Radhika Sundararajan
Biographic Data
| ID | 386521 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Radhika Sundararajan |
| GIVEN NAMES | Radhika |
| FAMILY NAME | Sundararajan |
| SIGNATURE | SUNDARARAJAN R |
| AFFILIATIONS | Cornell University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8451-2243 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 15 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 5 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Tuberculosis screening and care delivery in pregnant and postpartum persons living with HIV in Botswana
Tuberculosis (TB) disease during pregnancy, particularly in persons living with HIV (PLHIV), is associated with poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. There are barriers to TB screening and care for PLHIV in the pregnant and postpartum period given atypical clinical presentation and service delivery challenges. Our objective was to understand barriers and facilitators to TB screening and care delivery during routine antenatal and postpartum care in…
Kidney disease screening at ART initiation among adults with HIV in Uganda
Kidney disease affects 850 million people worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing a significant burden. People living with HIV (PWH) are at increased risk due to nephrotoxicity of antiretroviral therapy (ART), in part due to widespread use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. In response, Uganda recommends routine kidney disease screening by doing a serum creatinine test at ART initiation. However, the extent of adherence to these guidelines rema…
Drivers of disengagement from care during the first six months on antiretroviral therapy for HIV in South Africa
For clients on HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, early disengagement from care is a critical obstacle to achieving UNAIDS’s second 95 target. While South Africa’s Differentiated Service Delivery Guideline on Fast Track Initiation and Counseling (FTIC) defines normative procedures, the impact of implementation and drivers of disengagement remain unclear. The PREFER mixed-methods study enrolled a prospective cohort of adult clients initiating AR…
Low HIV-risk aligned discontinuation among HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis users within public HIV clinics in Kenya
Adherence to oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is crucial for its effectiveness, however, studies have shown that PrEP use wanes within the first six months. We sought to understand reasons for discontinuation among individuals previously accessing PrEP from HIV clinics. Between November 2020 – January 2023, we conducted a mixed methods sub-study within a programmatic study to improve the efficiency of PrEP delivery in four public HIV clin…
Stakeholder perspectives on barriers and facilitators to hypertension control in urban Haiti
These findings can inform the development of future efforts to design interventions to improve hypertension control in Haiti
The association of HIV-related stigma and psychosocial factors and HIV treatment outcomes among people living with HIV in the Volta region of Ghana
Stigma and discrimination have been identified as significant barriers to HIV treatment among people living with HIV (PLWH). HIV stigma affects decision to seek HIV testing and early treatment. Evidence shows that HIV stigma undermines antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence by affecting the psychological process such as adjusting and coping with social support. In Ghana, stigma toward PLWH occurs in many ways including rejection by their communit…
Respiratory symptoms after TB treatment completion
Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) survivors experience a high burden of residual and recurrent respiratory symptoms after TB treatment completion. However, guidelines for the investigation and care of symptomatic TB-survivors are limited. We used qualitative methods to explore patient and provider understandings, experience and practice around respiratory symptoms in the post-TB period. We conducted in-depth interviews with PTB-survivors who had exper…
The Female Global Scholars Program
Fewer than 25% of global health leadership positions worldwide are held by women, adversely impacting women’s health and widening gendered health disparities. The Female Global Scholars (FGS) Program, established in 2018 at Weill Cornell Medicine, is a two-year hybrid training and peer-mentorship program that promotes the retention and advancement of early-career female investigators conducting health research in low- and middle-income countries …
A community health worker-led program to improve access to gestational diabetes screening in urban slums of Pune, India
The World Health Organization recommends all pregnant women receive screening for gestational diabetes (GDM) with a fasting oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). However, very few women receive recommended screening in resource-limited countries like India. We implemented a community health worker (CHW)-delivered program to evaluate if home-based, CHW-delivered OGTT would increase GDM screening in a low-resource setting. We conducted a mixed method…
“If you have light, your heart will be at peace”
