William Byansi
Biographic Data
| ID | 1562956 |
|---|---|
| NAME | William Byansi |
| GIVEN NAMES | William |
| FAMILY NAME | Byansi |
| SIGNATURE | BYANSI W |
| AFFILIATIONS | Boston College |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2880-9357 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 37 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 10 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 37 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
“Even with one Man, but with many women, you can get cervical cancer”
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in low-resource settings, with Uganda being disproportionately affected. Despite the availability of screening services in Uganda, uptake remains unacceptably low, yet population-level data on women’s perceptions and experienced barriers to screening remain limited. This hinders the development of targeted community-based interventions for cervical cancer scr…
Preliminary Effectiveness of the Youth Empowerment Digital Intervention (Yedi)
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Preliminary Effects of the Anzansi Family Program on Caregiver Outcomes in Northern Ghana
High levels of poverty and entrenched gender norms in Northern Ghana increase the risk of adolescent girls leaving school, engaging in child labor, and migrating unaccompanied. Caregivers play a vital role in reducing these risks, but few interventions focus on family-level support for girls’ education. The ANZANSI Family Program combines economic empowerment with family strengthening to address child labor. A pilot randomized clinical trial ( n …
Building the foundation
Early and ongoing stakeholder engagement is critical to the development and implementation of scalable behavioral health interventions. Our overarching goal in this implementation research study was to understand and document the process of planning and rolling out Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), a transdiagnostic mental health intervention, in Uganda. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) 2.0, we cond…
Adolescents’ awareness of and attitudes towards alcohol and substance use in Kenya
Alcohol and substance use disorders (ASUD) are highly prevalent among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa and co-occur with mental health disorders. This study aimed to understand adolescents’ awareness of and attitudes toward ASUD and their mental health literacy, with the long-term goal of informing the development of a preventive intervention. An exploratory qualitative study included 144 adolescents (aged 15–19) in 12 focus group discussions (F…
EHealth literacy and digital health interventions
During and after displacement, many displaced youth face increased vulnerability to poor mental health and can encounter inaccurate or confusing health information. Digital tools create new opportunities to reach more of these youth with mental health interventions. Yet maximizing these tools' effectiveness among displaced youth requires understanding their eHealth literacy (eHEALS; i.e., the ability to find, understand, and appraise health infor…
Implementation, sustainability, and impact of Common Elements Treatment Approach in Ugandan healthcare facilities
The health and social consequences of untreated mental health disorders and heavy alcohol use are substantial, particularly in settings with high HIV-prevalence. Transdiagnostic approaches may offer a more efficient public health response, particularly where behavioral health services are limited. The present study explored the implementation of Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), a transdiagnostic intervention, in Western Uganda, from the…
Cumulative adverse childhood experiences and their association with depression and anxiety
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are linked to adverse mental health outcomes, particularly among adolescents and young adults living in informal urban settlements, where poverty, unemployment, and exposure to violence exacerbate early life adversity. Despite this, research on ACEs and mental health in these contexts remains limited, especially among youth living in informal urban settlement…
Impact of Covid-19-Related Disruptions on Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Young Adults Living with HIV in Southern Uganda
Addressing Psychosocial Outcomes among Vulnerable Adolescent Girls
A pilot study of alcohol and substance use, mental health symptoms and social vulnerabilities among youth in Nairobi’s informal settlements
Alcohol and Substance Use (ASU) and mental ill-health among youths is today a global public health concern especially among the urban poor. This pilot study examined the prevalence, patterns and mental health associations of ASU among youths in urban slums. Baseline cross-section data were collected from 94 participants aged 15–24 in two informal settlements in Nairobi. Descriptive statistics analyzed demographic, substance use and mental health …
Preliminary impact of a combination intervention on intention to migrate and school absence among adolescent girls
The longitudinal impact of an evidence‐based multiple family group intervention ( Amaka Amasanyufu ) on family cohesion among children in Uganda
Family functioning plays a critical role in childhood disruptive behavior disorders ( The Family Journal , 2003, 11 (1), 33–41; Research in Nursing and Health , 2016, 39 (4), 229–243). Yet, there is limited research on the impact of evidence‐based family strengthening interventions on improving family cohesion as a protective factor among children experiencing behavioral challenges. To address this gap, we analyzed data ( N = 636) from the SMART …
Health Impact of Racism-Based Experiences Among Black African Immigrant Adults in the United States
