Ohemaa Poku
Biographic Data
| ID | 6087303 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ohemaa Poku |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ohemaa |
| FAMILY NAME | Poku |
| SIGNATURE | POKU O |
| AFFILIATIONS | Johns Hopkins University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7658-2981 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 18 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2019 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
The Mental Health of Adults Living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa
Baby Friendly Spaces
Poor maternal mental health has been shown to impact child health and development. Yet, there is a gap in research on integrated maternal and child care models in humanitarian settings. Action Against Hunger developed the Baby Friendly Spaces (BFS) program which bridges this gap by delivering evidence-based psychosocial support for young children under 2 years and their mothers. This multi-method study was conducted in Nguenyyiel refugee camp (Et…
Development and psychometric properties of three scales employing “what matters most” to assess cultural aspects of intersectional HIV-related and cancer stigma among people living with HIV in Hanoi, …
People living with HIV have disproportionate cancer risk and are a priority population for cancer prevention and control efforts globally, including in Vietnam. HIV-related and cancer stigma independently and intersectionally hinder access to and uptake of prevention and treatment. Using formative qualitative research that used the “What Matters Most” theoretical framework and cognitive interviewing, we developed three culturally-tailored stigma …
Place Security and Mental Health
Lessons learnt from daily oral PrEP delivery to inform national planning for PrEP ring introduction for women in low-income and middle-income countries
INTRODUCTION: Some African countries plan to introduce and scale-up new long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis methods (LA-PrEP), like the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring (PrEP ring) and injectable cabotegravir. National costed implementation plans, roadmaps for successful product implementation, are often overlooked. International stakeholders engaged in oral PrEP planning, introduction and scale-up are an information resource of lessons learned t…
“We did more than survive”
Despite advances in HIV-treatment, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with HIV (AYAHIV) face myriad challenges. They are less likely than children and older adults to be virally suppressed and are at higher risk for mental health conditions compared to their peers who do not have HIV. AYA are also developing in the context of numerous biomedical, neurocognitive, and psychosocial developmental changes. Normative challenges during this time can be …
Multilevel experiences of carceral violence in Los Angeles, California
Transgender women face a disproportionate burden of carceral violence, or violence related to policing and the criminal legal system, with transgender women of colour experiencing even greater disparities. Several frameworks conceptualise the mechanisms through which violence impacts transgender women. However, none of them directly explore the role of carceral violence, particularly as it is experienced by transgender women themselves. Sixteen i…
It’s Better If I Die Because Even in the Hospital, There is a Stigma, People Still Gossip”
Youth perspectives of working with near peer youth lay counsellors
Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have higher rates of common mental disorders (CMDs) when compared with HIV‐negative youth. We adapted the Friendship Bench to create a problem solving‐based counselling intervention in Botswana delivered by near peer youth lay counsellors for YLWH called Safe Haven. In August 2020, and from June to August 2021, we conducted 22 semistructured interviews with youth aged 13–25 years with mild‐to‐moderate symptoms of CMDs…
Associations between social network characteristics and sexual minority disclosure concern among Black men who have sex with men living with and without HIV
In addition to the pervasive anti‐Black racism faced by Black people in the United States, Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) face sexual minority stigma and, among BMSM living with HIV, HIV‐related stigma. These multilevel social forces shape social networks, which are important sources of resources, support, and behavior regulation. This study quantitatively examined the relationship between social network characteristics and sexual minorit…
Integrating Adolescent Mental Health into HIV Prevention and Treatment Programs
Adolescent mental health (AMH) is a critical driver of HIV outcomes, but is often overlooked in HIV research and programming. The implementation science Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework informed development of a questionnaire that was sent to a global alliance of adolescent HIV researchers, providers, and implementors working in sub-Saharan Africa with the aim to (1) describe current AMH outcomes incorporated…
Measuring sexual violence stigma in humanitarian contexts
