Ronald H Gray

Biographic Data

ID198498
NAMERonald H Gray
GIVEN NAMESRonald H
FAMILY NAMEGray
SIGNATUREGRAY R H
AFFILIATIONSJohns Hopkins University
ORCID0000-0003-1952-6507
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS49
TOTAL CITATIONS60
AUTHOR COUNT49
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR1975
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2025
H-INDEX4

  • Safety and efficacy of the ShangRing for early infant male circumcision in the routine clinical setting

    Open AccessLina Posada Calderon, Spyridon P Basourakos et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2025

    INTRODUCTION: Male circumcision (MC) has been shown to decrease transmission of HIV and is a critical strategy to decrease its incidence in countries with high rates of heterosexually transmitted HIV. Early infant MC (EIMC), with single-use MC devices, could increase rates of MC in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective was to determine the safety, efficacy and satisfaction of ShangRing EIMC in resource-constrained environments. METHODS: Healthy male …

  • HIV epidemiologic trends among occupational groups in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessVictor O Popoola, Joseph Kagaayi et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2024

    Certain occupations have been associated with heightened risk of HIV acquisition and spread in sub-Saharan Africa, including female bar and restaurant work and male transportation work. However, data on changes in population prevalence of HIV infection and HIV incidence within occupations following mass scale-up of African HIV treatment and prevention programs is very limited. We evaluated prospective data collected between 1999 and 2016 from the…

  • Estimation of cause-specific mortality in Rakai, Uganda, using verbal autopsy 1999-2019

    Open AccessDorean Nabukalu, Júlia Almeida Calazans et al.ARTICLEGlobal Health Action2024

    BACKGROUND: There are scant data on the causes of adult deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. We estimated the level and trends in adult mortality, overall and by different causes, in rural Rakai, Uganda, by age, sex, and HIV status. OBJECTIVES: To estimate and analyse adult cause-specific mortality trends in Rakai, Uganda. METHODOLOGY: Mortality information by cause, age, sex, and HIV status was recorded in the Rakai Community Cohort study using verbal …

  • Use of mobile phones to collect data on Covid-19

    Open AccessRobert Ssekubugu, Anthony Ndyanabo et al.ARTICLEGlobal Health Action2024

    During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, we deployed a rapid, mobile phone-based survey to assess access and participation rates when using mobile phones to collect data on COVID-19 in Rakai, south-central Uganda. We sampled prior Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS) participants based on HIV status using mobile phone contacts. We administered a 30-minute phone-based interview to consenting participants to assess their knowledge about different aspe…

  • Overweight and obesity in south central Uganda

    Open AccessAdeoluwa Ayoola, Robert Ssekubugu et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2022

    Obesity is a rapidly growing global health challenge, but there are few population-level studies from non-urban settings in sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated the prevalence of overweight (body mass index (BMI)>25 kg/m 2 ), obesity (BMI>30 kg/m 2 ), and associated factors using data from May 2018 to November 2020 from the Rakai Community Cohort Study, a population-based cohort of residents aged 15 to 49 living in forty-one fishing, trading, and agr…

  • Cardiovascular (Framingham) and type II diabetes (Finnish Diabetes) risk scores

    Open AccessRobert Ssekubugu, Fredrick Makumbi et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2022

    While most items of the FRS and FINDRISC were generally well understood, physical activity needs further clarification. It is important to consider the seasonality of fruits and vegetables, especially in rural resource-poor settings. Current risk scores will need to be locally adapted to estimate the 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes in this setting

  • Enhancers and barriers to uptake of male circumcision services in Northern Uganda

    Barbara Nanteza, Barbara M Nanteza et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2020

    Uganda adopted voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in 2010, but uptake remains disproportionately low in the Northern region despite implementing several demand creation strategies. This study explored the socio-cultural and structural enhancers and barriers to uptake of VMMC services in Gulu, a district in Northern Uganda where uptake is lowest. In September 2016, we conducted 19 focus group discussions, 9 in-depth interviews, and 11 key …

