Dr Sarah Bernays MA PhD

Lecturer

Having studied Social Anthropology at Edinburgh University, I began working at the Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour in 2005.  I have since completed my PhD in Medical Sociology, which examined the process of and influences on coping, hoping and community action amongst people living with HIV/AIDS in Serbia. My research focuses on the social impact of HIV/AIDS and drug use for young people, particularly on the experiences of affected vulnerable populations and their access to healthcare and support services.  Prior to working at LSHTM I worked in HIV community work in the UK, East and West Africa and the South West Pacific.

Affiliation

Teaching

I am a co-module organiser and lecturer for Qualitative Methodologies.  I also am tutor on the MSc in Public Health and a seminar leader on Principles of Social Research. As part of the capacity building component of my current work I am designing and conducting a number of intensive qualitative research training courses in Uganda and Zimbabwe  

Research

My research focuses on qualitative, prospective approaches to the study of chronic health conditions amongst vulnerable groups. I have recently completed qualitative prospective studies on access to HIV treatment in Serbia and in Montenegro and on the experiences of young people living with parental substance misuse in the UK.  I am particularly interested in conducting participatory research and dissemination. 

I am currently managing a research programme with young people living with HIV in Uganda, the UK and Zimbabwe, aged between 10-21 years old. This is a series of qualitative studies which are embededd within clincial trials, which are funded by ESRC, DfID and NIHR. These studies are examining transitions to adulthood with HIV and the ethical considerations of paediatric trials.   

  

Research areas

  • Adolescent health
  • Health inequalities
  • Substance abuse

Disciplines

  • Anthropology
  • Sociology

Disease and Health Conditions

  • Chronic disease
  • HIV/AIDS

Regions

  • Europe & Central Asia (all income levels)
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (developing only)

Countries

  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • Zimbabwe

Other interests

  • Access To Care
  • Access To Medicines
  • Adolescence
  • Adolescent HIV
  • Africa
  • Antiretroviral Therapy
  • Participatory Research
  • young people
Back to top