Tanzania has among the most significant adverse reproductive health statistics of any country and high rates of persons with disabilities who are invisible in reproductive healthcare, yet health professionals receive no training in how to address reproductive health concerns in persons with disabilities. This study will conduct the formative research needed to develop a rigorous reproductive health curriculum for healthcare providers treating Tanzanian people with disabilities. We will test the intervention (curriculum) on health workers' skills to effectively address reproductive health concerns for people with disabilities.
Email: kpmark@umn.edu
Address: 1300 S. 2nd St., Suite 180, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, USA.
Led by Principal Investigator Drs. Kristen Mark and Dickson Mkoka.
This research study is overseen by the University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Assessing reproductive health needs of the Tanzanian disability community and the learning needs of healthcare workers/students
Developing a curriculum tailored to the African context that addresses the needs of people with disabilities
Scientifically evaluating the effectiveness of the developed curriculum
Dickson Mkoka, PhD
Stella Mushy, PhD, MN, MWH, BScN
Gift Gadiel, BScN, MSc, PHEC
Lucy Mgopa, MD
Research colleagues at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Agnes Massae, PhD, MN, MWH, BScN
Dorkas Mwakawanga, MN, MWH, BScN
Victor Chikwala,
Ally Abdul Ndende,
Emmanuel SUmari,
Johns Hopkins University
Maria Trent, MD
Indiana University
Devon Hensel, PhD
Malmö University
Charlotta Löfgren, PhD
Staff in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota
Program Director: Gudrun Kilian, BA
Graduate Research Assistants
Marguerite Puchner-Hardman (LinkedIn)
Rashid Mfinanga (LinkedIn)
The advisory board is composed of eight experts and community members engaged in the disability space in Tanzania. They represent various organizations and a wide range of disabilities, advocating for the health and social well-being of Tanzania’s disability community.
This study is conducted jointly by University of Minnesota and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
NIH Grant Number: R01HD110999
UMN IRB: STUDY00019968
MUHAS IRB: DA.282/298/01.C/1946
TANZANIA NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH IRB: NIMR/HQ/R.8a/Vol.IX/4506
Some images on this website courtesy of Disabled And Here.