Nicola Christofides

I am an associate professor in public health with a focus on behavioral sciences. My research interests lie in designing and evaluating behavioral and structural interventions to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV, and improve maternal health outcomes. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, I was the co-Principal Investigator (PI) for a cluster randomized controlled trial that is evaluating the National Department of Health flagship mobile health intervention to address maternal and infant health called MomConnect. Currently, I am a co-investigator on the first longitudinal study in South Africa investigating the inter-generational transmission of violence. Young adults who were first interviewed in 2010 are being followed up. The study is implemented across three generations: young adults, their children and their caregivers. I was the PI for a cluster randomized controlled trial that evaluated the effectiveness of the Sonke CHANGE community mobilization and advocacy intervention to reduce men’s perpetration of sexual and/or physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and severity of perpetration by men over two-years of follow-up (2015-2018). The study has contributed to deepening the understanding of the field about what works to prevent IPV and whether further investment in community mobilization and education interventions is justified.