Racism-based experiences among Black African immigrants in the United States are a growing concern due to the prevalence of these events and risk for negative health (mental, behavioral, and physical) outcomes. This integrative review appraised published studies (2012–2023) addressing the relationship between racism-based experiences and adverse health for Black African immigrants. Articles were identified using structured search terms in several…
Short‐term impact of a combination intervention on family cohesion
Child labor remains a concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, evidence-based preventive efforts are limited. We analyzed longitudinal data from Ghanaian adolescent girls in a pilot randomized clinical trial testing the preliminary impact of a combination intervention on family cohesion as a protective factor against child labor and school dropout. While there was no statistical difference between the control and intervention groups at 9 months, the r…
Self‐esteem and self‐concept as correlates of life satisfaction and attitudes toward school among Ghanaian girls
During adolescence, youth experience several physical, psychosocial, and cognitive changes. Self-esteem and self-concept are identified as protective factors for adolescents in high-income countries, but studies are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the associations of self-esteem and self-concept with life satisfaction and attitudes toward school using baseline data from 97 Ghanaian adolescent girls at risk of school dropout. Ordinary L…
The impact of Covid-19 changes and disruptions on generalized anxiety disorder among young adults living with HIV (Ylhiv) in Uganda
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we investigated associations between specific COVID-19-related changes and its impact on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) levels among vulnerable young adults living with HIV (YALHIV) in a low-resource setting in Southern Uganda. This research utilized data from 500 YALHIV aged 19 to 25 from the Suubi+Adherence-R2 COVID-19 Supplement study. Disruptions were assessed using an 8-item modified Coronavirus I…
Sexual Health Behaviors and Knowledge Among Ugandan Adolescent Girls
Pathways to care among patients with mental illness at two psychiatric facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa
BACKGROUND: A patient's pathway to care is often characterized by a sequence of actions taken to remedy ill-health. Research exploring the help-seeking behavior of individuals with mental health problems in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively limited. This study assessed the perceptions and experiences of mental illness and treatment among patients with mental illness at two psychiatric facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS: 309 intervie…
The Long-term (5-year) Impact of a Family Economic Empowerment Intervention on Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda
Self-efficacy, academic performance and school transition among orphaned adolescents in southern Uganda
Family-level correlates of disruptive behavior challenges among children in Southwestern Uganda
The impact of discomfort with HIV status and hopelessness on depressive symptoms among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda
Introduction: Discomfort with and reluctance to disclose HIV status can lead to depression, social isolation, and poor medication adherence; we examined relationships among these variables within a sample of adolescents living with HIV in Uganda. Methods: We used baseline data from the Suubi + Adherence study, which recruited a total of 702 adolescents (ages 10–16 years) living with HIV in southwestern Uganda. Structural equation models were cond…
Gender, HIV knowledge and prevention attitudes among adolescents living with HIV participating in an economic empowerment intervention in Uganda
HIV disproportionately affect adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, the HIV prevalence is four times higher in adolescent girls compared to boys. This study examined gender, HIV general and clinical knowledge, and prevention attitudes among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda. Data from a cluster randomized clinical trial were analyzed. A total of 702 adolescents (average age of 12.4) were randomized to either a con…
Alleviating psychological distress and promoting mental wellbeing among adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, during and after Covid-19
COVID-19 social control measures (e.g. physical distancing and lockdowns) can have both immediate (social isolation, loneliness, anxiety, stress) and long-term effects (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) on individuals' mental health. This may be particularly true of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and their caregivers - populations already overburdened by intersecting stressors (e.g. psychosocial, biomedical, familial, economic, soc…
Evaluating potential mediators for the impact of a family-based economic intervention (Suubi+Adherence) on the mental health of adolescents living with HIV in Uganda
Assessing the impact of an asset-based intervention on educational outcomes of orphaned children and adolescents
This paper examines the effect of an asset-based intervention on academic performance and school transition among orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda. Participants were randomly assigned to either the control arm or two treatment arms receiving an asset-based intervention. Participants in the treatment arms scored better grades; and had higher odds of transitioning to post-primary education relative to the control arm. Programmes which tar…
Social support and school outcomes of adolescents orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/Aids living in South Western Uganda