Background: Expanding electrification and access to other clean and affordable energy, such as solar energy, is a critical component of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where 70% of people are energy insecure. Intervention trials related to access or less polluting household energy alternatives have typically focused on air quality and biological outcomes rather than on how an intervention affects the end user…
Understanding traditional healer utilisation for hypertension care using the Andersen model
Hypertension disproportionately affects people living in African countries, where there are many challenges to appropriate diagnosis and treatment, and many people with hypertension utilise traditional healers as their primary source of healthcare. In this study, we sought to understand factors driving healer utilisation among people with hypertension. We conducted 52 semi-structured interviews with traditional healers, patients and healthcare pr…
Understanding barriers and facilitators to clinic attendance and medication adherence among adults with hypertensive urgency in Tanzania
Hypertensive urgency is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events and premature deaths. Lack of medication adherence is associated with poor health outcomes among patients with hypertensive urgency in resource-limited settings. To inform the development of tailored interventions to improve health outcomes in this population, this study aimed at understanding facilitators and barriers to clinic attendance and medication adherence among Tanzani…
Understanding the role of traditional healers in the HIV care cascade
Tanzania is HIV-endemic, with 5% prevalence. However, less than half of Tanzanians are aware of their HIV status, and only 75% of adult Tanzanians living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Informal healthcare providers, such as traditional healers, frequently serve as the first line of healthcare in Tanzania. How traditional healers interact with people living with HIV (PLWH) remains unknown. This study sought to understand gaps in HIV…
A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Traditional Healer-Delivered Counseling and Rapid HIV Testing in Tanzania
Understanding PrEP Acceptability Among Priority Populations
Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can safely and effectively prevent HIV acquisition in HIV-negative individuals. However, uptake of PrEP has been suboptimal in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of this qualitative study was to identify facilitators of and barriers to PrEP acceptability among target users not taking PrEP. Fifty-nine individuals belonging to Ugandan priority populations participated in a single in-depth interview. Participants…
A qualitative study of the perspectives of health workers and policy makers on external support provided to low-level private health facilities in a Ugandan rural district, in management of childhood …
BACKGROUND: With the under-five child mortality rate of 46.4 deaths per 1000 live births, Uganda should accelerate measures to reduce child deaths to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3. While 60-70% of frontline health services are provided by the private sector, many low-level private health facilities (LLPHF) are unregistered, unregulated, and often miss innovative and quality improvement strategies rolled out by the Ministry of Health.…
Use, cost-effectiveness, and end user perspectives of a home solar lighting intervention in rural Uganda
Energy poverty is prevalent in resource-limited settings, leading households to use inefficient fuels and appliances that contribute to household air pollution. Randomized controlled trials of household energy interventions in low and middle income countries have largely focused on cooking services. Less is known about the adoption and impact of clean lighting interventions. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed methods study as part of a …
Explaining utilization of HIV prevention and testing services among university students in Mozambique
Given gendered differences in uptake of condom use and HIV testing, and perceived HIV risk, interventions tailored specifically to male and female students may impact engagement with HIV prevention and testing and empower informed choices about sexual behaviors
Traditional healers as client advocates in the HIV-endemic region of Maputo, Mozambique
Traditional healers are commonly utilised throughout sub-Saharan Africa instead of – and in concert with – biomedical facilities. Traditional healers are trusted providers and prominent community members and could be important partners in improving engagement with HIV services in endemic contexts. Our study sought to understand the roles of healers in the urban setting of Maputo, Mozambique, where HIV prevalence is high and testing rates are low.…
Qualitative Study of Changes in Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults Entering Care and Treatment for HIV/Aids in Rural Southwest Uganda
Alcohol has a substantial negative impact on the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Uganda, where heavy alcohol consumption is common. Using a content analytic approach, this qualitative study characterizes changes in alcohol use among 59 HIV-infected Ugandan adults (>18 years old), who reported any alcohol use in the previous year as they entered HIV care. Most participants reported attempting to cease or reduce alcohol intake o…
Traditional healers as client advocates in the HIV-endemic region of Maputo, Mozambique
