Ongoing Research Projects

Improving Healthcare at the Intersection of Gender and Protracted Displacement amongst Somali and Congolese Refugees and IDPs.

The aim of this project is to evaluate how Somali and Congolese displaced people in Kenya access appropriate healthcare for chronic mental health conditions associated with protracted displacement, conflict, and sexual and gender-based violence. Supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) grant, the project is implemented in partnerships with the University of Edinburgh, Somali Institute of Development research and Analysis (SIDRA), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), University of Kinshasa, The National Institute of Public Health in Burundi and University of Sidney, and UC Louvain.

Impact of African Union and Africa CDC Regional Support to the Kenya and South Sudan COVID-19 Response

The objective of this study is to understand the extent to which regional responses by the AU and Africa CDC impacted the response of member states. The study focuses on case studies of two member states – Kenya and South Sudan. This study is conducted in partnership with University of Edinburgh, and with funding from UK FCDO Project through University of Edinburgh.

Trachoma Population-Based Prevalence Surveys in 29 Counties in South Sudan.

The study seeks to estimate the prevalence of active trachoma (TF) in children aged 1-9 years in the areas that have previously received or never received MDA and estimate the prevalence of potentially blinding trachoma (TT) in persons ≥15 years. Implementing partner is Amref South Sudan with funding from ASCEND and the Carter Center.

Effects of Antenatal Care (ANC) Test Panels on ANC services in selected Level III Facilities in Kenya.

This research aims to investigate the effect of the ANC profiling panels on the quality of antenatal care among expectant women in selected public and non-public level III health facilities in Kisii, Kajiado and Migori counties in Kenya. The study is funded by Abbott Diagnostic, and implemented in partnerships with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Reduction of malnutrition and stunting in selected counties in Kenya.

Funded by the Abbott Nutrition, the study aims at evaluating use of nutritional supplements in the reduction of malnutrition and stunting in selected counties in Kenya.

Research on Testing Improved Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Services in Nairobi and Kisii counties:

The study is funded by the Danone Ecosystem, and aims at evaluating midwives’ competencies in applied maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition, as well as their impact on expectant mother’s outcomes in Nairobi and Kisii counties.

Exploring the Potential Health, Safety and Economic Benefits of Liquefied Petroleum Gas for Cooking in Nairobi Schools, Kenya.

The aim of this study is to explore the scaled adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a clean cooking fuel to improve health for school communities in Nairobi, Kenya. Funded by the National Health Research Institute – through the Programme on Clean Air in Africa, the study is carried out in partnership with Clean-Air Africa and University of Liverpool.

Evaluation of the Implementation Strategy of the Kenya National Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme.

This study seeks to explore and document information on the delivery (health facility and outreach) and communication strategy presently adopted in the Kenya National HPV vaccination. This targets policymakers, health workers and other stakeholders with the overall aim of understanding the implementation strategy of HPV vaccination uptake, public health massages, acceptability and/or hesitancy of HPV vaccine in Kenya. The study is implemented in partnership with, and funding from the University of Kent.

Exemplars in Global Health (EGH):

This is a community health workers’ return on investment project that seeks to estimate the Return on of Investments (ROI) for various programmes, and promote understanding of the key drivers of ROI and how these vary by context. The study is funded by the Gates Foundation.