The goal of this study is to examine the role of social support from multiple sources, including the extended family, caregivers, classmates, peers and teachers, in improving the school outcomes (grades and attendance) of children orphaned by AIDS in Uganda. Data for this study comes from a 4-year randomized control trial, called Suubi-Maka (Hope for families), conducted in the Southwestern part of Uganda from 2008 to 2012. Using multivariate reg…
Testing the Financial Capability Framework
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), youths (23 years or younger)-who account for almost half the population-are particularly vulnerable to poverty and exclusion from financial markets and intermediaries. In addition, a significant factor in the financial instability of the region appears to be the economic functioning of its youths. In recent years, social work interventions throughout the region have focused on investing in the economic functioning of …
Examining the relationship of social support and family cohesion on ART adherence among HIV-positive adolescents in southern Uganda
Several studies in sub-Saharan Africa have linked social support to better ART (antiretroviral therapy) adherence among adults living with HIV. Less is known about the role of social support and family cohesion in ART adherence among children below 18 years. This paper focuses on HIV-infected adolescents as they transition through the vulnerable developmental stage of adolescence to examine the association between family cohesion and social suppo…
Testing the Financial Capability Framework
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), youths (23 years or younger)-who account for almost half the population-are particularly vulnerable to poverty and exclusion from financial markets and intermediaries. In addition, a significant factor in the financial instability of the region appears to be the economic functioning of its youths. In recent years, social work interventions throughout the region have focused on investing in the economic functioning of …
Social support and school outcomes of adolescents orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/Aids living in South Western Uganda
The goal of this study is to examine the role of social support from multiple sources, including the extended family, caregivers, classmates, peers and teachers, in improving the school outcomes (grades and attendance) of children orphaned by AIDS in Uganda. Data for this study comes from a 4-year randomized control trial, called Suubi-Maka (Hope for families), conducted in the Southwestern part of Uganda from 2008 to 2012. Using multivariate reg…
Assessing the impact of an asset-based intervention on educational outcomes of orphaned children and adolescents
This paper examines the effect of an asset-based intervention on academic performance and school transition among orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda. Participants were randomly assigned to either the control arm or two treatment arms receiving an asset-based intervention. Participants in the treatment arms scored better grades; and had higher odds of transitioning to post-primary education relative to the control arm. Programmes which tar…
Examining the relationship of social support and family cohesion on ART adherence among HIV-positive adolescents in southern Uganda
Several studies in sub-Saharan Africa have linked social support to better ART (antiretroviral therapy) adherence among adults living with HIV. Less is known about the role of social support and family cohesion in ART adherence among children below 18 years. This paper focuses on HIV-infected adolescents as they transition through the vulnerable developmental stage of adolescence to examine the association between family cohesion and social suppo…
From “4Rs and 2Ss” to “Amaka Amasanyufu” (Happy Families)
In Uganda, one in five children presents mental health challenges, including disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs). DBDs can persist through adulthood and result in negative outcomes. Effective interventions for DBDs have been developed and tested in high‐poverty communities in developed countries. Yet, most African countries, such as Uganda, lack such interventions. This paper describes the adaptation process of an evidence‐based intervention of …
The effectiveness of treatment supporter interventions in antiretroviral treatment adherence in sub-Saharan Africa
Factors Associated With HIV Disclosure and HIV-Related Stigma Among Adolescents Living With HIV in Southwestern Uganda
HIV-related stigma has been documented as one of the greatest obstacles to reducing HIV spread, engagement in HIV treatment, and poor mental health functioning among people living with HIV (PLWH). Although disclosure is important for people to receive social support, the fear of stigma and discrimination prevents PLWH from disclosing their status. For children and adolescents growing up with HIV -with no opportunity for normal transition through …
Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among high school adolescent girls in southern Uganda
This trial was prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT03307226 ) on 11 October 2017
Social and Economic Equity and Family Cohesion as Potential Protective Factors from Depression Among Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda
Access and utilization of financial services among poor HIV-impacted children and families in Uganda
The impact of discomfort with HIV status and hopelessness on depressive symptoms among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda
Introduction: Discomfort with and reluctance to disclose HIV status can lead to depression, social isolation, and poor medication adherence; we examined relationships among these variables within a sample of adolescents living with HIV in Uganda. Methods: We used baseline data from the Suubi + Adherence study, which recruited a total of 702 adolescents (ages 10–16 years) living with HIV in southwestern Uganda. Structural equation models were cond…