Traditional healers are commonly utilised throughout sub-Saharan Africa instead of – and in concert with – biomedical facilities. Traditional healers are trusted providers and prominent community members and could be important partners in improving engagement with HIV services in endemic contexts. Our study sought to understand the roles of healers in the urban setting of Maputo, Mozambique, where HIV prevalence is high and testing rates are low.…
Qualitative Study of Changes in Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults Entering Care and Treatment for HIV/Aids in Rural Southwest Uganda
Alcohol has a substantial negative impact on the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Uganda, where heavy alcohol consumption is common. Using a content analytic approach, this qualitative study characterizes changes in alcohol use among 59 HIV-infected Ugandan adults (>18 years old), who reported any alcohol use in the previous year as they entered HIV care. Most participants reported attempting to cease or reduce alcohol intake o…
A qualitative study of the perspectives of health workers and policy makers on external support provided to low-level private health facilities in a Ugandan rural district, in management of childhood …
BACKGROUND: With the under-five child mortality rate of 46.4 deaths per 1000 live births, Uganda should accelerate measures to reduce child deaths to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3. While 60-70% of frontline health services are provided by the private sector, many low-level private health facilities (LLPHF) are unregistered, unregulated, and often miss innovative and quality improvement strategies rolled out by the Ministry of Health.…
Use, cost-effectiveness, and end user perspectives of a home solar lighting intervention in rural Uganda
Energy poverty is prevalent in resource-limited settings, leading households to use inefficient fuels and appliances that contribute to household air pollution. Randomized controlled trials of household energy interventions in low and middle income countries have largely focused on cooking services. Less is known about the adoption and impact of clean lighting interventions. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed methods study as part of a …
Explaining utilization of HIV prevention and testing services among university students in Mozambique
Given gendered differences in uptake of condom use and HIV testing, and perceived HIV risk, interventions tailored specifically to male and female students may impact engagement with HIV prevention and testing and empower informed choices about sexual behaviors
Traditional healers as client advocates in the HIV-endemic region of Maputo, Mozambique
Traditional healers are commonly utilised throughout sub-Saharan Africa instead of – and in concert with – biomedical facilities. Traditional healers are trusted providers and prominent community members and could be important partners in improving engagement with HIV services in endemic contexts. Our study sought to understand the roles of healers in the urban setting of Maputo, Mozambique, where HIV prevalence is high and testing rates are low.…
Understanding barriers and facilitators to clinic attendance and medication adherence among adults with hypertensive urgency in Tanzania
Hypertensive urgency is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events and premature deaths. Lack of medication adherence is associated with poor health outcomes among patients with hypertensive urgency in resource-limited settings. To inform the development of tailored interventions to improve health outcomes in this population, this study aimed at understanding facilitators and barriers to clinic attendance and medication adherence among Tanzani…
Understanding the role of traditional healers in the HIV care cascade
Tanzania is HIV-endemic, with 5% prevalence. However, less than half of Tanzanians are aware of their HIV status, and only 75% of adult Tanzanians living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Informal healthcare providers, such as traditional healers, frequently serve as the first line of healthcare in Tanzania. How traditional healers interact with people living with HIV (PLWH) remains unknown. This study sought to understand gaps in HIV…
A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Traditional Healer-Delivered Counseling and Rapid HIV Testing in Tanzania
Understanding PrEP Acceptability Among Priority Populations
Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can safely and effectively prevent HIV acquisition in HIV-negative individuals. However, uptake of PrEP has been suboptimal in sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of this qualitative study was to identify facilitators of and barriers to PrEP acceptability among target users not taking PrEP. Fifty-nine individuals belonging to Ugandan priority populations participated in a single in-depth interview. Participants…
A community health worker-led program to improve access to gestational diabetes screening in urban slums of Pune, India
The World Health Organization recommends all pregnant women receive screening for gestational diabetes (GDM) with a fasting oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). However, very few women receive recommended screening in resource-limited countries like India. We implemented a community health worker (CHW)-delivered program to evaluate if home-based, CHW-delivered OGTT would increase GDM screening in a low-resource setting. We conducted a mixed method…
