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Brian Forsyth, MBChB, FRCP(C)

Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics; Associate Director for International Research, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS

Research & Publications
Biography
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Research Summary

International research focused on the effects of HIV disease on women and children. A randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a support intervention designed to promote resilience among young children of HIV-infected women in South Africa. The use of participatory action research in improving adherence to prevention of mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT) in South Africa.

Specialized Terms: Pediatric HIV infection

Extensive Research Description

Brian Forsyth is a Professor of

Pediatrics at the Yale University School of Medicine and at the Child Study Center. His clinical and research

interests include the care and needs of disadvantaged children, with a

particular focus on children affected by HIV. Dr. Forsyth conducts research in Pretoria, South Africa on

preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and on promoting resilience in

young children of HIV-infected mothers.

He has also investigated the effects of parental cocaine use on children and

develops programs to address children’s psychological and developmental

needs. Dr. Forsyth is also the deputy director of the

Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS.

Dr. Forsyth received his M.B.Ch.B. from the University of Glasgow School of Medicine. He has served as a member of the board of directors of the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Directors for AIDS Project New Haven. Dr. Forsyth serves as a Extraordinary Professor of Pediatrics of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He has been a regular reviewer on NIH special emphasis panels.

A randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a support intervention designed to promote resilience among young children of HIV-infected women in South Africa.
The use of participatory action research in improving adherence to prevention of mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT) in South Africa.
A multi-country study to develop an international guide to monitor and support child development

Coauthors

Veronika Shabanova

Research Interests

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Africa, Southern; HIV; Mother-Child Relations; Pediatrics; Global Health; Risk Reduction Behavior; Resilience, Psychological

