Penelope A Phillips‐Howard
Biographic Data
| ID | 6957912 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Penelope A Phillips‐Howard |
| GIVEN NAMES | Penelope A |
| FAMILY NAME | Phillips‐Howard |
| SIGNATURE | HOWARD P A P |
| AFFILIATIONS | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1018-116X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 35 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 35 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1990 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Because she doesn’t have a voice’. Perceptions of rejection amongst girls who have dropped out of school in rural western Kenya
Despite global commitments to girls’ education, many dropout prematurely facing health, social, and economic hardships. Using ten focus group discussions and ten in-depth interviews, this study explored issues identified as important in the lives of girls who had dropped out of school. Thematic analysis first revealed rejection as a central theme in the girls' experiences, prompting a deductive approach that identified five interrelated themes: (…
Water, sanitation and hygiene at sex work venues to support menstrual needs
Introduction: Adequate menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is necessary for women's health and equity of all menstruators. Female sex workers (FSW) require good MHH to prevent discomfort and exposure to pathogens. No studies have evaluated water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions of FSW. We report on a cross-sectional WASH assessment at FSW venues in Kisumu, western Kenya. Methods: Stakeholders identified 77 FSW venues in Kisumu, of which …
Interventions aiming to improve menstrual, sexual, reproductive, and mental health among out-of-school girls
Safeguarding in practice
Safeguarding challenges in global health research include sexual abuse and exploitation, physical and psychological abuse, financial exploitation and neglect. Intersecting individual identities (such as gender and age) shape vulnerability to risk. Adolescents, who are widely included in sexual and reproductive health research, may be particularly vulnerable. Sensitive topics like teenage pregnancy may lead to multiple risks. We explored potential…
Health inequalities at the intersection of multiple social determinants among under five children residing Nairobi urban slums
In this analysis we examine through an intersectionality lens how key social determinants of health (SDOH) are associated with health conditions among under-five children (
Menstrual cups to reduce bacterial vaginosis and STIs through reduced harmful sexual and menstrual practices among economically vulnerable women
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05666778 (28th December, 2022); Pan African Clinical Trials Registry 202,305,912,778,108 (25th May, 2023)
Building menstrual health and hygiene-supportive environments
Introduction: Existing school environments and staff play a critical role in Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) for school aged girls in middle and low-income countries. This paper leverages teachers' perspectives on menstruation and the impact of the Menstrual Solutions (MS) study, an open cluster randomized controlled feasibility study to determine the impact of puberty education, nurses support, and menstrual product provision on girls' academ…
Co-creation and self-evaluation
Background: Accountability strategies are expected to enhance access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) service delivery in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). Conventional formal social accountability mechanisms (SAMs) for WASH service delivery have been inadequate to meet the needs of residents in informal settlements in LMICs. This has prompted growing interest in alternative informal SAMs (iSAMs) in Nairobi's informal settlements. To…
Research priorities for improving menstrual health across the life-course in low- and middle-income countries
BACKGROUND: Research on menstrual health is required to understand menstrual needs and generate solutions to improve health, wellbeing, and productivity. The identification of research priorities will help inform where to invest efforts and resources. OBJECTIVES: To identify research priorities for menstrual health across the life-course, in consultation with a range of stakeholder groups from a variety of geographic regions, and to identify if m…
Impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on adolescent pregnancy and school dropout among secondary schoolgirls in Kenya
INTRODUCTION: Secondary school closures aimed at limiting the number of infections and deaths due to COVID-19 may have amplified the negative sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and schooling outcomes of vulnerable adolescent girls. This study aimed to measure pandemic-related effects on adolescent pregnancy and school dropout among school-going girls in Kenya. METHODS: We report longitudinal findings of 910 girls in their last 2 years of second…
Quality of life and well-being problems in secondary schoolgirls in Kenya
Background Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa often report low levels of quality of life (QoL) and well-being, but reliable data are limited. This study examines which sociodemographic, health, and behavioral risk factors and adverse adolescent experiences are associated with, and predictive of, QoL in Kenyan secondary schoolgirls. Methods and findings 3,998 girls at baseline in a randomised controlled trial in Siaya County, western Kenya were med…
‘You don’t have to sleep with a man to get how to survive’
In sub-Saharan Africa, girls suffer from high rates of morbidity and mortality, enduring high exposure to sexual and reproductive health harms. Staying in school helps protect girls from such harms. Focus group discussions were conducted in a rural, impoverished area of Kenya with adolescent girls participating in a 4-arm cluster randomised controlled trial, evaluating menstrual cups, cash transfer, or combined cups plus cash transfer against con…
In Vitro Study to Assess Effective Cleaning Techniques for Removing Staphylococcus aureus from Menstrual Cups