“If you have light, your heart will be at peace”
Background: Expanding electrification and access to other clean and affordable energy, such as solar energy, is a critical component of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where 70% of people are energy insecure. Intervention trials related to access or less polluting household energy alternatives have typically focused on air quality and biological outcomes rather than on how an intervention affects the end user…
Understanding traditional healer utilisation for hypertension care using the Andersen model
Hypertension disproportionately affects people living in African countries, where there are many challenges to appropriate diagnosis and treatment, and many people with hypertension utilise traditional healers as their primary source of healthcare. In this study, we sought to understand factors driving healer utilisation among people with hypertension. We conducted 52 semi-structured interviews with traditional healers, patients and healthcare pr…
The association of HIV-related stigma and psychosocial factors and HIV treatment outcomes among people living with HIV in the Volta region of Ghana
Stigma and discrimination have been identified as significant barriers to HIV treatment among people living with HIV (PLWH). HIV stigma affects decision to seek HIV testing and early treatment. Evidence shows that HIV stigma undermines antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence by affecting the psychological process such as adjusting and coping with social support. In Ghana, stigma toward PLWH occurs in many ways including rejection by their communit…
Respiratory symptoms after TB treatment completion
Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) survivors experience a high burden of residual and recurrent respiratory symptoms after TB treatment completion. However, guidelines for the investigation and care of symptomatic TB-survivors are limited. We used qualitative methods to explore patient and provider understandings, experience and practice around respiratory symptoms in the post-TB period. We conducted in-depth interviews with PTB-survivors who had exper…
The Female Global Scholars Program
Fewer than 25% of global health leadership positions worldwide are held by women, adversely impacting women’s health and widening gendered health disparities. The Female Global Scholars (FGS) Program, established in 2018 at Weill Cornell Medicine, is a two-year hybrid training and peer-mentorship program that promotes the retention and advancement of early-career female investigators conducting health research in low- and middle-income countries …
Drivers of disengagement from care during the first six months on antiretroviral therapy for HIV in South Africa
For clients on HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, early disengagement from care is a critical obstacle to achieving UNAIDS’s second 95 target. While South Africa’s Differentiated Service Delivery Guideline on Fast Track Initiation and Counseling (FTIC) defines normative procedures, the impact of implementation and drivers of disengagement remain unclear. The PREFER mixed-methods study enrolled a prospective cohort of adult clients initiating AR…
Low HIV-risk aligned discontinuation among HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis users within public HIV clinics in Kenya
Adherence to oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is crucial for its effectiveness, however, studies have shown that PrEP use wanes within the first six months. We sought to understand reasons for discontinuation among individuals previously accessing PrEP from HIV clinics. Between November 2020 – January 2023, we conducted a mixed methods sub-study within a programmatic study to improve the efficiency of PrEP delivery in four public HIV clin…
Stakeholder perspectives on barriers and facilitators to hypertension control in urban Haiti
These findings can inform the development of future efforts to design interventions to improve hypertension control in Haiti
Tuberculosis screening and care delivery in pregnant and postpartum persons living with HIV in Botswana
Tuberculosis (TB) disease during pregnancy, particularly in persons living with HIV (PLHIV), is associated with poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. There are barriers to TB screening and care for PLHIV in the pregnant and postpartum period given atypical clinical presentation and service delivery challenges. Our objective was to understand barriers and facilitators to TB screening and care delivery during routine antenatal and postpartum care in…
Kidney disease screening at ART initiation among adults with HIV in Uganda
Kidney disease affects 850 million people worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing a significant burden. People living with HIV (PWH) are at increased risk due to nephrotoxicity of antiretroviral therapy (ART), in part due to widespread use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. In response, Uganda recommends routine kidney disease screening by doing a serum creatinine test at ART initiation. However, the extent of adherence to these guidelines rema…
Medicine (17 works) · Nursing (15 works) · Qualitative research (13 works) · Family medicine (12 works) · Public health (11 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (10 works) · Environmental health (8 works) · Population (7 works) · Health care (6 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (6 works)