Public Health Interests

Global Health; HIV/AIDS; Child/Adolescent Health

Selected Publications

Validation of the International Guide for Monitoring Child Development demonstrates good sensitivity and specificity in four diverse countriesErtem IO, Krishnamurthy V, Mulaudzi MC, Sguassero Y, Bilik B, Srinivasan R, Balta H, Gulumser O, Gan G, Calvocoressi L, Johnson B, Shabanova V, Forsyth B. Validation of the International Guide for Monitoring Child Development demonstrates good sensitivity and specificity in four diverse countries. Acta Paediatrica 2018, 108: 1074-1086. PMID: 30472813, PMCID: PMC6520130, DOI: 10.1111/apa.14661.
HIV/AIDS infected mothers’ experience of a group intervention to enhance their children’s behaviorEloff I, Finestone M, Forsyth B. HIV/AIDS infected mothers’ experience of a group intervention to enhance their children’s behavior. South African Journal Of Education 2016, 36: 1-10. DOI: 10.15700/saje.v36n2a1285.
Cord blood markers in HEU infantsSelvam A, Buhimschi I, Makin J, Pattinson R, Anderson R, Forsyth B. Cord blood markers in HEU infants. HIV Medicine 2015, 16: 375-380. PMID: 25721379, DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12214.
Drawing on resilience: piloting the utility of the Kinetic Family Drawing to measure resilience in children of HIV-positive mothersEbersöhn L, Eloff I, Finestone M, van Dullemen I, Sikkema K, Forsyth B. Drawing on resilience: piloting the utility of the Kinetic Family Drawing to measure resilience in children of HIV-positive mothers. South African Journal Of Education 2012, 32: 331-348. DOI: 10.15700/saje.v32n4a660.
A pilot study using interactive SMS support groups to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in South AfricaDean AL, Makin JD, Kydd AS, Biriotti M, Forsyth B. A pilot study using interactive SMS support groups to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa. Journal Of Telemedicine And Telecare 2012, 18: 399-403. PMID: 23034933, DOI: 10.1258/jtt.2012.120118.
Incorrectly diagnosing children as HIV-infected: Experiences from a large paediatric antiretroviral therapy site in South AfricaFeucht U, Thomas W, Forsyth B, Kruger M. Incorrectly diagnosing children as HIV-infected: Experiences from a large paediatric antiretroviral therapy site in South Africa. South African Journal Of Child Health 2012, 6 DOI: 10.7196/sajch.460.
Support Group Processes: Perspectives from HIV-Infected Women in South AfricaMundell J, Visser M, Makin J, Forsyth B, Sikkema K. Support Group Processes: Perspectives from HIV-Infected Women in South Africa. Qualitative Research In Psychology 2012, 9: 173-187. PMID: 22514790, PMCID: PMC3326420, DOI: 10.1080/14780887.2010.500350.
Intervention Groups for HIV-Infected Women: The Need for Additional ServicesEloff I, Forsyth B, Finestone M, Ebersöhn L, Visser M, Ferreira R, Boeving A, Sikkema K. Intervention Groups for HIV-Infected Women: The Need for Additional Services. South African Journal Of Psychology 2011, 41: 38-51. DOI: 10.1177/008124631104100105.
Perception of vulnerability among mothers of healthy infants in a middle‐income countryDogan D, Ertem I, Karaaslan T, Forsyth B. Perception of vulnerability among mothers of healthy infants in a middle‐income country. Child Care Health And Development 2009, 35: 868-872. PMID: 19735267, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2009.01015.x.
HIV/AIDS stigma in a South African communityVisser M, Makin J, Vandormael A, Sikkema K, Forsyth B. HIV/AIDS stigma in a South African community. AIDS Care 2009, 21: 197-206. PMID: 19229689, PMCID: PMC4238924, DOI: 10.1080/09540120801932157.
Addressing HIV-related stigmaVisser M, Forsyth B. Addressing HIV-related stigma. HIV Therapy 2009, 3: 11-14. DOI: 10.2217/17584310.3.1.11.
Chapter 34 EARLY HEALTH CRISES AND VULNERABLE CHILDRENForsyth B. Chapter 34 EARLY HEALTH CRISES AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN. 2009, 337-342. DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4160-3370-7.00034-1.
Factors Affecting Disclosure in South African HIV-Positive Pregnant WomenMakin JD, Forsyth BW, Visser MJ, Sikkema KJ, Neufeld S, Jeffery B. Factors Affecting Disclosure in South African HIV-Positive Pregnant Women. AIDS Patient Care And STDs 2008, 22: 907-916. PMID: 19025485, PMCID: PMC2929151, DOI: 10.1089/apc.2007.0194.
To tell or not to tell: South African women's disclosure of HIV status during pregnancyVisser MJ, Neufeld S, de Villiers A, Makin JD, Forsyth BW. To tell or not to tell: South African women's disclosure of HIV status during pregnancy. AIDS Care 2008, 20: 1138-1145. PMID: 18825520, PMCID: PMC4244078, DOI: 10.1080/09540120701842779.
The political context of AIDS-related stigma and knowledge in a South African township communityForsyth B, Vandormael A, Kershaw T, Grobbelaar J. The political context of AIDS-related stigma and knowledge in a South African township community. SAHARA-J Journal Of Social Aspects Of HIV/AIDS 2008, 5: 74-82. PMID: 18709210, PMCID: PMC4239696, DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2008.9724904.
