Dr. Godfred O. Boateng presents at Harriet Tubman Institute's Black History Month panel

On 1st February 2024, GEHLab director Dr. Godfred O. Boateng participated in a panel discussion on Black educators and Black education as part of the Harriet Tubman Institute's opening ceremony for Black History Month. Joined by Dr. Lawrence Goodridge (University of Guelph), Dr. Molade Osibodu (York University), Dr. Ola Mohammed (York University) and Dr. Solomon Boakye-Yiadom (York University), Dr. Boateng discussed the importance of Black scholarship in global health from a historical and contemporary perspective. 

Dr. Gabriel John Dusing transitions to new role

On 31st January, 2024, GEHLab bade farewell to Dr. Gabriel John Dusing, the lab's Research Associate, as he transitions to a new role at St. Michael's Hospital. Dr. Dusing's six-month tenure at the lab was immensely productive, with output including three conference presentations and papers. His poster on the relationhsip between ambient temperature and sleep quality among older adults in Ghana will be presented at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health's 2024 conference. Congratulations, Dr. Dusing!

Mirianna Georges graduates from York University

Mirianna recently completed a BA in Global Health at York University and will move on to pursue a Master's in Global Health at McMaster University. Before studying at York, she graduated with a Bachelor of Humanities with a minor in Biology from Carleton University.

As a research assistant with the Global and Environmental Health Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute, Mirianna worked with Prof. Godfred Boateng to complete a project on housing insecurity and intestinal health outcomes in Kenya. Mirianna was also the 2023 recipient of the Canadian Institute of Health Research Undergraduate Student Research Award, which supported research at the Global and Environmental Health Lab.

Multilevel Multidimensional Scale for Measuring Housing insecurity has been published in Cities 

The housing insecurity scale was published this January in Cities. This new scale is a game changer in the field of human geography, public health, global health, and medicine. It will enable the quantification and assessment of the disease, psychosocial, and economic implications of housing insecurity among people living in slums and informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa. Click here to read the article.

GEHLAB interns receive Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

Ann Kwarteng and Hafsa Ugas are GEHLAB's USRA recipients for Summer 2024, holding awards valued at $9,268 CAD each. The Undergraduate Student Research Awards are administered federally by the Tri-Council Agencies (NSERC, CIHR and SSHRC), supporting undergraduate students to gain research experience in the natural sciences and engineering, health and the social sciences. The awards also encourage students to pursue graduate studies. Ann Kwarteng is a SSHRC USRA recipient, and will be exploring intergenerational experiences with mental health and policing among Black families in Ontario. Hafsa Ugas, a CIHR USRA recipient, will be investigating the relationship between respiratory illness and housing insecurity among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Congratulations, Ann and Hafsa!

GEHLAB welcomes International Visiting Research Trainee

This fall, Ann Codjoe will join the Global and Environmental Health Lab for a four-month period as an International Visiting Research Trainee (IVRT). The IVRT program enables highly qualified students from academic institutions around the world to participate in full-time academic exchanges in Canada related to their program of study. Ann will be joining the lab from the University of Ghana, Accra, and is supported by a Global Affairs Canada scholarship valued at $10,200 CAD. Ann will continue her PhD research, investigating the use of water hyacinth in the production of high-quality biomass fuel briquettes in Ghana. Congratulations, Ann!

Dr. Boateng facilitates inaugural workshop for the CAfCA-OHME network at York University

The Canadian-African-Central-American One Health Monitoring and Evaluation network (CAfCA-OHME) network was launched on Wednesday 22nd May, 2024 at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research. Well-attended by faculty and research fellows from across the university, including the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and the School of Global Health, the event was an opportunity to discuss the goals and objectives of this new research network at York University. Dr. Boateng, director of the Global and Environmental Health Lab and a member of the steering committee for CAfCA-OHME presented on the initial iteration of the project as well as the way forward for programming.

Drs. Boateng and Gabriel John Dusing present research at Dahdaleh weekly seminar

Drs. Boateng and Gabriel John Dusing presented their research on the effect of extreme heat on sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults in Ghana, at the Dahdaleh Institute Global Seminar series on May 15th, 2024. This research was conducted using WHO SAGE Data from 2014/2015, and found that rising temperatures in Ghana are associated with adverse sleep quality and cognitive functioning among older adults. They discussed the methods used and engaged in useful discussions on next steps for studying the impact of changing climatic conditions on vulnerable populations.

GEHLAB intern Igor Akomaye presents at CUHR 2024

On 10th May, 2024, Igor Akomaye presented a poster at York University's 2024 edition of the Conference for Undergraduate Health Research. Igor's was one of 115 presentations that took place over 24 sessions at the conference. Her research explored the relationship between food insecurity and psychosocial wellbeing in three informal settlements in Malawi. This study found a correlation between an increase in food insecurity and an increase in stress, anxiety and depression symptomatologies, with varying psychosocial outcomes across the settlements. Click here to view Igor's poster.