These results advance knowledge of between-period menstrual cup cleaning recommendations, suggesting that the logistical challenges of continuous boiling may be eliminated with steeping at least 5 min
Informal social accountability mechanisms for water sanitation and hygiene (Wash) in childcare centres in Nairobi City County's informal settlements
Social accountability for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is a critical component to realising child rights to WASH services by the urban poor, more so in childcare centres. Despite the existence of discrete social accountability mechanisms (SAMs) in informal settlements, informal SAMs rarely form part of strategic approaches to addressing social accountability challenges in access to WASH services in childcare centres. The main obj…
How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
There is increasing global attention to the importance of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) for the lives of those who menstruate and gender equality. Yet, the global development community, which focuses on issues ranging from gender to climate change to health, is overdue to draw attention to how addressing MHH may enable progress in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address this gap, we undertook a collective exercise to h…
Effect of menstruation on girls and their schooling, and facilitators of menstrual hygiene management in schools
BACKGROUND: Lack of menstrual knowledge, poor access to sanitary products and a non-facilitating school environment can make it difficult for girls to attend school. In India, interventions have been developed to reduce the burden of menstruation for school girls by government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). We sought to identify challenges related to menstruation, and facilitators of menstrual management in schools in three states in …
Menstrual cups and cash transfer to reduce sexual and reproductive harm and school dropout in adolescent schoolgirls
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03051789 , 15th February 2017
Do Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Primary Schools Consistently Support Schoolgirls’ Menstrual Needs? A Longitudinal Study in Rural Western Kenya
Many females lack access to water, privacy and basic sanitation-felt acutely when menstruating. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in schools, such as access to latrines, water, and soap, are essential for the comfort, equity, and dignity of menstruating girls. Our study was nested within a cluster randomized controlled pilot feasibility study where nurses provided menstrual items to schoolgirls. We observed the WASH conditions of 30…
Evaluating the impact of the DREAMS partnership to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women in four settings
DREAMS is, to date, the most ambitious effort to scale-up combinations or 'packages' of multi-sectoral interventions for HIV prevention. Evidence of its effectiveness in reducing HIV incidence among AGYW, and demonstrating which aspects of the lives of AGYW were changed, will offer valuable lessons for replication
Teen pregnancy in rural western Kenya
Rates of teenage pregnancy remain high in sub-Saharan Africa. The KEMRI Health and Demographic Surveillance System provided the sampling frame for a survey. Analysis focused on 1,952 girls aged 13–19 years. Over a third (37.2%; n = 727) were sexually active and 23.3% (n = 454) had ever been pregnant. Adjusted odds of reporting a history of pregnancy were greater for older compared to younger teens, teens who were ever married or cohabiting compar…
A Time for Global Action
There is an absence of guidance, facilities, and materials for schoolgirls to manage their menstruation in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent schoolgirls in low- and middle-income countries
BACKGROUND: A lack of adequate guidance on menstrual management; water, disposal, and private changing facilities; and sanitary hygiene materials in low- and middle-income countries leaves schoolgirls with limited options for healthy personal hygiene during monthly menses. While a plethora of observational studies have described how menstrual hygiene management (MHM) barriers in school impact girls' dignity, well-being, and engagement in school a…
Evaluation of work-based screening for early signs of alcohol-related liver disease in hazardous and harmful drinkers
The workplace is an important setting for addressing alcohol harm, but there are barriers to voluntary screening that need to be addressed. Early detection and support of cases in the community could avert deaths and save health and social costs. Alcohol and obesity should be addressed simultaneously, because of their known multiplicative effect on liver disease risk, and because employers preferred a general health intervention to one that focus…
Adult non-communicable disease mortality in Africa and Asia
BACKGROUND: Mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major global issue, as other categories of mortality have diminished and life expectancy has increased. The World Health Organization's Member States have called for a 25% reduction in premature NCD mortality by 2025, which can only be achieved by substantial reductions in risk factors and improvements in the management of chronic conditions. A high burden of NCD mortality among muc…
Confucius
Informal social accountability mechanisms for water sanitation and hygiene (Wash) in childcare centres in Nairobi City County's informal settlements
Social accountability for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is a critical component to realising child rights to WASH services by the urban poor, more so in childcare centres. Despite the existence of discrete social accountability mechanisms (SAMs) in informal settlements, informal SAMs rarely form part of strategic approaches to addressing social accountability challenges in access to WASH services in childcare centres. The main obj…
Validation of malaria surveillance case reports
STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim of the study was to investigate the quality of national malaria surveillance reports in the United Kingdom. DESIGN--Persons with malaria reported to the Malaria Reference Laboratory (MRL) in 1987 were contacted by post to verify existing records with respect to key variables. The MRL data set was then analysed for inaccuracies. SETTING--The study was confined to UK residents. PARTICIPANTS--602 persons with malaria in 1987…
Sexual uses of alcohol and drugs and the associated health risks
An epidemic of recreational drug use and binge drinking exposes millions of young Europeans to routine consumption of substances which alter their sexual decisions and increase their chances of unsafe and regretted sex. For many, substance use has become an integral part of their strategic approach to sex, locking them into continued use. Tackling substances with both physiological and psychological links to sex requires approaching substance use…
Influence of socio-demographic factors on distances travelled to access HIV services
Distance travelled, and type of HIV services used, were associated with socioeconomic status, even after accounting for ethnicity, route of infection and age. Thus despite offering an 'equitable' service, travel costs may advantage those with higher income
Teenage drinking, alcohol availability and pricing
There is no safe level of alcohol consumption for 15-16 year olds. However, while abstinence removes risk of harms from personal alcohol consumption, its promotion may also push children into accessing drink outside family environments and contribute to higher risks of harm. Strategies to reduce alcohol-related harms in children should ensure bingeing is avoided entirely, address the excessively low cost of many alcohol products, and tackle the e…
Access to HIV community services by vulnerable populations
HIV disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as black and minority ethnic groups, men who have sex with men (MSM) and migrants, in many countries including those in the UK. Community organisations in the UK are charitable non-governmental organisations with a proportion of the workforce who volunteer, and provide invaluable additional support for people living with HIV (PLWHIV). Information on their contribution to HIV care in vulne…
Feasibility and acceptability of point of care HIV testing in community outreach and GUM drop-in services in the North West of England
Community and GUM clinic-based POCT for HIV was feasible and acceptable to clients and service providers in a low prevalence setting. It successfully reached target groups, many of whom would not have otherwise tested. We recommend POCT be considered among strategies to increase the uptake of HIV testing among groups who are currently underserved
The Big Drink Debate
Lower pricing increases alcohol consumption, and the alcohol industry's continued focus on discounting sales encourages higher drinking levels. International evidence suggests increasing the price of alcohol reduces consumption, and one in five of the surveyed population agreed; more work is required to increase this agreement to achieve public support for policy change. Such policy should also recognise that alcohol is an addictive drug, and the…
‘We Keep It Secret So No One Should Know’ – A Qualitative Study to Explore Young Schoolgirls Attitudes and Experiences with Menstruation in Rural Western Kenya
BACKGROUND: Keeping girls in school offers them protection against early marriage, teen pregnancy, and sexual harms, and enhances social and economic equity. Studies report menstruation exacerbates school-drop out and poor attendance, although evidence is sparse. This study qualitatively examines the menstrual experiences of young adolescent schoolgirls. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The study was conducted in Siaya County in rural western Kenya. A sampl…
Parental knowledge of alcohol consumption
Whilst only small numbers of young adolescents in our sample were drinking alcohol compared with older adolescents, those who did were more likely to do so without their parents' knowledge. These two factors combined (drinking earlier and drinking without parental knowledge) could place children at risk of immediate harm. Further research is essential to identify whether public health strategies should be developed which could support parents to …
Adult non-communicable disease mortality in Africa and Asia
BACKGROUND: Mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major global issue, as other categories of mortality have diminished and life expectancy has increased. The World Health Organization's Member States have called for a 25% reduction in premature NCD mortality by 2025, which can only be achieved by substantial reductions in risk factors and improvements in the management of chronic conditions. A high burden of NCD mortality among muc…
Preparing for human papillomavirus vaccine introduction in Kenya
For successful vaccine introduction in Kenya, there is a need for communication and mobilization efforts to raise cervical cancer awareness; prompt demand for vaccination; address health equity concerns and stigma; and minimize potential resistance. Visible endorsement by government leaders and community influencers can provide reassurance of the vaccine's safety, efficacy and benefits for girls and communities. Involvement of community leadershi…
Evaluation of work-based screening for early signs of alcohol-related liver disease in hazardous and harmful drinkers
The workplace is an important setting for addressing alcohol harm, but there are barriers to voluntary screening that need to be addressed. Early detection and support of cases in the community could avert deaths and save health and social costs. Alcohol and obesity should be addressed simultaneously, because of their known multiplicative effect on liver disease risk, and because employers preferred a general health intervention to one that focus…
A Time for Global Action
There is an absence of guidance, facilities, and materials for schoolgirls to manage their menstruation in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Menstrual hygiene management among adolescent schoolgirls in low- and middle-income countries