Development of Parallel Scales to Measure HIV-Related StigmaVisser MJ, Kershaw T, Makin JD, Forsyth BW. Development of Parallel Scales to Measure HIV-Related Stigma. AIDS And Behavior 2008, 12: 759-771. PMID: 18266101, PMCID: PMC4244074, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-008-9363-7.
Psychosocial and economic determinants of infant feeding intent by pregnant HIV infected women in Tshwane/PretoriaMatji JN, Wittenberg DF, Makin JD, Jeffery B, MacIntyre U, Forsyth BWC: Psychosocial and economic determinants of infant feeding intent by pregnant HIV infected women in Tshwane/Pretoria. South African Journal of Child Health, 2008: 2(3):114-118
Integrating prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission into antenatal care: learning from the experiences of women in South AfricaEtiebet M, Fransman D, Forsyth B, Coetzee N, Hussey G. Integrating prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission into antenatal care: learning from the experiences of women in South Africa. AIDS Care 2004, 16: 37-46. PMID: 14660142, DOI: 10.1080/09540120310001633958.
Analyzing Multiply Matched Cohort Studies with Two Different Comparison Groups: Application to Pregnancy Rates Among HIV+ WomenLi Y, Zelterman D, Forsyth BW. Analyzing Multiply Matched Cohort Studies with Two Different Comparison Groups: Application to Pregnancy Rates Among HIV+ Women. Biometrics 2003, 59: 632-639. PMID: 14601764, DOI: 10.1111/1541-0420.00073.
Psychological aspects of HIV infection in childrenForsyth B. Psychological aspects of HIV infection in children. Child And Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics Of North America 2003, 12: 423-437. PMID: 12910816, DOI: 10.1016/s1056-4993(03)00023-3.
A comment on ‘beyond informed choice’ by Louise KuhnForsyth B, Nattrass N. A comment on ‘beyond informed choice’ by Louise Kuhn. Social Dynamics 2002, 28: 155-161. DOI: 10.1080/02533950208458727.
Pregnancy and birth rates among HIV-infected women in the United States: the confounding effects of illicit drug useForsyth BW, Davis JA, Freudigman KA, Katz KH, Zelterman D. Pregnancy and birth rates among HIV-infected women in the United States: the confounding effects of illicit drug use. AIDS 2002, 16: 471-479. PMID: 11834960, DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200202150-00020.
Reply to ‘Methods of feeding and transmission of HIV-1 from mothers to children by 15 months of age: prospective cohort study from Durban, South Africa’ by A. Coutsoudis, K. Pillay, L. Kuhn, E. Spooner, W.-Y. Tsai, H. Coovadia, for the South African Vitamin A Study GroupForsyth B. Reply to ‘Methods of feeding and transmission of HIV-1 from mothers to children by 15 months of age: prospective cohort study from Durban, South Africa’ by A. Coutsoudis, K. Pillay, L. Kuhn, E. Spooner, W.-Y. Tsai, H. Coovadia, for the South African Vitamin A Study Group. AIDS 2001, 15: 1326-1327. PMID: 11426086, DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200107060-00024.
The Effect of Connecticut's Mandatory Neonatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Law on Maternal Testing in a Clinic PopulationMagriples U, Picagli D, Barringer S, Copel J, Forsyth B. The Effect of Connecticut's Mandatory Neonatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Law on Maternal Testing in a Clinic Population. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2001, 97: 61s. DOI: 10.1097/00006250-200104001-00149.
HIV Infection in Children: A New HopeForsyth B. HIV Infection in Children: A New Hope. Child And Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics Of North America 2000, 9: 279-294. PMID: 10768067, DOI: 10.1016/s1056-4993(18)30119-6.
The AIDS Epidemic: Past and FutureForsyth B. The AIDS Epidemic: Past and Future. Child And Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics Of North America 2000, 9: 267-278. PMID: 10768066, DOI: 10.1016/s1056-4993(18)30118-4.
Development of a Supplement to the HOME Scale for Children Living in Impoverished Urban EnvironmentsERTEM I, FORSYTH B, AVNI-SINGER A, DAMOUR L, CICCHETTI D. Development of a Supplement to the HOME Scale for Children Living in Impoverished Urban Environments. Journal Of Developmental And Behavioral Pediatrics 1997, 18: 322-328. PMID: 9349975, DOI: 10.1097/00004703-199710000-00006.
Maltreatment of Children Born to Women Who Used Cocaine During Pregnancy: A Population-based StudyLeventhal J, Forsyth B, Qi K, Johnson M, Schroeder D, Votto N. Maltreatment of Children Born to Women Who Used Cocaine During Pregnancy: A Population-based Study. Pediatrics 1997, 100: e7-e7. PMID: 9233978, DOI: 10.1542/peds.100.2.e7.
The Impact of the Yale Faculty Development Program: Clinical Alcohol and Drug Research and Education (CADRE) on Medical Student Teaching about Substance Abuse1O'Connor P, Pearsall H, Ball S, Forsyth B, Faraclas W, Schottenfeld R. The Impact of the Yale Faculty Development Program: Clinical Alcohol and Drug Research and Education (CADRE) on Medical Student Teaching about Substance Abuse1. Substance Abuse 1997, 18: 33-40. DOI: 10.1080/08897079709511344.
Development of a prognosis-based clinical staging system for infants infected with human immunodeficiency virusForsyth B, Andiman W, O'Connor T. Development of a prognosis-based clinical staging system for infants infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The Journal Of Pediatrics 1996, 129: 648-655. PMID: 8917228, DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3476(96)70144-0.
