Ph.D. Student Profile
Faith Okaalo, MPH (She/Her/Hers)
Education
MPH- Brown University, PhD in Health Behavior and Health Equity- University of Michigan
Research Interests & Projects
My research interests lie at the intersection of sexual and reproductive health (SRH)
and HIV/AIDS, with a focus on adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Kenya. I
am particularly interested in exploring the HIV care cascade—prevention, treatment,
and long-term management—and how various factors affect AGYW's engagement at each
stage. Given the heightened vulnerability of AGYW to HIV, my work aims to understand
how systemic, social, and individual factors influence their ability to access and
retain care. By examining the roles of stigma, healthcare provider attitudes, and
health system-level barriers, I hope to identify strategies to improve care retention
and health outcomes. Ultimately, my research seeks to contribute to reducing HIV-related
health disparities and promoting equitable access to SRH services for AGYW in sub-Saharan Africa.
Classes Taken
BIOSTAT 521, HBHEQ 661, HBHEQ 600, HBHEQ 800 & HBHEQ 823
Computing Experience
My skills include proficiency in statistical analysis software such as SPSS, R, and
Stata, which I use for data cleaning and analysis. I am also familiar with qualitative
analysis software like NVivo and Dedoose, which I have previously utilized to code
and analyze qualitative data. My computing experience extends to conducting systematic
literature reviews and using reference management software such as EndNote and Mendeley
to organize and cite academic sources efficiently.