About Dr. Josephine Aikpitanyi

Josephine Aikpitanyi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. She obtained her PhD in Public Health at the Institute of Health Research and Society (IRSS), Faculty of Public Health, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. Josephine obtained her Master’s degree in Health Economics from the Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), University of Benin, Nigeria, and worked as a programs officer and researcher at the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC), a research institute dedicated to improving maternal and child health in Nigeria. Her research interest focuses on exploring the impact of non-cognitive traits on women’s healthcare choices and preference for place of childbirth in Nigeria. This is an aspect of the literature that she pioneers using original data collected in a low-resource setting. For a country like Nigeria, which has abysmal maternal and child health statistics, the findings and policy recommendations from her research are relevant in designing effective healthcare interventions, not only in Nigeria but also in other low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Josephine Aikpitanyi is a dedicated researcher and a collaborative team player. In partnership with Nigeria-based researchers, she has led projects to advance understanding of the socioeconomic, behavioural, and political contexts and structural and intermediary determinants of maternal health in rural Nigeria. Her research work has also identified the effects of non-cognitive and psychological traits, social structures, culture, and environments on women’s reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa. Her collaborative approach underscores her commitment to advancing healthcare research and her appreciation for the diverse perspectives that enrich the field.