Violet Naanyu Kenya 2007 Grantee US - Canada Program PhD in Sociology from Indiana University, USA
Violet Naanyu is Associate Professor, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University Eldoret, Kenya. She serves as Co-Field Director of Research, Indiana University-Kenya Program, Eldoret; Founder and Director, AMPATH Qualitative Research Core; Committee member, Africa Ethics Working Group; Co-Chair, Indigenous Populations Working Group, Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases; Member of the National Bioethics Committee, National Commission for Science Technology and Innovations, Kenya; Committee member, Bioethics Society of Kenya; and Committee member, Institutional Research and Ethics Committee, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital-Moi University College of Health Sciences, Eldoret.
Her academic career began with undergraduate training in Anthropology. She now holds a Master’s in Medical Anthropology (University of Amsterdam, NL), a Master’s in Sociology (Indiana University, USA), and a PhD in Sociology (Indiana University, USA). She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Global Bioethics. She uses mixed methods to study bioethical issues, gender and health, disease stigma, maternal and child health, health, and care seeking behavior. Most of her research focuses on health-related projects in African nations especially investigations on individual and socio-cultural factors around illness, health, and healthcare. She has been involved in collaborative research work spanning Eastern Africa, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and South Africa. She has more than 70 academic publications and serves as Editorial Board Member for several international academic journals. Violet Naanyu is a Maasai who was born and raised in Kajiado County, Kenya. She is a proud wife and mother to six children.
Together with colleagues, she has received and helped in the implementation of diverse research grants awarded by the World Bank, Aga Khan Foundation, Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada, Grand Challenges Africa, Fogarty Global Health Fellowship, Cancer Foundation, USAID - MEASURE Evaluation PRH Grant, NIH, NeuroGenE-Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, MRC, CDC, and VLIR-UOS scholarship.
In 2007, while working on her PhD at Indiana University, USA, she received a Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund grant (MMF) - as the MMEG was known back then - in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of women and children in the developing world. This support came at a time when she was juggling doctoral work, teaching assignments (in order to get tuition and upkeep money), and caregiving roles associated with her beloved children. Thus, she broke down in tears when she got the MMF grant because she was relieved of the teaching duties and could focus on completing her PhD in good time. She successfully graduated in May 2009 and promptly reported back to work at Moi University, Kenya.
Her publications and most cited published works can be found here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=h7R4n18AAAAJ&hl=en
Her most recent published works are (2020-2021):
2021
1. Naanyu V, Wade TJ, Ngetich A et al. A qualitative exploration of supply and demand side barriers to health facility-based delivery in Bomachoge Borabu and Kaloleni, Kenya. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 2021; 153 (2): 273-279
2. Ontiri S, Mutea L, Naanyu V et al. A qualitative exploration of contraceptive use and discontinuation among women with an unmet need for modern contraception in Kenya. Reproductive Health 18, 33 (2021). Doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01094-y
3. Ngugi P, Babic A, Kariuki J, Santas X, Naanyu V, Were MC. Development of standard indicators to assess use of electronic health record systems implemented in low-and medium-income countries. PLoS ONE 2021; 16(1): e0244917.
4. Goodrich S, Siika A, Mwangi A, Nyambura M, Naanyu V et al. Development, assessment and outcomes of a community-based model of anti-retroviral care in western Kenya through a cluster-randomized control trial. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002634 Printing article.
5. Dong R, Leung C, Naert MN, Naanyu V et al. Chronic disease stigma, skepticism of the health system, and socio-economic fragility: qualitative assessment of factors impacting receptiveness to group medical visits and microfinance for non-communicable disease care in rural Kenya. Plos One (2021) DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-47902/v1 Accepted.
6. Mwaliko E., Emily, Van Hal G, Bastiaens H, Dongen, S, Gichangi P, Otsyula B, Naanyu V, Temmerman, Marleen. Early detection of cervical cancer in western Kenya: Determinants of healthcare providers performing a gynaecological examination for abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding. BMC Family Practice (2021) 22, 52.
7. Vedanthan R, Kamano JH, Chrysanthopoulou SA, Mugo R, Andama A, Bloomfield GS, Chesoli CW, DeLong AK, Edelman D, Finkelstein EA, Horowitz CR, Manyara S, Menya D, Naanyu V, Orango V, Pastakia SD, Valente TW, Hogan JW, Fuster V. Group Medical Visits and Microfinance for Patients with Diabetes or Hypertension in Kenya: BIGPIC Trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2021; 77 16: 2007-2018.
2020
1. Naanyu V, Mujumdar V, Ahearn C, McConnell M & Cohen J. Why do women deliver where they had not planned to go? A qualitative study from peri-urban Nairobi Kenya. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020; 20:30.
2. Naanyu V, Ruff J, Goodrich S, et al. Qualitative exploration of perceived benefits of care and barriers influencing HIV care in trans Nzoia, Kenya. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020; 20, 355.
3. Lusambili AM, Naanyu V, Wade TJ, et al. Deliver on your own: Disrespectful maternity care in rural Kenya. PLoS One. 2020; 15(1): e0214836.
4. Lusambili AM, Naanyu V, Manda G, et al. What do We Know about Nutritional Influences on the Health of Women and Children in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique? A qualitative study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(17), 6205.
5. Rialem F, Gu JP, Naanyu V, et al. Knowledge and perceptions regarding palliative care among religious leaders in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya: Survey and focus group analysis. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2020; 24:1049909119899657.
6. Shangani S, Genberg B, HarrisonA, Pellowski J, Wachira J, Naanyu V & Don Operario. Cultural adaptation and validation of a measure of prejudice against men who have sex with men among healthcare providers in western Kenya, Global Public Health. 2020; DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1860248
7. Park SM, Visbal-Onufrak MA, Munirul Haque MM, Were MC, Naanyu V et al. mHealth spectroscopy of blood hemoglobin with spectral super-resolution. Optica 7, 563-573 (2020)
8. Leung CL, Naert M, Andama B, Dong R, Edelman D, Horowitz C, Kiptoo P, Manyara S, Matelong W, Matini E, Naanyu V et al. R. Human-centered design as a guide to intervention planning for non-communicable diseases: the BIGPIC study from Western Kenya. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020; 20, 415