New GEHLab research profiled by York University Research and Innovation

Dr. Boateng's new research project, Objective Validation of Resource Insecurity Tools (OVRIT), has been highlighted by York University's Research and Innovation Office. Exemplifying strong worldwide partnerships for global health research, this project is being conducted in collaboration with the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research - Water Institute (CSIR) located in Accra, Ghana. As part of ongoing research to create rigorous tools to measure resource insecurity around the world, GEHLab's research partners will co-lead the collection of water samples in three informal settlements in Accra (Old Fadama, Ashaiman and Nima). Household air quality will also be measured. The objective of this study is to assign a score to environmental determinants of resource insecurity without further testing. Data collection will begin in Summer 2024. Click here to read more.

GEHLab director presents at the HEI 2024 conference

Dr. Boateng presented a poster at the 2024 Health Effects Institute Annual Conference in Philadelphia, on 29th April, 2024. This presentation explored the relationship between exposure to extreme temperature and cognitive function among older adults in Ghana. The findings demonstrate that high ambient temperatures negatively influence sleep difficulties and cognitive function. Click here to view the poster.

Dara Nahal wins poster award at APHA 2023

Dara Nahal won a Student Scientific Presentation Award at the American Public Health Association's 2023 Annual Meeting and Expo, held in Atlanta between November 12th and 15th, 2023. Dara presented on the effects and experiences of unequal access to clean energy in three municipalities in Colombia. Congratulations, Dara!

Dr. Boateng presents research update on Retooling Black Anxiety at CPGH 2024

On 30th April, 2024, Dr. Boateng presented a progress report on the Retooling Black Anxiety project at the Critical Social Science Perspectives in Global Health Research workshop (held at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research). In this 10-minute presentation, Dr. Boateng shared insights on the data collection process as well as critical lessons from the field. Dr. Boateng also fielded questions from the audience. Attendees provided useful insight on knowledge mobilization in policy and academia.

GEHLAB interns present research at 2024 Consortium of Universities for Global Health conference 

Mirianna Georges and Richard Wu presented GEHLab research at CUGH 2024, which took place between 7th and 10th March, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Mirianna delivered an oral presentation on the gendered differences in the relationship between housing insecurity and diarrheal infection in Kenyan informal settlements. This was in addition to a poster presentation on the association between housing insecurity and mental health in Kenyan informal settlements. Richard presented on the effects of housing end energy insecurity on psychosocial health outcomes among those living in informal settlements in Ghana. They engaged conference attendees on their research objectives and lines of further inquiry. Richard and Mirianna also had the opportunity to learn from global health experts on a variety of topics, including methodological innovation for research in humanitarian contexts, and strategies for health communication in an age of misinformation. Well done, Mirianna and Richard!

Dr. Godfred Boateng co-authors new paper on changes in quality of terrestrial and coastal environments in the Caribbean

In this paper, Boateng and co-authors examine the factors that shape perceptions of the quality of terrestrial and marine natural resource base in Belize, Suriname and the Dominican Republic. Using a cross-sectional survey and face-to-face interviews, the authors explore how various socioeconomic and demographic factors mediate people's perceptions of environmental quality, and its impact on their livelihoods. They also propose strategies for designing adaptive responses to climate change in the Caribbean. Read the paper here.

GEHLAB research partnership receives NIH funding

Dr. Godfred Boateng has been awarded a grant by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for a 2-year project on household energy insecurity in Colombia. Valued at $136,899, this grant wil support the implementation of the Household energy insecurity, health and sustainable livelihoods (HEINS) project between March 2024 and February 2026. This project is co-led by Dr. Diego Iván Lucumí Cuesta at Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. Data will be collected in Unguía, Medio Atrato, and Sipía municipalities in the Choco province of Colombia. The HEINS project seeks to understand how household energy insecurity uniquely impacts disease, socioeconomic and psychoosical outcomes, particularly among women, infants and child. The project will also investigate clean energy transition self-efficacy among households.

Dr. Godfred Boateng participates in York strategic engagement in Ghana

Between 8th and 21st March, 2024, Dr. Godfred Boateng visited various educational and research institutions across Ghana as part of a York University strategic engagement initiative. Along with the Deans of the Faculty of Health, and Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, as well as the Vice President of Research and Innovation, Dr. Boateng and faculty from various faculties engaged stakeholders and students on new research and institutional partnerships. 

GEHLab director appointed Canada Research Chair at York University

Dr. Godfred O. Boateng, GEHLab's director and Assistant Professor at York University's School of Global Health has been appointed Canada Research Chair in Global Health and Humanitarianism. His research agenda, which will steer GEHLAB's research priorities, include a proactive assessment of resource insecurity (with a holistic outlook on water, food, energy, and housing insecurity), and ongoing assessment of the relationship between climatic conditions and health outcomes among vulnerable groups. Congratulations, Dr. Boateng!

GEHLab hosts workshop on meta-analysis and systematic reviews at York University 

Between 20th and 23rd February, 2024, GEHLab, in collaboration with the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, hosted a workshop on meta-analysis and systematic reviews. Led by Dr. Reginald Quansah (School of Public Health, University of Ghana), participants from York University and University of Western Ontario learned the differences between systematic reviews and meta-analysis, best practices for conducting both and strategies for getting their reviews published in top-ranking journals. Congratulations to all participants!

