Stephen Ojiambo Wandera, PhD

stephen.wandera@mak.ac.ug
+256 754 976879
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Stephen Ojiambo Wandera, PhD

Senior Lecturer

School of Statistics and Planning

Department of Population Studies

Contact Information

Tel: +256 754 976879

Email: stephen.wandera@mak.ac.ug

Office Location: Mathematics Building, First Floor, Room 102

Biography

Stephen Ojiambo Wandera (PhD) is a Gerontologist, Demographer, and Population Scientist. He is a Senior Lecturer and former Chair of the Department of Population Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (2006 – Present). He is a member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the WHO UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2022-2025) and a former member of the WHO Ethics and Research Committee (2022-2024).
He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow of Fogarty International Centre of the NIH (2019-2021), and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand (2018-2021). He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow of ICAP at Columbia University, Pretoria, South Africa, and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (2016-2017). He is a CARTA Cohort 2 graduate (2012-2016).
His research focuses on vulnerable populations: older persons, children, and in Uganda. Among the ageing population, he focuses on inequalities in health and access to healthcare among older persons in Uganda. He also explores social determinants of health for older persons in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently (2021), he conducted a Scoping Review of “Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for older people with Dementia in Africa”. In 2018-2019, he led the first survey on ageism against older persons in Uganda, which led to diverse policy dialogues in Uganda. As a CARTA re-entry grantee (2017-2018), he investigated the “Determinants of HIV Testing among older persons in Uganda”. His PhD research (2012-2016) focused on “Disparities in health and access to healthcare among older persons in Uganda”. He aims to use experimental or intervention research designs in the future to address the health needs of older persons in Africa.

Among women and children, he has investigated violence against women and children and Parent-Child Communication about sexual and reproductive health. In the future, he wants to investigate violence against men and boys. Also, he wants to use experimental studies to design interventions for addressing violence against women and children.
He has published about 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, 7 book chapters, and several technical reports on population aging, intimate partner violence, and sexual and reproductive health. He recently edited a book on Ageing and Health in sub-Saharan Africa.
He has attracted funding (over USD 750,000), supervised 10 master’s and 66 undergraduate students. He is a mixed-methods researcher, trainer of Nvivo, STATA, SPSS, and an Associate Editor for BMC Public Health, Journal of Global Ageing and the International Journal of Public Health. He is a member of the TASO Research and Ethics Committee (2018-2021). He is a former member of the WHO Ethics Research Committee.

He holds a PhD in Population Studies (major: Population Ageing), 3 master’s degrees: MSc. Global Issues in Gerontology and Ageing (University of Stirling, UK), M.A. Contextualized Pastoral Ministry (Lancaster Bible College, PA, USA), MSc. Population and Reproductive Health (MAK) and a BSc. Population Studies (major: Population Health).

Education

  • Ph.D. Population Studies, Makerere University, 2016
  • MSc. Global Issues in Gerontology & Ageing (with merit), University of Stirling, UK, 2021
  • M.A. Contextualized Pastoral Ministry, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania, USA, 2021
  • MSc. Population and Reproductive Health (First Class), Makerere University, 2009
  • BSc. Population Studies, Makerere University (Upper Second Honors), 2006

Research Interests

  • Demography
  • Mental Health
  • Aging
  • Dementia
  • Intimate Partner Violence

Publications

Summary 
  • Google Scholar citations, h and h10 indices 769, 16 and 18, respectively 
  • Scopus h-Index 10
  • Peer reviewed Journal Articles 25
  • Book Chapters 7
  • Conference Proceedings 19
  • Technical Reports 2

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles – Gerontology 

  1. Wandera S.O., Kwagala B., & Maniragaba, F. (2020). Prevalence and determinants of recent HIV testing among older persons in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 20, 144 (2020). (Impact Factor: 2.5). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8193-z 
  2. Maniragaba, F., Kwagala, B., Bizimungu, E., Wandera, S.O, & Ntozi, J. (2018). Predictors of quality of life of older persons in rural Uganda:  A cross sectional study. AAS Open Res, 1(22). https://dx.doi.org/10.12688%2Faasopenres.12874.2 
  3. Wandera, S.O., Ddumba, I., Akinyemi, J.O., Adedini, S. Odimegwu, C.O. (2017). Living alone among older persons in Uganda. Ageing Int 42, 429–446 (2017). (Impact Factor: 1.1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-017-9305-7. 
  4. Golaz, V., Wandera, S.O., & Rutaremwa, G. (2017). Understanding the vulnerability of older adults: extent of and breaches in support systems in Uganda. Ageing and Society, 37(1), 63-89.  (Impact Factor: 1.8). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X15001051. 
  5. Wandera, S.O., Kwagala, B., & Ntozi, J. (2015). Prevalence and risk factors for self-reported non-communicable diseases among older Ugandans: a cross-sectional study. Global Health Action, 8(1) 27923. (Impact Factor: 1.8). https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v8.27923. 
  6. Randall, S., Coast, E., Antoine, P., Compaore, N., Dial, F.-B., Fanghanel, A. Gning, S.B., Thiombiano, B.G., Golaz, V., & Wandera, S. O. (2015). UN Census “Households” and Local Interpretations in Africa Since Independence. Sage Open, 5(2). (Impact Factor: 1.5). https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2158244015589353. 
  7. Wandera, S. O., Golaz, V., Kwagala, B., & Ntozi, J. (2015). Factors associated with self-reported ill health among older Ugandans: A cross sectional study. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 61(2), 231-239. (Impact Factor: 3.1).  doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2015.05.006.
  8. Wandera, S.O., Kwagala, B., and Ntozi, J. (2015). Determinants of access to healthcare by older persons in Uganda: A cross-sectional study. Int J Equity Health 14, 26 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-015-0157-z. 
  9. Wandera, S.O., James Ntozi and Betty Kwagala. (2014). Prevalence and correlates of disability among older Ugandans: evidence from the Uganda National Household Survey. Global Health Action, 7(1), 25686). https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.25686. 