  • Women’s role in male circumcision promotion in Rakai, Uganda

    Neema Nakyanjo, Danielle Piccinini et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2019

    Medical male circumcision (MMC) has expanded in sub-Saharan Africa, yet uptake remains sub-optimal. We sought to understand women's perceptions of and influence on MMC in Rakai, Uganda. We conducted in-depth interviews with 27 women in fishing and trading communities, including women married to circumcised and uncircumcised men, single women, and sex workers. Data analysis followed a team-based framework approach. All female participants preferre…

  • Cell Phones, Sexual Behaviors and HIV Prevalence in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessFred Nalugoda, Philip Kreniske et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2019

  • Sexual risk behaviors following circumcision among HIV-positive men in Rakai, Uganda

    Edward Nelson Kankaka, Joseph Ssekasanvu et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2018

    OBJECTIVE: To determine whether circumcision of HIV-positive men is associated with increased subsequent sexual risk behaviors which may place their female partners at risk. METHODS: Newly circumcised and uncircumcised HIV-positive men in the Rakai Community Cohort Study were followed from baseline (July 2013-January 2015) to determine trend in sexual risk behaviors and association of circumcision with subsequent sexual risk behaviors at follow u…

  • Knowledge on voluntary medical male circumcision in a low uptake setting in northern Uganda

    Open AccessBarbara Nanteza, Barbara Marjorie Nanteza et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2018

    Misconceptions regarding change in sexual drive or performance were associated with circumcision status in this population, while knowledge of VMMC benefits, risks and procedure was not

  • Effectiveness of an integrated intimate partner violence and HIV prevention intervention in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessJennifer A Wagman, Ronald H Gray et al.ARTICLEThe Lancet Global Health2015

    BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with HIV infection. We aimed to assess whether provision of a combination of IPV prevention and HIV services would reduce IPV and HIV incidence in individuals enrolled in the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS), Rakai, Uganda. METHODS: We used pre-existing clusters of communities randomised as part of a previous family planning trial in this cohort. Four intervention group clusters from th…

  • Mobility among youth in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessAshley C Schuyler, Zoe R Edelstein et al.ARTICLEGlobal Public Health2015

    Mobility, including migration and travel, influences risk of HIV. This study examined time trends and characteristics among mobile youth (15-24 years) in rural Uganda, and the relationship between mobility and risk factors for HIV. We used data from an annual household census and population-based cohort study in the Rakai district, Uganda. Data on in-migration and out-migration were collected among youth (15-24 years) from 43 communities from 199…

  • Understanding the socio-structural context of high HIV transmission in kasensero fishing community, South Western Uganda

    Open AccessMuhamadi Lubega, Neema Nakyaanjo et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2015

    The current combination HIV prevention services by the RHSP need to be enhanced with more government involvement including ensuring sustainable supply of ART and circumcision services since they are reportedly highly demanded. Community involvement through the engagement of popular peers could also help in the campaign to change the HIV predisposing culture, misconceptions and risky social norms of the population. Social Context HIV Transmission …

  • Effectiveness of Peer Support on Care Engagement and Preventive Care Intervention Utilization Among Pre-antiretroviral Therapy, HIV-Infected Adults in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessLarry W Chang, Gertrude Nakigozi et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2015

  • Combined Intimate Partner Violence and HIV/Aids Prevention in Rural Uganda

    Jennifer A Wagman, Elizabeth J King et al.ARTICLEHealth Care For Women International2015

    Intimate partner violence (IPV) has a bidirectional relationship with HIV infection. Researchers from the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP), an HIV research and services organization in rural Uganda, conducted a combination IPV and HIV prevention intervention called the Safe Homes and Respect for Everyone (SHARE) Project between 2005 and 2009. SHARE was associated with significant declines in physical and sexual IPV and overall HIV incidence, …