An abbreviated core set of invariant perceived and internalized sexual violence stigma items demonstrated evidence of construct validity in two diverse settings. The ability of this measure to be efficiently administered as a part of routine program monitoring and evaluation activities, with the potential addition of items from a measurement bank to improve contextual relevance, can facilitate improvements in the delivery and quality of gender-ba…
Disclosure of same-sex practices and experiences of healthcare stigma among cisgender men who have sex with men in five sub-Saharan African countries
Research to determine the factors driving disclosure's differential effect on healthcare stigma across contexts is needed. Ultimately, supportive environments enabling safe disclosure is critical to understanding HIV-acquisition risks and informing differentiated HIV-prevention, treatment, and testing services for MSM across SSA
Stigma, Structural Vulnerability, and “What Matters Most” Among Women Living With HIV in Botswana, 2017
Objectives. To explore whether beneficial health care policies, when implemented in the context of gender inequality, yield unintended structural consequences that stigmatize and ostracize women with HIV from “what matters most” in local culture. Methods. We conducted 46 in-depth interviews and 5 focus groups (38 individuals) with men and women living with and without HIV in Gaborone, Botswana, in 2017. Results. Cultural imperatives to bear child…
Identifying "What Matters Most" to Men in Botswana to Promote Resistance to HIV-Related Stigma
Despite a comprehensive national program of free HIV services, men living with HIV in Botswana participate at lower rates and have worse outcomes than women. Directed content analysis of five focus groups ( n = 38) and 50 in-depth interviews with men and women with known and unknown HIV status in Gaborone, Botswana in 2017 used the "what matters most" (WMM) and "structural vulnerability" frameworks to examine how the most valued cultural aspects …
Psychometric Validation of a Scale to Assess Culturally-Salient Aspects of HIV Stigma Among Women Living with HIV in Botswana
The impact of China-to-US immigration on structural and cultural determinants of HIV-related stigma
Objectives: Asian Americans have poor HIV-related outcomes, yet culturally salient barriers to care remain unclear, limiting development of targeted interventions for this group. We applied the 'what matters most' theory of stigma to identify structural and cultural factors that shape the nature of stigma before and after immigration from China to the US. Design : Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 immigrants to New York from China…
Botswana's HIV response
This brief report describes key periods in the history of the national public health response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Botswana. It reveals the context leading to the development of HIV policies presently in place and current challenges that remain. The report concludes with opportunities for future directions, initiatives, and policy changes to reduce the high rates of HIV
It's When the Trees Blossom
Mental illness is a common comorbidity of HIV and complicates treatment. In Botswana, stigma impedes treatment of mental illness. We examined explanatory beliefs about mental illness, stigma, and interactions between HIV and mental illness among 42 adults, from HIV clinic and community settings, via thematic analysis of interviews. Respondents endorse witchcraft as a predominant causal belief, in addition to drug abuse and effects of HIV. Respond…
Botswana's HIV response
This brief report describes key periods in the history of the national public health response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Botswana. It reveals the context leading to the development of HIV policies presently in place and current challenges that remain. The report concludes with opportunities for future directions, initiatives, and policy changes to reduce the high rates of HIV
Associations between social network characteristics and sexual minority disclosure concern among Black men who have sex with men living with and without HIV
In addition to the pervasive anti‐Black racism faced by Black people in the United States, Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) face sexual minority stigma and, among BMSM living with HIV, HIV‐related stigma. These multilevel social forces shape social networks, which are important sources of resources, support, and behavior regulation. This study quantitatively examined the relationship between social network characteristics and sexual minorit…
Stigma, Structural Vulnerability, and “What Matters Most” Among Women Living With HIV in Botswana, 2017
Objectives. To explore whether beneficial health care policies, when implemented in the context of gender inequality, yield unintended structural consequences that stigmatize and ostracize women with HIV from “what matters most” in local culture. Methods. We conducted 46 in-depth interviews and 5 focus groups (38 individuals) with men and women living with and without HIV in Gaborone, Botswana, in 2017. Results. Cultural imperatives to bear child…
Identifying "What Matters Most" to Men in Botswana to Promote Resistance to HIV-Related Stigma
