04May 2026 by Ryan Parker
“People have a story to tell”: Using Human-Centered Design to Transform Caregiver Experiences into Psychosocial Support Development for Sickle Cell Disease in Kenya

“People have a story to tell”: Using Human-Centered Design to Transform Caregiver Experiences into Psychosocial Support Development for Sickle Cell Disease in Kenya

Projects (Non-Faculty), Student Projects
Sonali Patel, Duke Undergraduate’26 My project examines how caregivers of children with sickle cell disease in Kenya experience psychosocial burden, and how these experiences can inform the development of culturally-grounded interventions. For my thesis, I’m particularly interested in the ways that the participatory methods of the Human Centered Design (HCD) allowed caregivers to prioritize their needs to brainstorm intervention ideas, across multiple stages of the broader study including focus group discussions and HCD workshops. Findings show that caregivers conceptualize burden as deeply social and relational, extending beyond the clinic into household and community-level contexts, while financial challenges remain an important underlying factor. I also had the opportunity to interview two mothers of children with SCD alongside our fieldwork last summer and am in the process of creating a documentary sharing…
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23Apr 2026 by Ryan Parker
How Chronic Pain is associated with Suicide Mortality for People with Cancer in the United States

How Chronic Pain is associated with Suicide Mortality for People with Cancer in the United States

Projects (Non-Faculty), Student Projects
Trisha Kibugi, MsGH '26 Faculty Mentor: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters Cancer patients face significantly elevated suicide rates compared to the general population. While chronic pain is common in cancer and known to increase suicide risk, the specific relationship between chronic pain and suicide among cancer patients remains poorly understood. This research project uses United States national data to examine how chronic pain contributes to suicide deaths in this vulnerable population. In this project we will identify all suicide deaths among individuals with cancer from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) by systematically reviewing coroner/medical examiner and law enforcement reports.Furthermore, using this dataset, we will examine whether chronic pain is an independent risk factor for suicide among cancer patients and describe the circumstances surrounding these deaths.
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23Apr 2026 by Ryan Parker
Investigation into the Prevalence of Dermatological and Mental Health Disorders Among Inmates in a Sri Lankan Remand Facility

Investigation into the Prevalence of Dermatological and Mental Health Disorders Among Inmates in a Sri Lankan Remand Facility

Projects (Non-Faculty), Student Projects
Zishuo Wu, MsGH '26 Faculty Mentor: Truls Ostbye This project represents one of the first efforts to systematically document mental health issues within prison settings in Sri Lanka. The research team, consisting of members from Duke University and University of Ruhuna, conducted a survey of 325 prisoners from a national-level remand prison in Galle. The study assessed the severity of mental health conditions in this population and examined associated risk factors, including overcrowding and poor sanitation. The findings revealed a substantial burden of depression, psychological distress, and substance abuse, alongside evidence of severe overcrowding within the facility. These results help address a critical gap in the literature regarding under-recognized mental health needs in incarcerated populations in Sri Lanka and provide evidence to inform policy interventions aimed at alleviating this burden.
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23Apr 2026 by Ryan Parker
Beyond Resources: Healthcare Workers’ Experiences of Systemic and Psychosocial Barriers to Maternal and Child Emergency Care in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Beyond Resources: Healthcare Workers’ Experiences of Systemic and Psychosocial Barriers to Maternal and Child Emergency Care in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Projects (Non-Faculty), Student Projects
Lexi Nussbaum, MsGH '26 Faculty Mentor: Sharla Rent This project examines the barriers that frontline healthcare workers face when delivering emergency care to maternal and child health patients in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Through focus group discussions with nurses, physicians, and midwives across 10 healthcare facilities, we found that providers navigate not only equipment shortages, staffing gaps, and transportation delays, but also a profound and largely unaddressed psychological burden. Healthcare workers described symptoms of burnout, intrusive thoughts, sleep disruption, and anxiety, which was compounded by a pervasive culture of blame from legal systems, bereaved families, and colleagues. Despite universal recognition of the need for mental health support, no facilities in our study offered formal psychological services for staff. This work highlights that sustainable, quality emergency care requires more than…
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01Jul 2025 by kmitch@duke.edu
Exploring Mental Health Challenges and the Role of Stigma in Cancer Care

Exploring Mental Health Challenges and the Role of Stigma in Cancer Care

Student Projects
Exploring Mental Health Challenges and the Role of Stigma in Cancer Care: A Qualitative Study at KCMC Cancer Care CenterStudent Project lead(s): Bre Barrett, BA ‘25, MS ‘26In the summer of 2025, Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) Master’s student Breanna Barrett traveled to Moshi, Tanzania, where she worked with a team at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) to examine the psychosocial experiences of patients receiving cancer care. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, cancer incidence and mortality continue to rise, while limited treatment options, persistent stigma, and deeply rooted cultural beliefs intensify the psychological burden faced by patients. In Tanzania, these factors often contribute to heightened emotional distress and pose significant challenges to treatment adherence.Through a qualitative study conducted at the KCMC Cancer Care Centre, the team explored how stigma and cultural beliefs…
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