  • Male Circumcision Coverage, Knowledge, and Attitudes After 4-Years of Program Scale-up in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessXiangrong Kong, Joseph Ssekasanvu et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2014

  • Cost analyses of peer health worker and mHealth support interventions for improving Aids care in Rakai, Uganda

    Larry W Chang, Joseph Kagaayi et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2013

    A cost analysis study calculates resources needed to deliver an intervention and can provide useful information on affordability for service providers and policy-makers. We conducted cost analyses of both a peer health worker (PHW) and a mHealth (mobile phone) support intervention. Excluding supervisory staffing costs, total yearly costs for the PHW intervention was $8475, resulting in a yearly cost per patient of $8.74, per virologic failure ave…

  • Community understandings of and responses to gender equality and empowerment in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessMargo Mullinax, Jeanette A Higgins et al.ARTICLEGlobal Public Health2013

    Women's rights and gender empowerment programmes are now part of the international agenda for improving global public health, the benefits of which are well documented. However, the public health community has, yet, to address how people define and understand gender equality and how they enact the process of empowerment in their lives. This study uses safe homes and respect for everyone (SHARE), an anti-violence intervention in rural Rakai, Ugand…

  • Risk factors for intimate partner violence in women in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, Uganda, from 2000 to 2009

    Open AccessFiona G Kouyoumdjian, Liviana Calzavara et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2013

    Using longitudinal data, this study identified a number of risk factors for IPV. These findings are useful for the development of prevention strategies to prevent and mitigate IPV in women

  • Family structure effects on early sexual debut among adolescent girls in Rakai, Uganda

    Nanlesta Pilgrim, Saifuddin Ahmed et al.ARTICLEVulnerable Children and Youth…2013Cited by: 3References: 5

    This study assessed the association between household family structure and early sexual debut among adolescent girls, ages 15-19, in rural Rakai District, Uganda. Early sexual debut is associated with detrimental physical, emotional and social outcomes, including increased risk of HIV. However, research on the family's role on adolescents' sexual risk behaviors in sub-Sahara Africa has been minimal and rarely takes into account the varying family…

  • Contextual Barriers and Motivators to Adult Male Medical Circumcision in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessRobert Ssekubugu, Elli Leontsini et al.ARTICLEQualitative Health Research2013Cited by: 1References: 18

    Medical male circumcision (MMC) is a central component of HIV prevention. In this study we examined barriers to and facilitators of MMC in Rakai, Uganda. Interviews and focus groups with MMC acceptors, decliners, and community members were collected and analyzed iteratively. Themes were developed based on immersion, repeated reading, sorting, and coding of data using grounded theory. Pain, medical complications, infertility, lack of empirical eff…

  • Impact of a mHealth Intervention for Peer Health Workers on Aids Care in Rural Uganda

    Open AccessLarry W Chang, Joseph Kagaayi et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2011

  • Disclosure of HIV results among discordant couples in Rakai, Uganda

    Robert Kairania, Ronald H Gray et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2010

    Disclosure of HIV sero-positive results among HIV-discordant couples in sub-Saharan Africa is generally low. We describe a facilitated couple counselling approach to enhance disclosure among HIV-discordant couples. Using unique identifiers, 293 HIV-discordant couples were identified through retrospective linkage of married or cohabiting consenting adults individually enrolled into a cohort study and into two randomised trials of male circumcision…

  • A Randomized Community Trial of Enhanced Family Planning Outreach in Rakai, Uganda

    Open AccessTom Lutalo, Godfrey Kigozi et al.ARTICLEStudies in Family Planning2010Cited by: 2References: 6

    A randomized community trial of a family planning outreach program was conducted in Rakai District, Uganda. Five communities received standard services; six intervention communities received additional family planning information, counseling, and contraceptive methods from government service providers and community‐based volunteer agents using social marketing and other strategies. Condom use was promoted in all of the communities. The community‐…