Despite a comprehensive national program of free HIV services, men living with HIV in Botswana participate at lower rates and have worse outcomes than women. Directed content analysis of five focus groups ( n = 38) and 50 in-depth interviews with men and women with known and unknown HIV status in Gaborone, Botswana in 2017 used the "what matters most" (WMM) and "structural vulnerability" frameworks to examine how the most valued cultural aspects …
It's When the Trees Blossom
Mental illness is a common comorbidity of HIV and complicates treatment. In Botswana, stigma impedes treatment of mental illness. We examined explanatory beliefs about mental illness, stigma, and interactions between HIV and mental illness among 42 adults, from HIV clinic and community settings, via thematic analysis of interviews. Respondents endorse witchcraft as a predominant causal belief, in addition to drug abuse and effects of HIV. Respond…
Youth perspectives of working with near peer youth lay counsellors
Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have higher rates of common mental disorders (CMDs) when compared with HIV‐negative youth. We adapted the Friendship Bench to create a problem solving‐based counselling intervention in Botswana delivered by near peer youth lay counsellors for YLWH called Safe Haven. In August 2020, and from June to August 2021, we conducted 22 semistructured interviews with youth aged 13–25 years with mild‐to‐moderate symptoms of CMDs…
The impact of China-to-US immigration on structural and cultural determinants of HIV-related stigma
Objectives: Asian Americans have poor HIV-related outcomes, yet culturally salient barriers to care remain unclear, limiting development of targeted interventions for this group. We applied the 'what matters most' theory of stigma to identify structural and cultural factors that shape the nature of stigma before and after immigration from China to the US. Design : Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 immigrants to New York from China…
It's When the Trees Blossom
Mental illness is a common comorbidity of HIV and complicates treatment. In Botswana, stigma impedes treatment of mental illness. We examined explanatory beliefs about mental illness, stigma, and interactions between HIV and mental illness among 42 adults, from HIV clinic and community settings, via thematic analysis of interviews. Respondents endorse witchcraft as a predominant causal belief, in addition to drug abuse and effects of HIV. Respond…
Psychometric Validation of a Scale to Assess Culturally-Salient Aspects of HIV Stigma Among Women Living with HIV in Botswana
The impact of China-to-US immigration on structural and cultural determinants of HIV-related stigma
Objectives: Asian Americans have poor HIV-related outcomes, yet culturally salient barriers to care remain unclear, limiting development of targeted interventions for this group. We applied the 'what matters most' theory of stigma to identify structural and cultural factors that shape the nature of stigma before and after immigration from China to the US. Design : Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 immigrants to New York from China…
Botswana's HIV response
This brief report describes key periods in the history of the national public health response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Botswana. It reveals the context leading to the development of HIV policies presently in place and current challenges that remain. The report concludes with opportunities for future directions, initiatives, and policy changes to reduce the high rates of HIV
Measuring sexual violence stigma in humanitarian contexts
An abbreviated core set of invariant perceived and internalized sexual violence stigma items demonstrated evidence of construct validity in two diverse settings. The ability of this measure to be efficiently administered as a part of routine program monitoring and evaluation activities, with the potential addition of items from a measurement bank to improve contextual relevance, can facilitate improvements in the delivery and quality of gender-ba…
Disclosure of same-sex practices and experiences of healthcare stigma among cisgender men who have sex with men in five sub-Saharan African countries
Research to determine the factors driving disclosure's differential effect on healthcare stigma across contexts is needed. Ultimately, supportive environments enabling safe disclosure is critical to understanding HIV-acquisition risks and informing differentiated HIV-prevention, treatment, and testing services for MSM across SSA
Stigma, Structural Vulnerability, and “What Matters Most” Among Women Living With HIV in Botswana, 2017
Objectives. To explore whether beneficial health care policies, when implemented in the context of gender inequality, yield unintended structural consequences that stigmatize and ostracize women with HIV from “what matters most” in local culture. Methods. We conducted 46 in-depth interviews and 5 focus groups (38 individuals) with men and women living with and without HIV in Gaborone, Botswana, in 2017. Results. Cultural imperatives to bear child…
Identifying "What Matters Most" to Men in Botswana to Promote Resistance to HIV-Related Stigma