BACKGROUND: A lack of adequate guidance on menstrual management; water, disposal, and private changing facilities; and sanitary hygiene materials in low- and middle-income countries leaves schoolgirls with limited options for healthy personal hygiene during monthly menses. While a plethora of observational studies have described how menstrual hygiene management (MHM) barriers in school impact girls' dignity, well-being, and engagement in school a…
Teen pregnancy in rural western Kenya
Rates of teenage pregnancy remain high in sub-Saharan Africa. The KEMRI Health and Demographic Surveillance System provided the sampling frame for a survey. Analysis focused on 1,952 girls aged 13–19 years. Over a third (37.2%; n = 727) were sexually active and 23.3% (n = 454) had ever been pregnant. Adjusted odds of reporting a history of pregnancy were greater for older compared to younger teens, teens who were ever married or cohabiting compar…
Do Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conditions in Primary Schools Consistently Support Schoolgirls’ Menstrual Needs? A Longitudinal Study in Rural Western Kenya
Many females lack access to water, privacy and basic sanitation-felt acutely when menstruating. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in schools, such as access to latrines, water, and soap, are essential for the comfort, equity, and dignity of menstruating girls. Our study was nested within a cluster randomized controlled pilot feasibility study where nurses provided menstrual items to schoolgirls. We observed the WASH conditions of 30…
Evaluating the impact of the DREAMS partnership to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women in four settings
DREAMS is, to date, the most ambitious effort to scale-up combinations or 'packages' of multi-sectoral interventions for HIV prevention. Evidence of its effectiveness in reducing HIV incidence among AGYW, and demonstrating which aspects of the lives of AGYW were changed, will offer valuable lessons for replication
Effect of menstruation on girls and their schooling, and facilitators of menstrual hygiene management in schools
BACKGROUND: Lack of menstrual knowledge, poor access to sanitary products and a non-facilitating school environment can make it difficult for girls to attend school. In India, interventions have been developed to reduce the burden of menstruation for school girls by government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). We sought to identify challenges related to menstruation, and facilitators of menstrual management in schools in three states in …
Menstrual cups and cash transfer to reduce sexual and reproductive harm and school dropout in adolescent schoolgirls
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03051789 , 15th February 2017
How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
There is increasing global attention to the importance of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) for the lives of those who menstruate and gender equality. Yet, the global development community, which focuses on issues ranging from gender to climate change to health, is overdue to draw attention to how addressing MHH may enable progress in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address this gap, we undertook a collective exercise to h…
Impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on adolescent pregnancy and school dropout among secondary schoolgirls in Kenya
INTRODUCTION: Secondary school closures aimed at limiting the number of infections and deaths due to COVID-19 may have amplified the negative sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and schooling outcomes of vulnerable adolescent girls. This study aimed to measure pandemic-related effects on adolescent pregnancy and school dropout among school-going girls in Kenya. METHODS: We report longitudinal findings of 910 girls in their last 2 years of second…
Quality of life and well-being problems in secondary schoolgirls in Kenya
Background Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa often report low levels of quality of life (QoL) and well-being, but reliable data are limited. This study examines which sociodemographic, health, and behavioral risk factors and adverse adolescent experiences are associated with, and predictive of, QoL in Kenyan secondary schoolgirls. Methods and findings 3,998 girls at baseline in a randomised controlled trial in Siaya County, western Kenya were med…
‘You don’t have to sleep with a man to get how to survive’
In sub-Saharan Africa, girls suffer from high rates of morbidity and mortality, enduring high exposure to sexual and reproductive health harms. Staying in school helps protect girls from such harms. Focus group discussions were conducted in a rural, impoverished area of Kenya with adolescent girls participating in a 4-arm cluster randomised controlled trial, evaluating menstrual cups, cash transfer, or combined cups plus cash transfer against con…
In Vitro Study to Assess Effective Cleaning Techniques for Removing Staphylococcus aureus from Menstrual Cups
These results advance knowledge of between-period menstrual cup cleaning recommendations, suggesting that the logistical challenges of continuous boiling may be eliminated with steeping at least 5 min
Informal social accountability mechanisms for water sanitation and hygiene (Wash) in childcare centres in Nairobi City County's informal settlements
Social accountability for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is a critical component to realising child rights to WASH services by the urban poor, more so in childcare centres. Despite the existence of discrete social accountability mechanisms (SAMs) in informal settlements, informal SAMs rarely form part of strategic approaches to addressing social accountability challenges in access to WASH services in childcare centres. The main obj…
Medicine (31 works) · Environmental health (19 works) · Public health (14 works) · Demography (13 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (12 works) · Psychology (12 works) · Nursing (11 works) · Population (10 works) · Biostatistics (9 works) · Menstrual Health and Disorders (9 works)