I conduct interdisciplinary research to help improve pregnant women's health in low- and middle-income settings, where most maternal complications and deaths take place.
My main area of expertise is on estimating the number of obstetric complications and on capturing their lasting impact on women’s health and lives through cohort studies. My initial research focused on developing the concept of near-miss complications, how their burden can be best measured and how quality of care can be improved by conducting near-miss audits in health facilities.
I am also keen on addressing key determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes and on testing interventions that work. I have evaluated with complex interventions designed to reduce maternal mortality and/or improve infant health (EVA-PMDUP, FEMHEALTH, Alive and Thrive). At present my research largely focus on the impact of climate change, especially extreme heat, on maternal and newborn health in Africa and on piloting climate adaptation interventions (CHAMNHA, HIGH Horizons, CHARTer and Extram Sen/SPRINT projects). I am also a member of STAR project which seeks to improve respectful care for women and newborn babies in Kwazulu Natal in South Africa through the development of a quality improvement intervention.
In terms of academic disciplines, my undergraduate degree was in political sciences. I then studied demography and epidemiology.
Affiliations
Centres
Teaching
I supervise PhD students in maternal health and epidemiology. My current doctoral students work on the following topics: improving informed consent and debriefing for obstetric surgery, addressing the neglect of women's risk of death and complications in the extended postpartum period, assessing the case fatality of obstetric complications as a measure of hospital performance, understanding near-miss abortion complications in humanitarian settings, investigating the link between climate variability and non-vector-borne zoonotic disease Infections in pregnancy, and estimating the impact of parental leave on parents' mental health.
I teach on two modules: Study Design and Current Issues in Maternal and Perinatal Health. I tutor on two fantastic MSc: Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy and Programming and Public Health for Global Practice.
Until recently I was the academic lead for the new online MSc on Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy and Programming targetting professionals working in low and middle income settings, and I am now interim Programme Director for this MSc. Our African lead partner for the MSc is the University of Ghana School of Public Health. They work with us in developing and delivering the MSc. Other key roles in teaching at LSHTM have included MSc Programme Director (Public Health in Developing Countries), Chair of two Boards of Examiners, and Faculty Research Degree Director. I will be interim Chair of the Board of Examiners for the MSc RSHR.
Research
I am currently researching:
-The impact of climate change on maternal and newborn health in African countries (member of CHAMNHA, HIGH Horizons, CHARTer and Extram Sen projects) and how adverse effects can be avoided by testing climate change adaptation strategies.
-The quality of caesarean section and peripartum hysterectomy in low and middle income countries, with my specific focus being on informed consent, counselling and debriefing (MOMENTUM project)
-The development and testing of a respectful care intervention in South Africa (MRC Learning Health Systems/ STAR project led by SAMRC)
-I am a member of the PRECISE/DYAD network, which conducted a large multi-country pregnancy cohort of placental disorders
-I am a member of the REFRAME team for the reduction of maternity inequalities in the UK
I am looking for new collaborations and funding on climate change adaptation interventions for maternal and newborn health. I coordinate the CLIMACH interest group at LSHTM of 40 staff and students together with Dr Ana Bonell.
Selected Publications
