School of Public Health

Advancing women’s global health leadership: lessons from a Tripartite Model

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Advancing women’s global health leadership: lessons from a Tripartite Model Mcgregor, Kamla Ross; Di Ruggiero, Erica; Shung-King, Maylene; Yego, Faith Background: Women in the Global South remain underrepresented in high-level leadership positions in global health. Three academic institutions developed the Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship (WGHLF) to build and strengthen the capacity of emerging women leaders in global health in Kenya and South Africa. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how well the program met its intended outcomes in its first two years of operation. Methods: Twenty-eight participants (12 in 2024 and 16 in 2025) were evaluated. Participants included early- to mid-career women working in health policy, practice, and academia. We analyzed pre- and post-assessment data, mid-year surveys, and focus group responses. Results: Participants reported considerable knowledge and skill gains in global health policy, gender equity, leadership, and mentorship as well as increased confidence in their ability to succeed in higher-level leadership roles. Participants also noted an increased ability to lead gender equity projects at their workplace. Reported program strengths include high participant engagement, collaborative teaching approaches, growth in participant self-awareness, and the practical application of knowledge through their required leadership projects. Conclusions: The WGHLF improved participants’ confidence in advancing gender equity practices in local, regional, and global health. This type of fellowship training, offered in partnership between institutions in the Global North and Global South, can serve as a collaborative model for others seeking ways to help qualified women prepare for higher-level leadership positions, which are crucially needed to advance gender equity and local health systems

Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018 Mutiiria, Mathew Munyamaara; Gatongi, Peter; Oyugi, Elvis; Muturi, Mathew; Mwatondo, Athman; Chege, Bernard; Mungiiria, Juster Introduction: Rift Valley Fever (RFV) is an acute vector-borne viral zoonotic notifiable disease primarily of domestic animals. It causes significant economic impacts among livestock producers and consumers. An outbreak of RVF occurred in May-June 2018; Marsabit reported positive cases in humans and animals. The study described herd owners’ social demographic characteristics, estimated livestock mortality and quantified the direct and indirect monetary losses in Laisamis Sub-County. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from 384 households. Direct and indirect costs were estimated using the economic model as described in Velthuis et al. (2008). Descriptive statistics were used to describe social-demographic characteristics. Economic burden incurred was the outcome variable. Results: Majority of the respondents were females (67.2%). Total direct and indirect economic burden/losses were 1,970,000 USD, cattle recorded the highest financial loss at 42.3% (832,850 USD) through mortality. Stormy abortions were the most common syndrome reported at 382(99%).No routine livestock vaccination against RVF. Young herd owners were more likely to suffer economic losses compared to the aged (>60 years of age). Male herd owners and those with formal education were less likely to experience financial loss at (OR=0.42, p-value < 0.0001) than female herd owners. Conclusion: A higher economic burden was associated with the RVF outbreak in Laisamis, particularly among female-headed households of younger age groups. Men had less odds of experiencing a financial burden compared to women. There is a need to vaccinate animals against RVF at the local level to reduce economic losses associated with an outbreak.

Pairwise and three-country comparisons of high and low COVID-19 vaccination rates in 12 African countries: a mixed- method study protocol

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Pairwise and three-country comparisons of high and low COVID-19 vaccination rates in 12 African countries: a mixed- method study protocol Ezezika, Obidimma; Luginaa, Isaac N; Sonko, Bakary; Olorunbiyi, Omolola; Amponsah-Dacosta, Edina; Ameyaw, Edward Kwabena; Omwenga, Eric Omori; Kandala, Ngianga- Bakwin; Djuidje-Ngounoue, Marceline; Raimi, Morufu; Surakat, Olabanji; Ariyo, Oluwaseun; Malande, Ombeva Oliver; Mong’are, Samuel; Demi, Suleyman M; Ndodo, Nnaemeka; Quibrantar, Selina; Kishif, Fatima; Abdullahi, Musa; Edor, Joseph; Elemuwa, Chris; Obiageli, Nebe; Ogunwale, Akintayo O; Nakatugga, Rachel Afaayo; Zelalem, Mesert The COVID- 19 pandemic has highlighted significant disparities in vaccine uptake across sub- Saharan Africa, yet research exploring the regional and country-specific factors influencing these rates remains limited. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted regional and global public health interventions to improve vaccination uptake and strengthen pandemic preparedness. This study aims to fill a critical knowledge gap by assessing the factors influencing vaccination rates across sub-Saharan Africa at the operational, systemic and socio-political levels. Methods and analysis The study will employ a comparative case study design across 12 African countries to examine context-specific factors influencing pandemic vaccine preparedness. The 12 selected countries (Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda) will be categorised by vaccination rate (high, moderate or low). The study will integrate quantitative and qualitative data to provide comprehensive insights. Quantitative data, including COVID-19, macroeconomic, health system and governance indicators, will be sourced from reputable online portals, such as the WHO, the World Bank and Our World in Data. Qualitative data will be collected through key informant interviews with experts across participating African countries, except Angola. Due to delays in obtaining ethics approval in Angola, no primary data collection including key informant interviews will be conducted in Angola unless ethics approval is obtained. Angola will therefore be included through a secondary data approach, drawing on publicly available reports, published literature and relevant case studies. All qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis, and quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive methods. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was obtained from Western University’s Health Sciences Research Ethics Board (126398) and relevant bodies in the 11 participating countries. Findings will be shared through reports to public health authorities, policy briefs and presentations at academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications

Effects of a school-based programme on learners’ rabies awareness in Machakos, Kenya

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Effects of a school-based programme on learners’ rabies awareness in Machakos, Kenya Shepelo, Getrude Peter; Kibegwa, Felix Matura; Mbindyo, Christine Minoo; Muthiru, Ann Wambui; Abuom, Tequiro Okumu; Buluku, Elizabeth; Salee, Damaris Nthenya; Gichuki, Paul; Maingi, Ndichu; Ombui, Nyarongi Jackson Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease causing an estimated 59000 annual human deaths globally and approximately 523 in Kenya, with children disproportionately affected. Despite evidence that school-based educational interventions effectively increase rabies awareness and prevention among children, its implementation in Kenya is limited. This study aimed at utilizing an education programme to increase rabies awareness among primary school learners and evaluate their knowledge uptake. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 210 learners from four primary schools (two urban, two rural). Pre-tested questionnaires assessed rabies awareness before and after rabies training sessions. Differences between urban and rural schools were assessed using χ2 tests, while Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for pre- and post-training scores. Post-training, overall knowledge scores improved from 6.14 to 7.61(p < 0.001), with significant increase in learners’ knowledge on rabies transmission, zoonosis, and the importance of annual dog vaccination. Attitudes and perceptions improved from 3.23 to 4.03 (p < 0.001), particularly health-seeking behaviour and reporting post dog bite. In conclusion, school-based rabies education significantly improved learners’ awareness. Being the first report of such intervention in Kenya, it could serve as a model for other zoonoses