge,Eustasius; Okal,Jerry; Chersich,Matthew F.; Tun,Waimar; Mall,Sabine; King'ola,Nzioki; Kalibala,Sam
Publication date: 2012
Factors affecting access to and enrolment in ART services in India: Findings from qualitative data (PDF)
Poster presentation at the XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC, 25 July
Battala,Madhusudana; Sebastian,Mary Philip; Bachani,Damodar; Sogarwal,Ruchi; Sarna,Avina
Publication date: 2012
Uptake of HIV testing and HIV prevalence in a cohort of injecting drug users in Delhi, India (PDF)
Poster presentation at the XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC, 26 July
Sarna,Avina; Sharma,Vartika; Sebastian,Mary Philip; Dhingra,Neeraj; Yadav,Amita; Sheehy,Meredith; Madan,Ira; Thior,Ibou; Lewis,Dean; Tun,Waimar
Publication date: 2012
Exploring the context of HIV testing and disclosure among patients on ARV treatment in Mombasa, Kenya (abstract)
Poster presentation at the XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, 19 July
Okal,Jerry; Sarna,Avina; Syengo,Masila; Luchters,Stanley; Chersich,Matthew F.; Rutenberg,Naomi; Temmerman,Marleen
Publication date: 2010
Understanding factors that influence uptake of ART services in India: A study of service data from antiretroviral treatment centers (ARTCs) across seven states (abstract)
Poster presentation at the XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, 20 July
Sarna,Avina; Bachani,Damodar; Sogarwal,Ruchi; Battala,Madhusudana; Saggurti,Niranjan; Sebastian,Mary Philip
Publication date: 2010
Sexual risk behaviours of HIV-positive persons not receiving HIV treatment in Mombasa
(PDF)
Poster presentation at 5th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, Cape Town, 19-22 July
Sarna,Avina; Chersich,Matthew F.; Luchters,Stanley; Pickett,Melissa; Tun,Waimar; Okal,Jerry; Rutenberg,Naomi; Temmerman,Marleen
Publication date: 2009
Prevention for positives (PDF)
Presentation at the Horizons end-of-project meeting, 20 March
Sarna,Avina
Publication date: 2008
Supporting adherence: The role of health services, the family, and community (PDF)
Presentation at the Horizons end-of-project meeting, 20 March
Sarna,Avina
Publication date: 2008
Fertility intentions and family planning needs of HIV-infected women receiving PPTCT services in India --Experiences from diagnostic research (PDF)
Presentation at Scaling Up High-Impact FP/MNCH Best Practices: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Near East Technical Meeting, Bangkok, 3-8 September
Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma; Rutenberg,Naomi; Sarna,Avina; Mudoi,Rupa; Oinam,Archana; Pakkela,Venkat; Rau,Ashok; Birendrajit Singh,L.; Panda,Sucheta
Publication date: 2007
Impact of a DAART intervention on ART adherence in Mombasa: Results from an 18 month randomized controlled study (PDF)
Presentation at the Horizons/Population Council Kenya National Dissemination Workshop, Nairobi, 29 August
Sarna,Avina; Luchters,Stanley; Geibel,Scott; Chersich,Matthew F.; Kaai,Susan; Shikely,Khadija; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Munyao,Paul; Rutenberg,Naomi
Publication date: 2007
Kenya Pediatric HIV/AIDS Study (PDF)
Presentation at the Horizons/Population Council Kenya National Dissemination Workshop, Nairobi, 29 August
Kiragu,Karusa; Sarna,Avina; Schenk,Katie D.
Publication date: 2007
Recruitment of injection drug users in two cities in India using respondent-driven sampling for an HIV-related behavioral survey (PDF)
Presentation at Second International Conference on Surveying Health in Complex Situations, Brussels, June
Tun,Waimar; Sarna,Avina; Bhattacharya,Aruna; Apicella,Louis
Publication date: 2007
Sexual risk behaviors of persons receiving ART in Mombasa: Findings from a longitudinal study (PDF)
Presentation at the Horizons/Population Council Kenya National Dissemination Workshop, Nairobi, 29 August
Luchters,Stanley; Sarna,Avina; Geibel,Scott; Chersich,Matthew F.; Munyao,Paul; Kaai,Susan; Mandaliya,Kishorchandra N.; Rutenberg,Naomi; Temmerman,Marleen
Publication date: 2007
Contact
E-mail: asarna@popcouncil.org
Address:
Avina Sarna
Population Council
Zone 5A, Ground Floor
India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road
New Delhi, 110003 India
+91 11 2 464 2901
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