The Psychological Effects of Parental Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection on Uninfected ChildrenForsyth B, Damour L, Nagler S, Adnopoz J. The Psychological Effects of Parental Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection on Uninfected Children. JAMA Pediatrics 1996, 150: 1015-1020. PMID: 8859131, DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170350017002.
The Child Vulnerability Scale: An Instrument to Measure Parental Perceptions of Child Vulnerability1Forsyth B, Horwitz S, Leventhal J, Bruger J, Leaf P. The Child Vulnerability Scale: An Instrument to Measure Parental Perceptions of Child Vulnerability1. Journal Of Pediatric Psychology 1996, 21: 89-101. PMID: 8820075, DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/21.1.89.
Primary care of children with HIV infectionForsyth B. Primary care of children with HIV infection. Current Opinion In Pediatrics 1995, 7: 502-512. PMID: 8541949, DOI: 10.1097/00008480-199510000-00004.
Psychiatric Aspects of HIV Infection and AIDS on the FamilyAdnopoz J, Forsyth B, Nagler S. Psychiatric Aspects of HIV Infection and AIDS on the Family. Child And Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics Of North America 1994, 3: 543-555. DOI: 10.1016/s1056-4993(18)30486-3.
Psychological Sequelae of Medical Complications During PregnancyBurger J, Horwitz S, Forsyth B, Leventhal J, Leaf P. Psychological Sequelae of Medical Complications During Pregnancy. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey 1993, 48: 649. DOI: 10.1097/00006254-199310000-00001.
Psychological sequelae of medical complications during pregnancy.Burger J, Horwitz S, Forsyth B, Leventhal J, Leaf P. Psychological sequelae of medical complications during pregnancy. Pediatrics 1993, 91: 566-71. PMID: 8441560, DOI: 10.1542/peds.91.3.566.
Identification and management of psychosocial and developmental problems in community-based, primary care pediatric practices.Horwitz S, Leaf P, Leventhal J, Forsyth B, Speechley K. Identification and management of psychosocial and developmental problems in community-based, primary care pediatric practices. Pediatrics 1992, 89: 480-5. PMID: 1371342, DOI: 10.1542/peds.89.3.480.
A novel approach to training pediatrics primary care residentsBaldwin S, McCarthy P, Forsyth B, Leventhal J, Granger R, Faraclas W, Anyan W, Siegel N. A novel approach to training pediatrics primary care residents. Academic Medicine 1991, 66: 239-41. PMID: 2012659, DOI: 10.1097/00001888-199104000-00016.
Persistent Perceptions of Vulnerability Following Neonatal JaundiceKemper K, Forsyth B, McCarthy P. Persistent Perceptions of Vulnerability Following Neonatal Jaundice. JAMA Pediatrics 1990, 144: 238-241. PMID: 2301331, DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.1990.02150260118043.
Colic and the effect of changing formulas: A double-blind, multiple-crossover studyForsyth B. Colic and the effect of changing formulas: A double-blind, multiple-crossover study. The Journal Of Pediatrics 1989, 115: 521-526. PMID: 2677292, DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3476(89)80274-4.
Mirror image of environmental deprivation: Severe childhood obesity of psychosocial originChristoffel K, Forsyth B. Mirror image of environmental deprivation: Severe childhood obesity of psychosocial origin. Child Abuse & Neglect 1989, 13: 249-256. PMID: 2743183, DOI: 10.1016/0145-2134(89)90011-2.
Obesity of Infancy and Early ChildhoodWoolston J, Forsyth B. Obesity of Infancy and Early Childhood. 1989, 179-192. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4613-9832-5_7.
Problems of early infancy, formula changes, and mothers' beliefs about their infantsForsyth B, McCarthy P, Leventhal J. Problems of early infancy, formula changes, and mothers' beliefs about their infants. The Journal Of Pediatrics 1985, 106: 1012-1017. PMID: 3998939, DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3476(85)80260-2.
Mothers' Perceptions of Problems of Feeding and Crying Behaviors: A Prospective StudyForsyth B, Leventhal J, McCarthy P. Mothers' Perceptions of Problems of Feeding and Crying Behaviors: A Prospective Study. JAMA Pediatrics 1985, 139: 269-272. PMID: 3976607, DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.1985.02140050063023.
Observation scales to identify serious illness in febrile children.McCarthy P, Sharpe M, Spiesel S, Dolan T, Forsyth B, DeWitt T, Fink H, Baron M, Cicchetti D. Observation scales to identify serious illness in febrile children. Pediatrics 1982, 70: 802-9. PMID: 7133831, DOI: 10.1542/peds.70.5.802.
Further definition of history and observation variables in assessing febrile children.Mccarthy P, Jekel J, Stashwick C, Spiesel S, Dolan T, Sharpe M, Forsyth B, Baron M, Fink H, Rosenbloom M, Etkin T, Zelson J. Further definition of history and observation variables in assessing febrile children. Pediatrics 1981, 67: 687-93. PMID: 7254998, DOI: 10.1542/peds.67.5.687.

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