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Miss Kate Nelson

Research Fellow

United Kingdom

I am an epidemiologist with an interest in adolescent health, evaluation methods, and causal inference. I currently work on the MENISCUS trial to evaluate the impact of a school-based menstrual health intervention in Uganda on education and mental health. I am also undertaking a staff PhD focused on using causal inference approaches to understand mechanisms of action in complex interventions. Prior to joining LSHTM, I worked on the evaluation of mass media behaviour change campaigns and in global health communications. I obtained my MSc in Epidemiology from LSHTM and hold a BA in Human Biology with interdisciplinary honors from Stanford University.

Affiliations

Department of Population Health
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health

Teaching

I teach on the Basic Epidemiology, Design and Analysis of Epidemiological Studies, Social Epidemiology, and Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology modules. I also supervise students on the MSc in Epidemiology. I was previously a co-module organiser for Epidemiology in Practice.

Research

My research focuses on adolescent health, with a particular interest in the design of school-based studies. I am also interested in process evaluation methodology and am exploring the use of causal mediation analyses within cluster trials as part of my PhD work. I previously contributed to the DREAMS evaluation, looking at the impact of the interventions on attitudes towards gender norms among adolescent girls and their male peers. I am currently a member of the International Statistics and Epidemiology Group.
Research Area
Complex interventions
Adolescent health
Randomised controlled trials
Gender
Impact evaluation
Evaluation
Reproductive health
Disease and Health Conditions
Mental health
HIV/AIDS
Infectious diseases
Country
Uganda
Kenya
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa (developing only)

Selected Publications

Effects and costs of a multi-component menstrual health intervention (MENISCUS) on mental health problems, educational performance, and menstrual health in Ugandan secondary schools: an open-label, school-based, cluster-randomised controlled trial
NELSON, KA; LAGONY, S; Kansiime, C; Torondel, B; Tanton, C; Ndekezi, D; Mugenyi, L; Batuusa, R; Baleke, C; THOMAS, KA; Ssesanga, T; Bakanoma, R; Namirembe, P; Tumuhimbise, A; Nanyonga, B; Nambi, R; Obicho, E; Ssenyondwa, D; Bucci, D; Belfield, S; Akech Ocen, A; Nakalema, S; Alezuyo, C; Matovu, F; Neema, S; ... WEISS, HA.
2025
The Lancet Global Health
Sleep health epidemiology and associations with menstrual health, mental health, and educational performance among in-school female adolescents in Uganda: A longitudinal study.
Nanyonga, B; THOMAS, KA; Ssesanga, T; Kaihangwe, A; NELSON, KA; Ssenyondwa, D; Nassimbwa, N; Enomut, JR; Tumuhimbise, A; Namirembe, P; Batuusa, R; KYEGOMBE, N; Baker, FC; WEISS, HA;
2025
Sleep health
Understanding menstrual factors associated with poor mental health among female secondary school students in Uganda: a cross-sectional analysis.
Ssesanga, T; THOMAS, KA; NELSON, KA; Oenen, E; Kansiime, C; LAGONY, S; Enomut, JR; MAYANJA, Y; WEISS, HA;
2024
Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health
Impact of DREAMS interventions on attitudes towards gender norms among adolescent girls and young women: Findings from a prospective cohort in Kenya.
NELSON, KA; Magut, F; MULWA, S; Osindo, J; Kamire, V; Khagayi, S; Pulerwitz, J; COOK, S; Gourlay, A; Ziraba, A; Kwaro, D; FLOYD, S; BIRDTHISTLE, I;
2024
PLOS global public health
Understanding the social and physical menstrual health environment of secondary schools in Uganda: A qualitative methods study.
SSEMATA, AS; Ndekezi, D; Kansiime, C; Bakanoma, R; Tanton, C; NELSON, KA; Hytti, L; Neema, S; TORONDEL, B; SEELEY, J; WEISS, HA; MENISCUS Group,;
2023
PLOS global public health
Menstrual health interventions, schooling, and mental health problems among Ugandan students (MENISCUS): study protocol for a school-based cluster-randomised trial.
Kansiime, C; Hytti, L; NELSON, KA; TORONDEL, B; Francis, SC; Tanton, C; GRECO, G; Belfield, S; Nakalema, S; Matovu, F; SSEMATA, AS; Alezuyo, C; Neema, S; Jerrim, J; BONELL, C; SEELEY, J; WEISS, HA; MENISCUS Group,;
2022
Trials
Associations of menstrual health with school absenteeism and educational performance among Ugandan secondary school students: A longitudinal study
Baleke, C; Mugenyi, L; NELSON, KA; Thomas, KA; Ndekezi, D; Enomut, JR; Alezuyo, C; Jerrim, J; WEISS, HA;
2025
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Factors associated with declining a menstrual cup among female students and their parents in Ugandan secondary schools: a cross-sectional study.
Mugenyi, L; Tembo, M; NELSON, KA; THOMAS, KA; Kansiime, C; LAGONY, S; Mpaata, AM; Belfield, S; Nakalema, S; Akech, A; Torondel-Lopez, B; WEISS, HA;
2024
BMJ open
MENISCUS Trial diary data
WEISS, H; NELSON, K; Thomas, K; Mugenyi, L; Batuusa, R; Baleke, C;
2024
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
MENISCUS Trial
WEISS, H; NELSON, K; Mugenyi, L; Batuusa, L; Thomas, K; Baleke, C;
2024
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
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