With 25 years of working and living in Tanzania I have conducted anthropological studies to explore gender and power with a focus on sexuality and violence. My anthropological research on disease epidemics in Tanzania and Sierra Leone focuses local experiences of biomedical research and epidemic response. In this field, I also provide critical perspectives on biomedical practices.
Affiliations
Department of Global Health and Development
Faculty of Public Health and Policy
Centres
Centre for Evaluation
Centre for Maternal Adolescent Reproductive & Child Health
Vaccine Centre
Teaching
I teach on the Medical Anthropology of Public Health module and Conflict and Health. I am also co-organiser of the Pandemic Preparedness Short Course which runs in February - March.
Research
In Mwanza I was co-investigator and anthropological lead on the Maisha Trial (strive.lshtm.ac.uk/projects/maisha-microfinance-and-gender-training-reduce-violence-against-women). I have also conducted research on sexual violence against children in Zanzibar with Karen Devries and Louise Knight, which has also explored constructions of childhood amongst the Swahili and IPV. I have also conducted research on cash transfers and IPV in Mali.
My research on anthropology of epidemics has included research on sexuality and HIV as part of a microbicides trial and more recently, research on young women's experiences of PrEP, both conducted in Mwanza, Tanzania. A more recent focus of my research has been on emergent epidemics, including Ebola. I am the lead anthropologist on the EBOVAC-Salone Trial () and work package lead on the ALERRT consortium, focusing on the social science of community engagement (). I am also senior anthropologist with the UK-PHRST where the social science team conducts social science research, capacity building and deployment ().
Our research group addressing the Politics and Anthropology of Violence and Epidemics, brings together all our research studies on violence and epidemics ().
My research on anthropology of epidemics has included research on sexuality and HIV as part of a microbicides trial and more recently, research on young women's experiences of PrEP, both conducted in Mwanza, Tanzania. A more recent focus of my research has been on emergent epidemics, including Ebola. I am the lead anthropologist on the EBOVAC-Salone Trial () and work package lead on the ALERRT consortium, focusing on the social science of community engagement (). I am also senior anthropologist with the UK-PHRST where the social science team conducts social science research, capacity building and deployment ().
Our research group addressing the Politics and Anthropology of Violence and Epidemics, brings together all our research studies on violence and epidemics ().
Research Area
Medical anthropology
Gender-based violence
Violence against women and girls
Disease and Health Conditions
HIV/AIDS
Ebola virus
Marburg virus
COVID-19
Country
Tanzania
Sierra Leone
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Uganda
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa (developing only)
Selected Publications
2024
Social science & medicine (1982)
2024
Anthropologica
2024
Global public health
2024
Vaccines
2024
PloS one
How do children define violence and maltreatment in childhood? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies from sub-Saharan Africa
2024
2023
PLOS global public health
2023
The Lancet Global health
2023
PLOS Global Public Health
2023
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine