Bio

Professor of Global Health

Department of Health Systems Strengthening, School of Public Health

Prof. Tammary Esho has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and MSc in Human Sexuality studies from the University of Leuven, Belgium. She serves as Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs at AmIU in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a global health and sexual medicine expert. Her vast experience spans across academia, research, programming, policy and advocacy, to promote sexual and reproductive health and gender equality through programmes to end sexual and gender-based violence including female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage among other harmful practices in the face of humanitarian emergencies conflict and the climate crisis. Her research in sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence has contributed immensely to global policy guidelines by MoH, WHO, EAC, AU and UNFPA among others. She is the current Interim President of the African Society for Sexual Medicine, Global Outreach and Education committee member of International Society of Sexual Medicine, Professional Education in Sexology Ad-Hoc Committee of the World Association of Sexology, technical reviewer and editor with the Sexual Health Collection in the African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine

Academic Qualifications

• Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences, 2012; Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies, Department of Reproduction, Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine at the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), Leuven, Belgium. Defended dissertation entitled: An Exploration of the psychosexual experiences of women who have undergone Female Genital Cutting. A case of the Maasai in Kenya.
• Pre-Doctorate Certificate, 2005; University of Leuven (KUL), Leuven, Belgium.
• Master of Science in Family and Sexuality Studies, 2004; University of Leuven (KUL), Leuven, Belgium.
• Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 1999; Kenya Medical Training College, Nakuru, Kenya

Research Interest

• Overview – brief summary of your areas of research interests and achievements, • Title of Main Research Projects –indicate if they are funded by whom and /or collaborative with whom, etc. – AmIU & Tsinghua University BRIGHT grant 2023: Community centered digital health intervention for prevention of teenage pregnancies and support to teen mothers in Informal settlements in Nairobi. Funded by Tsinghua University – Lead 2022 FP 2030 hosting at the Centre of Excellence, 2022-2024. Funded by FP2023 – Co Principle Investigator 2022 Tracking the girls in Crisis tool implementation, 2022-2024. Funded by Amref NL – Co Principle Investigator 2020 Aga Khan University 2020-21 Investment cases to accelerate the achievement of transformative results to end Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage, Maternal Mortality, GBV and Unmet needs for FP. Funded by UNFPA – FEMNET 2020 – Baseline survey on the role of cultural and religious leaders in support of women and girls SRHR in Homa Bay, Tharaka Nithi and Migoti counties in Kenya. Funded by FEMNET – Co Principle Investigator 2020 – World Health Organisation Implementation Research Study titled; A Health systems approach to prevention of FGM using Person-Centred Communication: Implementation Research Project in Guinea, Somalia and Kenya. Funded by WHO – Principle Investigator 2020 – Sonke Gender Justice study titled; The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Gender Based Violence: A multicounty study of Congo, Cameroon, South Africa and Kenya. Funded by Sonke Gender Justice – Principle Investigator 2019-2020 – Her Right Project, Baseline Survey for the status of Violence Against Women and Girls in Bunyala Sub County. Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)Organization. Funded by DSW – Technical Adviser 2019 for World Health Oragnization ongoing implementation research on health care providers engagement in prevention

of FGM and management its complications. Funded by WHO – Co-Principle Investigator 2019- Intergenerational impact of “Ntanira na Mugambo”: Alternative Rites of Passage in Tharaka Nithi in Kenya. Collaboration between Technical University of Kenya and University of Wisconsin, USA. Funded by Univ. of Wisconsin – Co-Principle Investigator 2018-19 – A Diagnostic Assessment of Health Systems Response to FGM/C management and prevention in Kenya and Nigeria, 2018. Funded by Population Council – Principle Investigator – Population Council 2019 – Validation of the Sexual Quality of Life questionnaire among ethnic groups that practice Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya. Funded by Population Council – Principle Investigator – Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya 2018 – Baseline survey on the status of safe vs unsafe abortion in Kenya. Funded by FIDA – Principle Investigator – Population Council 2017/18 – Measurement of sexual health and well being of women who have undergone female genital mutilation: A scoping review. Funded by Population Council – World Health Organisation 2017 – Development of clinical guidelines on sexual health care for women living with female genital mutilation complications. Funded by WHO – Population Council 2016/17 – Rapid Evidence Assessment of effectiveness of interventions to end female genital mutilation. Funded by Population Council – The Planning Studio Ltd 2016. The evaluation of Swedish “Support to the sustainable urban development sector in Kenya (S-SSUDSK) and the role of un-habitat in the project. Funded by SIDA – 2016 Share Net International (grant) Contract C-106/2015 KIT proj. Nr. 2100637.05. Researching women and men with Infertility: a quantitative and qualitative study on INF treatement and fertility support groups in Kenya. In collaboration with University of Amsterdam. Funded by Sharenet Int. – Population Council 2015 – Compendium of Interventions against FGM/C database. Funded by Population Council – World Health Organization 2013 – Technical Expert, Technical input to work on the development of a research plan for FGM, Geneva, Switzerland. Funded by WHO

