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Dr Tara Mtuy

Assistant Professor

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
Moshi
Tanzania

I am working in global public health, with current interests in biosocial understandings of disease, the social and political roots of health inequalities, hard to reach communities and sustainable development. My PhD in global health and development explored the Maasai response to MDA for trachoma in Tanzania. I am interested more broadly in the contribution of social science to NTD and emerging infection control research, global health interventions, and policy tackling health inequalities.

Affiliations

Department of Clinical Research
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Teaching

I teach qualitative methods for MSc Public Health for Eye Care and Designing Publich Health Interventions at LSHTM.  I hold a faculty position at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) in Tanzania where I teach qualitative research, research methods and research ethics. I have supervised Masters students at LSHTM and KCMUCo. I currently supervise a PhD student working on improving glaucoma care in Kilimanjaro.

Research

I have been working in Tanzania since 2004 initially on clinical trials for HIV prevention. My recent work focuses on the social science contributions of eye health, and NTDs interventions.
Research Area
Social science (general)
Research ethics
Social and structural determinants of health
Qualitative research
Health systems
Disease and Health Conditions
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
Trachoma
Tropical skin diseases
Eye health
HIV/AIDS
Country
Tanzania
Ethiopia
Uganda
Ghana
Nepal
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa (developing only)

Selected Publications

Empowering Maasai women behind the camera: Photovoice as a tool for trachoma control.
MTUY, TB; Mepukori, J; Lankoi, J; LEES, S;
2021
Research involvement and engagement
Understanding hard-to-reach communities: local perspectives and experiences of trachoma control among the pastoralist Maasai in northern Tanzania.
MTUY, TB; Bardosh, K; Ngondi, J; Mwingira, U; SEELEY, J; BURTON, M; LEES, S;
2020
Journal of Biosocial Science
Knowledge, perceptions and experiences of trachoma among Maasai in Tanzania: Implications for prevention and control.
MTUY, TB; BURTON, MJ; Mwingira, U; Ngondi, JM; SEELEY, J; LEES, S;
2019
PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Evolutionary dynamics in the genome of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis strains from Northern Tanzania following mass drug administration
Ghasemian, E; Ramadhani, A; Harte, A; Mafuru, E; Derrick, T; MTUY, T; Massae, P; Malissa, A; Breuer, J; Pickering, H; BAILEY, RL; Mabey, D; BURTON, MJ; HOLLAND, MJ;
2025
Microbial genomics
KAP survey data for pharmacy attendants in Nepal
Yadav, R; DAS SANYAM, S; Ahmed, AH A M; MACLEOD, D; Arunga, S; Ebong, A; LECK, A; Roshan, A; Singh, SK; Mishra, SK; HOFFMAN, JJ; BURTON, MJ; MTUY, T;
2025
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Randomised controlled trial of topical combination therapy chlorhexidine 0.2% and natamycin 5% versus topical natamycin 5% alone for fungal keratitis in East Africa: study protocol
HOFFMAN, JJ; Arunga, S; Matayan, E; Ebong, A; Orishaba, F; Makupa, W; Elisante, M; Yadav, R; DAS SANYAM, S; MTUY, T; MACLEOD, D; LECK, A; HU, V; BURTON, M;
2025
Wellcome Open Res
Randomised controlled trial of topical combination therapy chlorhexidine 0.2% and natamycin 5% versus topical natamycin 5% alone for fungal keratitis in East Africa: study protocol.
HOFFMAN, JJ; Arunga, S; Matayan, E; Ebong, A; Orishaba, F; Makupa, W; Elisante, M; Yadav, R; DAS SANYAM, S; MTUY, T; MACLEOD, D; LECK, A; HU, VH; BURTON, MJ;
2025
Wellcome open research
To whom will you send automated confidential SMS invitations to test for HIV? Results from an acceptability pilot study in northern Tanzania.
Gass, S-J; Ostermann, J; Njau, B; Van Zwetselaar, M; Beti, M; Yamanis, T; McClimans, L; Mwangi, R; John, V; MTUY, T; Hobbie, A; Thielman, N;
2025
Sexually transmitted diseases
Understanding experiences of neglected tropical diseases of the skin: a mixed-methods study to inform intervention development in Ethiopia.
Kaba, M; Hailemichael, Y; Alemu, AY; Cherkose, T; Kebebew, G; Kassa, FA; Ayana, GM; Nigusse, T; Engedawork, K; Begna, Z; Waday, A; MTUY, TB; LAMBERT, S; HALLIDAY, KE; Zuurmond, M; PULLAN, RL; WALKER, SL; PITT, C; Gadisa, E; MARKS, M; PALMER, J; SHARP Collaboration,;
2025
BMJ global health
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