PhD project on climate change's impact on maternal and child health in Uganda passes half-time review
On June 4, Irene Wanyana presented her project, "Multisectoral Approaches to Sustainable Health in Uganda: A Focus on the Role of Climatic Variabilities on Maternal and Child Health," during her half-time review. Confident in her progress and with continuous support from her supervisors at KI and Makerere University, she believes she is on track to complete her PhD within the planned timeframe.
Congratulations on passing your half-time review! Could you briefly describe your PhD project.
Thank you! My PhD research focuses on the role of multisectoral collaboration in addressing health challenges in Uganda, particularly in the context of climate change. I investigate how climate change variability affects maternal and child health outcomes and apply data-driven approaches, including machine learning, to identify patterns and inform adaptive strategies.
Are there any achievements so far that you are proud of?
Yes. First, I am proud to have passed my half time review. I have also published one peer-reviewed article, written my second manuscript currently under review, and I am actively conducting data analysis for my third study.
What feedback did you receive during the review, and how do you plan to implement it?
During the half-time review, I got very useful feedback, including the need to refine the scope of my third study, which focuses on using machine learning to assess the impact of climate change on maternal and child health. Specifically, I was advised to narrow down the number of variables to enhance focus and ensure practical implementation. I plan to revise the study design accordingly and consult further with my supervisors to align the methodology with this revised scope.