Gashanti Young Women Initiative hosts info session on anxiety and Retooling project

On January 25, 2024, Gashanti Young Women Initative, in collaboration with Midaynta Community Services, hosted an info session on the Retooling Black Anxiety project, and anxiety in Black communities at large. Participants shared their perspectives on feelings of anxiety and depression, and also heard about the project objectives. 

Testing begins with partners at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

This February, GEHLab partners at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research trialled new IDEXX equipment for assessing indoor and outdoor water quality. The lab is preparing to collect data on choliform bacteria in water sources across informal settlements in Accra, Ghana. This data will inform new analysis on water insecurity in these settlements.

Call For Papers: Environmental Degradation

Dr. Boateng has had two papers published that examine environmental degradation. To learn more about evironmental degradation visit this website. 

Dr. Boateng collaborates with recognized Food & Nutrition experts at the APHA 2024 Conference 

Dr. Boateng travelled to Minneapolis in late October to present at the annual APHA (American Public Health Association) Conference alongside highly recognized food and nutrition experts. Together, they discuss key issues and current policy gaps and collaboratively promote stronger food and nutrition health policies. 

Now available: New publication on environmental change and livelihood in the Caribbean

Dr. Boateng co-authored a new paper on the effects of contextual and compositional factors on the perceived importance of environmental change in Belize, the Dominican Republic and Suriname. The study suggests that there are varied experiences and perceptions of vulnerability among participants, influenced by contextual and compositional factors that shape people's percceptions of exposure. Read the full paper here.

Eyram Agbe graduates and moves to Carleton University for her PhD

Eyram Agbe completed her MA in Developmental Studies at York University and now she is persuing a PhD at Carleton University. On behalf of GEHLab and Dr. Boateng we are all extremely excited for her and we wish her the very best in her future academic endeavours. Her research involved examining the intersection of social vulnerability and education during disasters. Her research focused on how COVID-19 continues to impact education outcomes in basic schools in Accra, Ghana, with emphasis on teachers’ experiences grappling with the psychosocial fallout of the pandemic. Congratulations, Eyram! 

GEHLAB's 2024 USRA recipients present at York conference

Ann Kwarteng and Hafsa Ugas, GEHLAB's 2024 Undergraduate Student Research Awards recipients, presented the results of their research at the Undergraduate Summer Research Conference on August 13, 2024. Along with other USRA recipients from across York University's Faculties of Health and Science, Ann and Hafsa presented their work on mental health and policing in Ontario, and the relationship between housing insecurity and HIV/AIDS symptomatology in Kenya. Congratulations, Ann and Hafsa!

Call for papers: Health impacts of resource insecurity on vulnerable populations

Do you have a manuscript on the health impacts of resource insecurity on vulnerable groups across the world? GEHLAB director Dr. Godfred Boateng is co-editing a new special issue, which aims to bring together papers focusing on the social and health consequences of resource insecurity, the co-occurrence of either food, water, energy, and/or housing insecurity, and exploring sustainable solutions. This issue is seeking empirical research or conceptual/theoretical works which examine the relevant processes and issues, including, but not limited to, the following: 1) climate change and resource insecurities; 2) sustainable development goals and resource insecurities; 3) sustainable adaptations to changing resource security environments; and 4) systemic barriers and increased vulnerabilities to resource insecurities. The submission deadline is 31st July 2025.

To read more and submit a paper, please visit the call for submissions page. 

Publication alert: New scoping review on refugee social support measurements

Dr. Boateng co-authored a newly published scoping review assessing the instruments used in measuring social supports among refugees in resettlement. This paper explores the meaning of social support for refugees who have resettled, and looks at the type of scales that have been used to address support for this population with four research questions. The findings demonstrate that there is significant opportunity for theoretical and practical investigation into this concept, to ensure that interventions for resettled refugees do not lag behind their lived experiences. Click here to read the paper (open access).

GEHLab director presents at the 57th Annual Conference of the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA)

Dr. Boateng presented recent GEHLab output at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Canadian Sociological Association, with Igor Akomaye as the non-presenting author. This oral presentation recapped Igor's research on the relationship between food insecurity and psychosocial wellbeing in Malawi. The data were collected from three informal settlements in Lilongwe (Chinsapo, Kauma and Mtandire). The results demonstrated high levels of stress, anxiety and depression symptomatology among those who were food insecure, with particularly high results among widows and female household heads. 

GEHLab builds research partnership with Ghana-based IDRC-funded team

GEHLab and the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research (DIGHR) hosted an IDRC-funded research team led by Dr. Yaa Ntiamoa Baidu (Center for Biodiversity Conservation Research, University of Ghana) and Dr. Joseph Mensah (Full Professor, Geography at York University) on 5th June, 2024. The project, Examining the socio-economic and health vulnerabilities of female bushmeat traders in the context of COVID-19 in Ghana explores the socioeconomic and health factors influencing the livelihoods of female bushmeat traders in Ghana, in light of Covid-19 restrictions. The team presented key findings from their fieldwork, and discussed possible areas of collaboration with GEHLab and the DIGHR on One Health monitoring and evaluation.