Research Projects

Drowning is one of the leading cause of unintentionally injury death globally. In India, drowning deaths were estimated to exceed 62,000 in 2017. Drowning risk is shaped by a complex interaction of demographic, socio-economic, occupational and environmental factors such as age, sex, occupational exposure, and climate-related hazards. This study aims to explore community members' lived experiences, perceptions of drowning risks, protective factors, and prevention opportunities

This qualitative study aims to investigate the beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of undergraduate college students related to use of hookah and oral nicotine pouches to inform approaches to educate and affect behavior change to reduce exposure to carcinogens and other harmful constituents among this population.

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 nic

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

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. LINK to Publication LINK to Poster

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. This community-based participatory research study consisted 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 H

Preventable burns pose a significant public health risk in information settlements. This study looked at burn risks and care within informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda. This study collected qualitative data on burn risks, treatment, access to care, and community needs from mothers in a community health clinic located within an informal settlement in Kampala. This study was a collaboration with Energy In Action and Makerere University in Summer 2024. LINK to Poster

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. LINK to GEOHEALTH Website

Road collisions post a growing risk within increasingly urbanized towns in LMICs. This study, led by GRIT Lab Student Fellows, looks at road safety hazards and policies in Lira, Northern Uganda. This study was a collaboration with the Youth Public Health Ambassdors. LINK to Poster

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 community-based participatory research 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. The project was carried out as part of

This community-based participatory research 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 heal

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. LINK to Publ