About Our Lab

Asian family cooking together at home patio outdoor - Mother and two daughters having fun preparing dinner during summer time - Main focus on center woman face

The International Health and Nutrition Equity Lab is currently focusing on utilizing mixed methods and implementation-science-based approaches to inform (formative research) and evaluate (process and summative evaluations) social and behavioral interventions aiming to improve public health and nutrition outcomes globally.

Past Studies

High angle view of Muslim family having breakfast all together in kitchen

Regional in-depth analysis of the nutrition situation of children, adolescents, and women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

The team collaborated with Muzi Na to assess the nutritional status trends and their multi-level determinants across four life stages throughout the MENA region.

This study was sponsored by the UNICEF MENA Regional Bureau.

East Indian mother and two young children having a snack.

Formative research on maternal, infant, and young child feeding (MIYCF) practices in Sri Lanka

The lab led formative research to understand determinants of infant and young child feeding practices across urban, estate, and rural sectors of Sri Lanka.

This study was sponsored by UNICEF Sri Lanka.

Happy indian pregnant woman eating fruit salad while sitting on sofa at home

Formative research for introduction of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and Tanzania

The team led formative research in Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Madagascar to inform culturally appropriate programming introducing prenatal MMS for improved maternal nutrition and birth outcomes in collaboration with UNICEF HQ (New York), ICDDR, B (Bangladesh), GRET (Madagascar), and Ifakara Health Institute (Tanzania).

This study was sponsored by the Sight and Life Foundation.

A Nigerian Family Celebrating a festive meal together indoors having chicken, salad, traditional jollof rice and lotus at a table eating together.

Regional landscape analysis of trends and predictors of young children’s diets and the potential of locally-produced complementary foods in selected countries in UNICEF’s West and Central Africa (WCAR) region

The lab collaborated with Muzi Na (Penn State), Laura Murray-Kolb (Purdue), and Laura Caulfield (Johns Hopkins) to conduct a mixed methods nutrition situation analysis of complementary feeding trends and determinants throughout WCAR region from the past 20 years.

This study was sponsored by the UNICEF WCAR Regional Bureau.

Nigerian Dad Bringing Breakfast To The Table And Talking To His Nigerian Wife And Daughter In A Modern Apartment

Strategic layering to improve household gender dynamics for optimal nutrition in Niger

The team led a large-scale, mixed methods evaluation with Muzi Na to assess the impact of nutrition-integrated couples strengthening intervention called Maison Familiale Harmonieuse (MFH) on maternal and young child nutritional outcomes in rural Niger.

This study was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

three african children in a village near Kalahari desert, the sister feeding her brother in the outdoors kitchen

Exploring the biocultural factors influencing the minimum acceptable diet of infants and young children in Forecariah, Guinea

This ethnographic study focused on the biocultural factors influencing the feeding styles and diet quality of infants aged 6-9 months in peri-urban Guinea.

The Ann Atherton Herztler Early Career Award funded this study.

A student wearing a lab coat and hairnet weighs cookies on a scale in a kitchen lab.