Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pregnancy

This project aims to examine how COVID-19 impacts maternal and neonatal health outcomes. In this project, we are conducting a longitudinal study of pregnant moms from any point during pregnancy to one month post-partum. Study data includes electronic medical records, survey data, and biospecimen collection of the placenta, maternal blood, and cord blood. My role, as PI, is to supervise all aspects of the project including IRB approval, survey instrument development and protocols for biospecimen collection, data collection including surveys and biospecimens, electronic medical records review, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. Click here to read more about the Penn State COVID-19 Pregnancy Study

Relevant Publications:

Sznajder, K.K., Kjerulff, K.H., Wang, M., Hwang, W., Ramirez, S.I., Gandhi, C.K. 2021. Covid-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among pregnant women in Pennsylvania. Preventive Medicine Reports 26. Doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101713

News articles about the project:

pennstatehealthnews.org – Read more here

witf.org – Read more here

Migration and sexual and reproductive health in Agbogbloshie

This project, in partnership with the University of Ghana, aims to understand how migration to Abogblogshie, an informal settlement in Accra, Ghana, impacts HIV risk behaviors among young adults. This project employed survey data collection, qualitative in-depth interviews, focus groups, and community mapping to gain comprehensive information on predictors of HIV risk behavior among people living in Agblogbloshie.

Relevant Publications:

Sznajder, K.K., Winchester, M.S., Biney, A.A.E., Dodoo, N.D., Letsa, D., Nii-Amoo Dodoo, F. 2020. The Migration Experience and Differential Risks to Sexual and Reproductive Health in Ghana. Health Education and Behavior 47 (5), pp 718-727. doi:10.1177/1090198120939492

Ba, D.M., Ssentongo, P., Sznajder, K.K. 2019. Prevalence, behavioral and socioeconomic risk factors of human immunodeficiency virus in Ghana: a population-based cross-sectional study. Journal of Global Health Reports.  Journal of Global Health Reports 3 :e2019092. doi:10.29392/joghr.3.e2019092

Adrelo Project – Advancing Resilience in Low Income Housing

The project aims at enhancing the resilience of low-income communities living in disaster prone areas. The focus is on low-lying coastal zones that have a high risk of disasters such as droughts and floods in selected parts of East Africa, Brazil and North America. The project takes a multidisciplinary approach that combines socio-economic knowledge, disaster-resilient low-income housing using sustainable locally-resource materials, accurate climate prediction and forecasting, and public health and disaster policy packages.

Read more about the project using the links below:

adrelo-project.com

sites.psu.edu/adreloproject/

Global Health Education Trends

I am interested in how global health education is changing and meeting the demands of the workforce. I am currently involved with projects assessing how training among global health students should be conducted to meet the evolving demands of the workforce. These projects address topics in global health education such as cultural humility, ethics, and curriculum development.

Relevant Publications:

Sznajder, K, Naughton, D, Kar, A, Nagakar, A, Mashamba, J, Shuro, L, Leshabari, S & Diop, F 2018, Fostering dialogues in global health education: A graduate and undergraduate approach. in SpringerBriefs in Public Health. 9783319776842 edn, SpringerBriefs in Public Health, no. 9783319776842, Springer International Publishing, pp. 21-31. Doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77685-9_3

Sznajder, K. K., Chen, M. C., & Naughton, D. 2019. How should mission trips be administered? AMA Journal of Ethics, 21(9), 722-728. Doi:10.1001/amajethics.2019.722