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles – Others 

  1. Gubi, D., Wandera, S.O. Prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence among ever-married men in Uganda: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health 22, 535 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12945-z. 
  2. Kisaakye, P., Nzabona, A., Kakuba, C., Asiimwe, J.B., Mushomi, J., Tuyiragize, R. & Wandera, S.O. (2021). Youth migration and perception on business start-up in Uganda. J Glob Entrepr Res (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40497-021-00287-w 
  3. Wandera SO, Tumwesigye NM, Walakira EJ, Kisaakye P, Wagman J: (2021). Alcohol use, intimate partner violence, and HIV sexual risk behavior among young people in fishing communities of Lake Victoria, Uganda. BMC Public Health 2021, 21(1):544. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10595-1
  4. Gubi, D., Nansubuga, E., & Wandera, S.O. (2020). Correlates of intimate partner violence among married women in Uganda: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health, 20(1008). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09123-4. 
  5. Wandera, S. O., Kwagala, B., Nankinga, O., Ndugga, P., & Kabagenyi, A. (2019). Facilitators, best practices and barriers to integrating family planning data in Uganda’s health management information system. BMC Health Services Research, 19(327). (Impact Factor: 1.9). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4151-9. 
  6. Adedini, S.A., Akinyemi, J.O., & Wandera, S.O. (2019). Women’s position in the household as a determinant of neonatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. SAJCH, 13 (1). (Impact Factor: 0.5). http://www.sajch.org.za/index.php/SAJCH/article/view/1479. 
  7. Oluwasen, D.S., Wandera, SO., & Odimegwu, C. (2019). Media Exposure and HIV Testing Among Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Sage Open, 9(2). (Impact Factor: 1.5). https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2158244019851551 
  8. Wandera, S.O., Kwagala, B., & Odimegwu, C. (2018). Intimate Partner Violence and current Modern Contraceptive Use among married women in Uganda: A cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal, 30(85).  (Impact Factor: 0.5). https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2018.30.85.12722. 
  9. Wandera, S.O., Clarke, K. Knight, L., Allen, E., Walakira, E., Namy, S., Naker, D., & Devries, K. (2017). Violence against children perpetrated by peers: a cross-sectional school-based survey in Uganda. Child Abuse and Neglect; 68:65-73. (Impact Factor: 2.9).  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.04.006. 
  10. Kwagala, B., Nankinga, O., Wandera, S.O., Ndugga, Kabagenyi, A. (2016). Empowerment, intimate partner violence and skilled birth attendance among women in rural Uganda. BMC Reproductive Health, 13(1):53. (Impact Factor: 2.3).  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-016-0167-3.
  11. Akinyemi, J.O., Adedini, S.A., Wandera, S.O., Odimegwu, C.O. (2016). Independent and combined effects of maternal smoking and solid fuel on infant and child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Trop Med Int Health. 21(12):1572-1582. (Impact Factor: 2.5).   https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12779. 
  12. Wandera, S.O., Kwagala,B., Ndugga, P., and Kabagenyi, A.  (2015). Partners’ controlling behaviors and intimate partner sexual violence among married women in Uganda. BMC Public Health. 15, 214 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1564-1 
  13. Rutaremwa, G., Wandera, S.O., Jhamba, T., Akiror, E., & Kiconco, A. (2015). Determinants of maternal health services utilization in Uganda. BMC Health Serv Res, 15, 271 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-0943-8
  14. Rutaremwa, G., Kabagenyi, A., Wandera, S.O. Tapiwa, J., Akiror, E., & Nviiri, H.L. (2015). Predictors of modern contraceptive use during the postpartum period among women in Uganda: a population-based cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 15, 262 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1611-y 
  15. Kabagenyi, A., Ndugga, P., Wandera, S.O., and Kwagala,B. (2014). Modern contraceptive use among sexually active men in Uganda: does discussion with a health worker matter? BMC Public Health 14, 286 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-286
  16. Kwagala, B., Wandera, S.O., Ndugga, P., & Kabagenyi, A. (2013). Empowerment, partner’s behaviours and intimate partner physical violence among married women in Uganda. BMC Public Health 13, 1112 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1112
  17. Wandera, S.O., Ntozi, J.P.M. & Kwagala, B. (2010). Spousal Sexual Violence, Sexual Behaviour and Sexually Transmitted Infections among Ever-Married Women in Uganda. Journal of African Population Studies, Volume 24 (1&2), 70-87. https://doi.org/10.11564/24-1-2-307  
 
