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Dr Constance Mackworth-Young

BA MSc PhD

Assistant Professor
of Medical Anthropology

LSHTM
15-17 Tavistock Place
London
WC1H 9SH
United Kingdom

I am a Medical Anthropologist, with a research focus on young people, sexual and reproductive health, and adolescent wellbeing. I am based in Zimbabwe, with The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe (THRU-ZIM), where I lead social science research. I founded and lead the Social Science Research Group in Zimbabwe. Methodologies I focus on are are ethnographic, participatory qualitative methods, and process evaluations. I was previously based at Zambart in Zambia, where I conducted ethnographic studies with young people living with HIV. I hold an undergraduate degree in Biological and Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, and an MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health and a PhD, both from LSHTM.

Affiliations

Faculty of Public Health and Policy
Department of Global Health and Development

Centres

Centre for Evaluation
Centre for Maternal Adolescent Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH)

Teaching

I am Programme Director for the EMPOWA Programme, Empowering Professionals for the Wellbeing of Adolescents, a joint Programme between LSHTM and University of Zimbabwe. Each year the Programme selects and teaches 20 policy makers and programmers working with adolescents through practical teaching and supporting 'change projects' with the end goal of improving adolescent wellbeing.

I was awarded an LSHTM award for 'Exceptional contributions to innovation and stimulating education' for the development and delivery of the EMPOWA Programme in 2022.

I currently supervise three PhD students, all conducting research in Zimbabwe. Each year I supervise MSc students, particularly those interested in qualitative analysis related to young people and sexual and reproductive health in Zimbabwe. Additionally, I am a lecturer on Qualitative Methods.

Research

My current research focus is on sexual and reproductive health services for young people in Zimbabwe, using ethnographic, qualitative, and participatory methods.

I lead the process evaluations within the CHIEDZA and STICH trials, evaluating a community-based intervention to improve HIV and STI outcomes in adolescents, led by The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe (THRU ZIM). I lead the qualitative research for the GIFT study, investigating women's, healthcare professionals and policy makers perceptions of a novel screening tool for STIs in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Madagascar. I lead the qualitative research on the YCHECK project in Zimbabwe, designing routine health checks during adolescence, in collaboration with the World Health Organization. I lead social science research on the Zvatinoda! study, a feasibility study of a mobile health intervention to increase demand and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services among young people.

I was awarded my PhD in February 2020, which was entitled 'An ethnographic study on the everyday lives of young women living with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia' and was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. While at Zambart from 2014-2018, I conducted and collaborated on several studies around young people, HIV and sexual and reproductive health. Beyond sexual and reproductive health, I have researched other infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and TB.

Research Area
Sexual health
Adolescent health
Gender
Ethnography
Mixed methods
Reproductive health
Discipline
Anthropology
Social Sciences
Disease and Health Conditions
HIV/AIDS
Sexually transmitted infection
Country
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa (all income levels)

Selected Publications

Putting youth at the centre: co-design of a community-based intervention to improve HIV outcomes among youth in Zimbabwe
Mackworth-Young C; Dringus S; Dauya E; Dziva Chikwari C; Mavodza C; Tembo M; Doyle A; McHugh G; Simms V; Wedner-Ross M
2022
Wellcome Open Research
\"It was difficult to offer same day results\": evaluation of community-based point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections among youth using the GeneXpert platform in Zimbabwe.
Martin K; Dziva Chikwari C; Mackworth-Young CRS; Chisenga M; Bandason T; Dauya E; Olaru ID; Francis SC; Mavodza C; Nzombe P
2022
BMC Health Services Research
The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.
Schneiders ML; Naemiratch B; Cheah PK; Cuman G; Poomchaichote T; Ruangkajorn S; Stoppa S; Osterrieder A; Cheah P-K; Ongkili D
2022
PLoS One
Youth researchers academy: a report on an innovative research training programme for young people in Zimbabwe
Tembo M; Mackworth-Young C; Kranzer K; Dziva-Chikwari C; Mavodza CV; Dauya E; Makuni M; Chipare D; Munyavi-Dehwe B; Raradza D
2022
BMJ INNOVATIONS
Integration of a menstrual health intervention in a community-based sexual and reproductive health service for young people in Zimbabwe: a qualitative acceptability study.
Tembo M; Renju J; Weiss HA; Dauya E; Gweshe N; Ndlovu P; Nzombe P; Chikwari CD; Mavodza CV; Mackworth-Young CRS
2022
BMC health services research
Designing Routine Health Checkups for Adolescents in Zimbabwe.
Chingono RMS; Mackworth-Young CRS; Ross DA; Tshuma M; Chiweshe T; Nyamayaro C; Sekanevana C; Doyle AM; Weiss HA; Kohl K
2021
Journal of Adolescent Health
Remote data collection for public health research in a COVID-19 era: ethical implications, challenges and opportunities.
Hensen B; Mackworth-Young CRS; Simwinga M; Abdelmagid N; Banda J; Mavodza C; Doyle AM; Bonell C; Weiss HA
2021
Health policy and planning
Uptake of and factors associated with testing for sexually transmitted infections in community-based settings among youth in Zimbabwe: a mixed-methods study.
Martin K; Olaru ID; Buwu N; Bandason T; Marks M; Dauya E; Muzangwa J; Mabey D; Dziva Chikwari C; Francis SC
2021
The Lancet. Child & adolescent health
When healthcare providers are supportive, 'I'd rather not test alone': Exploring uptake and acceptability of HIV self-testing for youth in Zimbabwe - A mixed method study
Mavodza CV; Mackworth-Young CRS; Bandason T; Dauya E; Chikwari CD; Tembo M; Apollo T; Ncube G; Kranzer K; Ferrand RA
2021
Journal of the International AIDS Society
When healthcare providers are supportive, 'I'd rather not test alone': Exploring uptake and acceptability of HIV self-testing for youth in Zimbabwe - A mixed method study.
Mavodza CV; Mackworth-Young CRS; Bandason T; Dauya E; Chikwari CD; Tembo M; Apollo T; Ncube G; Kranzer K; Ferrand RA
2021
Journal of the International AIDS Society
Economic and social impacts of COVID-19 and public health measures: results from an anonymous online survey in Thailand, Malaysia, the UK, Italy and Slovenia.
Osterrieder A; Cuman G; Pan-Ngum W; Cheah PK; Cheah P-K; Peerawaranun P; Silan M; Orazem M; Perkovic K; Groselj U
2021
BMJ open
Community perspectives on the COVID-19 response, Zimbabwe.
Mackworth-Young CR; Chingono R; Mavodza C; McHugh G; Tembo M; Chikwari CD; Weiss HA; Rusakaniko S; Ruzario S; Bernays S
2020
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Secrets and Silence: Agency of Young Women Managing HIV Disclosure.
Mackworth-Young CRS; Bond V; Wringe A
2020
Medical Anthropology: cross-cultural studies in health and illness
Social, ethical and behavioural aspects of COVID-19.
Pan-Ngum W; Poomchaichote T; Cuman G; Cheah P-K; Waithira N; Mukaka M; Naemiratch B; Kulpijit N; Chanviriyavuth R; Asarath S-A
2020
Wellcome open research
HIV Care Cascade Among Adolescents in a \"Test and Treat\" Community-Based Intervention: HPTN 071 (PopART) for Youth Study.
Shanaube K; Macleod D; Chaila MJ; Mackworth-Young C; Hoddinott G; Schaap A; Floyd S; Bock P; Hayes R; Fidler S
2020
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
Navigating 'ethics in practice': An ethnographic case study with young women living with HIV in Zambia.
Mackworth-Young CRS; Schneiders ML; Wringe A; Simwinga M; Bond V
2019
Global Public Health
\"My mother told me that I should not\": a qualitative study exploring the restrictions placed on adolescent girls living with HIV in Zambia.
Mackworth-Young CR; Bond V; Wringe A; Konayuma K; Clay S; Chiiya C; Chonta M; Sievwright K; Stangl AL
2017
Journal of the International AIDS Society
Community intervention improves knowledge of HIV status of adolescents in Zambia: findings from HPTN 071-PopART for youth study.
Shanaube K; Schaap A; Chaila MJ; Floyd S; Mackworth-Young C; Hoddinott G; Hayes R; Fidler S; Ayles H; HPTN 071 (PopART) Study Team
2017
AIDS (London, England)
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