Despite a comprehensive national program of free HIV services, men living with HIV in Botswana participate at lower rates and have worse outcomes than women. Directed content analysis of five focus groups ( n = 38) and 50 in-depth interviews with men and women with known and unknown HIV status in Gaborone, Botswana in 2017 used the "what matters most" (WMM) and "structural vulnerability" frameworks to examine how the most valued cultural aspects …
Integrating Adolescent Mental Health into HIV Prevention and Treatment Programs
Adolescent mental health (AMH) is a critical driver of HIV outcomes, but is often overlooked in HIV research and programming. The implementation science Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework informed development of a questionnaire that was sent to a global alliance of adolescent HIV researchers, providers, and implementors working in sub-Saharan Africa with the aim to (1) describe current AMH outcomes incorporated…
It’s Better If I Die Because Even in the Hospital, There is a Stigma, People Still Gossip”
Youth perspectives of working with near peer youth lay counsellors
Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have higher rates of common mental disorders (CMDs) when compared with HIV‐negative youth. We adapted the Friendship Bench to create a problem solving‐based counselling intervention in Botswana delivered by near peer youth lay counsellors for YLWH called Safe Haven. In August 2020, and from June to August 2021, we conducted 22 semistructured interviews with youth aged 13–25 years with mild‐to‐moderate symptoms of CMDs…
Associations between social network characteristics and sexual minority disclosure concern among Black men who have sex with men living with and without HIV
In addition to the pervasive anti‐Black racism faced by Black people in the United States, Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) face sexual minority stigma and, among BMSM living with HIV, HIV‐related stigma. These multilevel social forces shape social networks, which are important sources of resources, support, and behavior regulation. This study quantitatively examined the relationship between social network characteristics and sexual minorit…
Lessons learnt from daily oral PrEP delivery to inform national planning for PrEP ring introduction for women in low-income and middle-income countries
INTRODUCTION: Some African countries plan to introduce and scale-up new long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis methods (LA-PrEP), like the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring (PrEP ring) and injectable cabotegravir. National costed implementation plans, roadmaps for successful product implementation, are often overlooked. International stakeholders engaged in oral PrEP planning, introduction and scale-up are an information resource of lessons learned t…
“We did more than survive”
Despite advances in HIV-treatment, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with HIV (AYAHIV) face myriad challenges. They are less likely than children and older adults to be virally suppressed and are at higher risk for mental health conditions compared to their peers who do not have HIV. AYA are also developing in the context of numerous biomedical, neurocognitive, and psychosocial developmental changes. Normative challenges during this time can be …
Multilevel experiences of carceral violence in Los Angeles, California
Transgender women face a disproportionate burden of carceral violence, or violence related to policing and the criminal legal system, with transgender women of colour experiencing even greater disparities. Several frameworks conceptualise the mechanisms through which violence impacts transgender women. However, none of them directly explore the role of carceral violence, particularly as it is experienced by transgender women themselves. Sixteen i…
Baby Friendly Spaces
Poor maternal mental health has been shown to impact child health and development. Yet, there is a gap in research on integrated maternal and child care models in humanitarian settings. Action Against Hunger developed the Baby Friendly Spaces (BFS) program which bridges this gap by delivering evidence-based psychosocial support for young children under 2 years and their mothers. This multi-method study was conducted in Nguenyyiel refugee camp (Et…
Development and psychometric properties of three scales employing “what matters most” to assess cultural aspects of intersectional HIV-related and cancer stigma among people living with HIV in Hanoi, …
People living with HIV have disproportionate cancer risk and are a priority population for cancer prevention and control efforts globally, including in Vietnam. HIV-related and cancer stigma independently and intersectionally hinder access to and uptake of prevention and treatment. Using formative qualitative research that used the “What Matters Most” theoretical framework and cognitive interviewing, we developed three culturally-tailored stigma …
Place Security and Mental Health
The Mental Health of Adults Living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa
Medicine (16 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (15 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Psychiatry (12 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (11 works) · Family medicine (8 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (8 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV (6 works)