Book Chapters – Gerontology 
  1. Golaz, V. & Wandera, S.O. (2020). Les personnes âgées africaines sont-elles toutes vulnérables? (Are all older people in Africa vulnerable?). La vulnérabilité à l’encontre des idées reçues, Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement (LPED), pp.52-63, 2020, Les impromptus du LPED. ⟨hal-02921961⟩. https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02921961/. 
  2. Wandera, S. O. Naitala, R., Kisaakye, P. & Kwagala, B. (2020). Correlates of Self-reported Sexually Transmitted Infections among older persons in rural Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Ed: Rutaremwa, G. Uganda’s Demography: Implications for Development. In commemoration of the 8th African Population conference, 2019. Fountain Publishers. Pages 196-312. 
  3. Golaz, V., & Wandera, S. O. (2016). Estimating the Poverty of Older Persons in Uganda: The Limitations of Poverty Indicators. In J. Oucho, G. Rutaremwa, & J. B. Nyakaana (Eds.), The Demography of Uganda and selected African countries: Towards more Sustainable Development Pathways (pp. 215-234). Kampala, Uganda Fountain Publishers 
  4. Nzabona, A., & Wandera, S. O. (2016). Is Possession of Ethno-science Knowledge Necessarily Influenced by Formal Education? A study of Older Persons from Uganda. In J. Oucho, G. Rutaremwa, & J. B. Nyakaana (Eds.), The Demography of Uganda and selected African countries: Towards more Sustainable Development Pathways (pp. 168-181). Kampala, Uganda Fountain Publishers 
  5. Golaz, V., Rutaremwa, G., & Wandera, S. O. (2015). Les solidarités familiales autour des personnes âgées en Ouganda. In A. Adjamagbo & P. Antoine (Eds.), Démographie et politiques sociales (Actes du XVIIe colloque, Ouagadougou, novembre 2012). Association Internationale des Démographes de Langue Française (AIDELF), 2015. Paris, France: Karthala. Download link: http://www.erudit.org/livre/aidelf/2012/index.htm
Book Chapters – Others
 
  1. Akinyemi, JO. & Wandera, SO. (2020). Family Changes and Their Implications for Child Health Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multivariate Decomposition Analysis. In Family Demography and Post-2015 Development Agenda in Africa, pages 199-221: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-14887-4_10. 
  2. Rutaremwa, G., Kabagenyi, A., & Wandera, S. O. (2016). Levels and Trends in Adult Mortality in Uganda: Examining Gender Differences for the Period 1950-2015. In J. Oucho, G. Rutaremwa, & J. B. Nyakaana (Eds.), The Demography of Uganda and selected African countries: Towards more Sustainable Development Pathways (pp. 23-34). Kampala, Uganda Fountain Publishers 
Working Papers, Technical Reports & Policy Briefs – Gerontology 
  1. HelpAge International., & Uganda Reach the Aged Association. (2019). Experience of Ageism among Older Persons in Uganda. Technical Report compiled by Wandera, S.O. HelpAge International, Kampala, Uganda. 
  2. Harris, T., Vinck, P., Pham, P.N., Hinkins, S., Gray, M.W., Kivlahan, C., Ahmed, A.M.A., Masood, S., Wandera, S.O. Kwagala, E., & Kraska, K. (2017). Age is No Protection: Prevalence of gender-based violence among men and women over 49 years of age in five situations of protracted displacement. https://www.humanitarianlibrary.org/resource/age-no-protection-prevalence-gender-based-violence-among-men-and-women-over-49-years-age
  3. Wandera, S.O. (2017). Why older people in Uganda struggle to access healthcare. Policy brief for The Conversation Africa, Health and Medicine. https://theconversation.com/why-older-people-in-uganda-struggle-to-access-healthcare-85127.

Research ID

  • https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5617-0274
  • https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55940655800
  • https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/D-2735-2016
  • https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1347952/overview
  • https://sciprofiles.com/profile/2846509
  • https://scholar.google.com/citations hl=en&user=Q0xSODEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate