Elaine J. Abrams

Co-Principal Investigator: Claude Anne Mellins, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Mailman School of Public Health

Project: "Pandemic Fallout: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families in Kampala, Uganda"

Center: Nairobi

Project Description: We propose a pilot research project that is aligned with the thematic area of Health and Medicine. The research will provide information on the short- and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures on behavioral and mental health outcomes among children in Kampala, Uganda. The findings will inform the design of interventions to overcome the sequelae of the pandemic on this vulnerable population.

This project leverages the recently completed Uganda Population HIV Impact (UPHIA) study, an ICAP-led nationally representative household survey, to identify families with school-aged children in Kampala, Uganda, as well as key local stakeholders, researchers, and government officials, to participate in the proposed study. The project study includes three components: focus discussion groups with children and caregivers/parents; interviews with key stakeholders; and dissemination events in Uganda and at the Columbia Global Center in Nairobi, Kenya.

Our study will bring together experienced interdisciplinary researchers with a long history of collaboration and provide unique opportunities for students to engage with senior Columbia faculty to develop, implement, and analyze study findings.