Gender, HIV knowledge and prevention attitudes among adolescents living with HIV participating in an economic empowerment intervention in Uganda
HIV disproportionately affect adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, the HIV prevalence is four times higher in adolescent girls compared to boys. This study examined gender, HIV general and clinical knowledge, and prevention attitudes among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda. Data from a cluster randomized clinical trial were analyzed. A total of 702 adolescents (average age of 12.4) were randomized to either a con…
Alleviating psychological distress and promoting mental wellbeing among adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, during and after Covid-19
COVID-19 social control measures (e.g. physical distancing and lockdowns) can have both immediate (social isolation, loneliness, anxiety, stress) and long-term effects (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) on individuals' mental health. This may be particularly true of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and their caregivers - populations already overburdened by intersecting stressors (e.g. psychosocial, biomedical, familial, economic, soc…
Relationship Between Mental Health and HIV Transmission Knowledge and Prevention Attitudes Among Adolescents Living with HIV
Evaluating potential mediators for the impact of a family-based economic intervention (Suubi+Adherence) on the mental health of adolescents living with HIV in Uganda
The Long-term (5-year) Impact of a Family Economic Empowerment Intervention on Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda
Self-efficacy, academic performance and school transition among orphaned adolescents in southern Uganda
Family-level correlates of disruptive behavior challenges among children in Southwestern Uganda
Sexual Health Behaviors and Knowledge Among Ugandan Adolescent Girls
Pathways to care among patients with mental illness at two psychiatric facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa
BACKGROUND: A patient's pathway to care is often characterized by a sequence of actions taken to remedy ill-health. Research exploring the help-seeking behavior of individuals with mental health problems in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively limited. This study assessed the perceptions and experiences of mental illness and treatment among patients with mental illness at two psychiatric facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS: 309 intervie…
The longitudinal impact of an evidence‐based multiple family group intervention ( Amaka Amasanyufu ) on family cohesion among children in Uganda
Family functioning plays a critical role in childhood disruptive behavior disorders ( The Family Journal , 2003, 11 (1), 33–41; Research in Nursing and Health , 2016, 39 (4), 229–243). Yet, there is limited research on the impact of evidence‐based family strengthening interventions on improving family cohesion as a protective factor among children experiencing behavioral challenges. To address this gap, we analyzed data ( N = 636) from the SMART …
Health Impact of Racism-Based Experiences Among Black African Immigrant Adults in the United States
Racism-based experiences among Black African immigrants in the United States are a growing concern due to the prevalence of these events and risk for negative health (mental, behavioral, and physical) outcomes. This integrative review appraised published studies (2012–2023) addressing the relationship between racism-based experiences and adverse health for Black African immigrants. Articles were identified using structured search terms in several…
Short‐term impact of a combination intervention on family cohesion
Child labor remains a concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, evidence-based preventive efforts are limited. We analyzed longitudinal data from Ghanaian adolescent girls in a pilot randomized clinical trial testing the preliminary impact of a combination intervention on family cohesion as a protective factor against child labor and school dropout. While there was no statistical difference between the control and intervention groups at 9 months, the r…
Self‐esteem and self‐concept as correlates of life satisfaction and attitudes toward school among Ghanaian girls
During adolescence, youth experience several physical, psychosocial, and cognitive changes. Self-esteem and self-concept are identified as protective factors for adolescents in high-income countries, but studies are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the associations of self-esteem and self-concept with life satisfaction and attitudes toward school using baseline data from 97 Ghanaian adolescent girls at risk of school dropout. Ordinary L…
The impact of Covid-19 changes and disruptions on generalized anxiety disorder among young adults living with HIV (Ylhiv) in Uganda
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we investigated associations between specific COVID-19-related changes and its impact on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) levels among vulnerable young adults living with HIV (YALHIV) in a low-resource setting in Southern Uganda. This research utilized data from 500 YALHIV aged 19 to 25 from the Suubi+Adherence-R2 COVID-19 Supplement study. Disruptions were assessed using an 8-item modified Coronavirus I…
Medicine (26 works) · Psychology (22 works) · Psychiatry (18 works) · Mental health (16 works) · Psychological intervention (16 works) · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare (14 works) · Environmental health (11 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (11 works) · Public health (11 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (10 works)