Kalysha Closson
What is the title of your project?
Unpacking measures of sexual relationship power inequities to advance sexual and reproductive health among young women and men growing up in Durban and Soweto, South Africa: A multi-method youth-engaged study
Who is your supervisor?
My Senior Supervisor is Dr. Gina Oglivie and I am being co-supervised by Dr. Angela Kaida and Dr. Jeannie Shoveller.
Brief overview of the project:
My PhD research will seek to examine the validity and reliability of a Sexual Relationship Power Scale with youth in two partner South African sites the maternal adolescent and child health research unit in Durban and the Perinatal HIV research Unit in Soweto. Validation and reliability tests will both consider the statistical properties of the scale using data from a youth-engaged observational cohort study that aims to better understand patterns of socio-behavioural and biological factors influencing HIV risk among young men and women in South Africa, as well as construct validity through qualitative focus groups unpacking the scale with youth in the aforementioned settings.
What impact do you hope your work will have on women’s health?
This research is in line with Canada’s mission in taking a feminist approach to global aid, and will be critical to ensuring we have appropriate measures to track progress towards international targets aimed at ending AIDS and eliminated gender based violence.
Amanda Rowlands
What is the title of your project?
Sleep, Stress, and Women’s Reproductive Maturation
Who is your supervisor?
Dr. Pablo Nepomnaschy
Brief overview of the project:
I am exploring how stress axis activity and sleep patterns interact with each other, and how they may impact women’s reproductive health outcomes. Specifically, I am interested in how these interactions may impact the timing, onset, and quality of reproductive maturation.
What impact do you hope your work will have on women’s health?
These results will inform on developing appropriate interventions and coping strategies to target specific stressors during the adolescent transition, to optimize women’s health and well being throughout their reproductive lifespans.