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Research Projects
Quit4Life+
Tobacco use among people living with HIV (PLWH) contributes substantially to the HIV burden, with nearly a quarter of AIDS-related deaths attributable to smoking. We approach this challenge with the first randomized control trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of a tailored short message service (SMS) based tobacco use cessation intervention on prolonged tobacco use abstinence at 6 months post program initiation in comparison to the standard of care (brief advice to quit) and nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches) among PLWH in Uganda and Zambia.
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Drowning Prevention in the Lake Victoria Basin
Drowning is a major cause of death in Uganda, especially among young adults with water-based occupations and livelihoods. Information about drowning and other water-related deaths and injuries is limited. To address this gap in knowledge, study partners assessed knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about drowning and drowning prevention interventions in the Mayuge district of eastern Uganda.
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Road Safety in Lira, Northern Uganda
Road collisions post a growing risk within increasingly urbanized towns in LMICs. This study looks at road safety hazards and policies in Lira, Northern Uganda.
Mental Health Among Youth In Northern Uganda
This study evaluated adolescents' mental health their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about mental health conditions, and their access to critical mental health services in Lira District, northern Uganda. The political history of the region, the epicenter of the decades-long conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Ugandan government, makes for an interesting case study of the political and social determinants of mental health of those directly impacted by conflict, and on subsequent generations growing up in post-conflict communities.
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Malaria Prevention and Control in Northern Uganda
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is founded on the principle of recognizing community members as equal research partners in order to best understand and address their health needs. Recognizing the scarcity of CBPR in global malaria elimination efforts, this study trained youth in Lira, Uganda to collect data on self-reported malaria prevalence, access to prevention tools, and perceptions around behaviors to prevent malaria in their local communities.
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Cancer and HIV Stigma
This supplement to the Quit4Life+ parent study collects qualitative and quantitative data on the types, magnitude, and drivers of cancer stigma and the impact of stigma on cancer prevention, screening, care services, and access to care among PLWH in Uganda and Zambia. The findings from this supplemental data will have important implications for healthcare providers, policymakers, and public health practitioners working to prevent and control cancer within PLWH in Uganda and Zambia, and other LMICs.
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Paper 1 in Review
Health Begins With Her
With gender disparities becoming more pronounced in adolescence, inequities have resulted in substantial barriers to women's health in low and middle-income countries, including Kenya. The study consists of a mixed methods, cross-sectional community health assessment of households and schools in Kibera, Kenya. 50 households and 8 schools will be identified through community leaders and interviewed in local languages by a Women Public Health Ambassadors . The program will culminate in a final data analysis and leadership workshop focused on interpreting data collected and disseminating results to stakeholders at the community, district, national, and international levels in support of public health programs and policies.
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Burn Prevention and Treatment in Informal Settlements in Kampala
Preeventable burns pose a significant public health risk in information settlements. This study looked at burn risks and care within informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda.
Reproductive Health KABs Among Adolescents in Northern Uganda
Unintended pregnancies and HIV/AIDS prevention and response remain significant health challenges throughout Uganda, especially among adolescents who have limited access to comprehensive sexual health education. This study aimed to evaluate youth attitudes towards and knowledge of safe sex practices, pregnancy intentions, and prevention of HIV amongst students in the Lango region of northern Uganda.
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GEOHealth Hub for Eastern Africa
Formally launched in 2015, the Eastern Africa GEOHealth Hub grew from a joint planning grant awarded to the University of Southern California in the United States and Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia by the Global Environmental and Occupational Health program through the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health in 2012.
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