Publications

1. Devon J. Hensela,b, Kristen P. Markc, Amr Abdelhamedd, Sharyn Burnse, Tammary Esho, Jacqui Hendrickse et al. (2023). Changes in Solo and Partnered Sexual Behaviors following the FirstCOVID-19 Wave: Data from an International Study of 26 Countries. Int. Journal of Sexual Health. Accessed at https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2023.2224777
2. . Esho et al., 2023. Amref Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) model for female genital mutilation/cutting, teenage pregnancies, and child, early and forced marriages in Kenya: a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial protocol. Journal of Global Health Reports.
3. Campell Linda …. Esho Tammary et al., (2023) Intimate Partner Violence Prior to and During COVID-19 Measures in 30 Countries: A Global Cross-Sectional Study From the I-SHARE Consortium in The Lancet. J Interpers Violence. 2023 Jun;38(11-12):7115-7142. doi: 10.1177/08862605221141865.
4. . Prithy Ramlachan , Esho Tammary, Ireri Mugambi, Osur Joachim , and Serigne Magueye. (2023) Management of psychosocial and sexual complains among cancer patients in the African Context: A scoping review. Sexual Medicine, an Open Access journal.
5. . Esho Tammary and Kumar Manasi. (2023). Mental and sexual health outcomes associated with FGM/C in Africa: A systematic narrative synthesis drawing implications for integrated interventions. E-Clinical Medicine, Lancet Discovery Science. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101813
6. 6. Erausquin et al (2022). The International Sexual Health And Reproductive Health Survey (I-SHARE-1): A Cross-Sectional Multi-Country Analysis of Adults from 30 Countries Prior to and During the Initial COVID-19 Wave. MedRxiv Public Glob Health. Pre-Print Pub Date : 2021-10-19 DOI : 10.1101/2021.09.18.21263630
7. . Rehema Chengo, Tammary Esho, Shiphrah Kuria, Samuel Kimani, Dorcas Indalo, Lilian Kamanzi, Bachir Mouhamed, Andrew Wabwire, Khaltoume Camara, Tonny Kapsandui, Patrick Kagurusi, Maureen Nankanja, Gorge Oele, Joachim Osur. 2022. A Situation Assessment of Community Health Workers’ Preparedness in Supporting Health System Response to COVID-19 in Kenya, Senegal, and Uganda. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.
8.  Tammary Esho, Dennis J. Matanda , Timothy Abuya , Sintayehu Abebe , Yeshitila Hailu3 , Khaltoume Camara4 , Bachir Mouhammed , Tonny Kapsandui , Lilian Kamanzi , Andrew Wabwire , Patrick Kagurusi , Maureen Nankanja , Anne Gitimu , David Kawai , John Kogada , Millicent Ondigo and Joachim Osur. 2022. The perceived effects of COVID-19 pandemic on female genital mutilation/cutting and child or forced marriages in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Senegal. BMC Public Health (2022) 22:601
9. . Esho Tammary. 2022. The Future of Female Genital Cutting: An Evolution of its Medicalization. Book Chapter. African Futures. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004471641_029. Accessed at https://brill.com/view/book/9789004471641/BP000042.xml
10.  Wisal Ahmed , Vernon Mochache, Karin Stein, Patrick Ndavi, Tammary Esho, Mamadou Dioulde Balde, Anne-Marie Soumah, Ahmed Diriye, Muna Abdi Ahmed, Max Petzold and Christina Pallitto. 2021. A hybrid, effectiveness-implementation research study protocol targeting antenatal care providers to provide female genital mutilation prevention and care services in Guinea, Kenya and Somalia. BMC Health Services Research (2021) 21:109 at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06097-w
11.  Tammary Esho, Everlyne Komba, Fabienne Richard & Bettina Shell-Duncan (2021). Intersections Between Climate Change, Gender Inequalities and Female Genital Mutilation Among the Maasai of Kajiado County, Kenya. Journal of Global Health 12. Nina Van Eekert, Sarah Van de Velde, Sibyl Anthierens, Naomi Biegel, Martha Kieiri,
12. Tammary Esho & Els Leye. (2021) Mothers’ perceptions of the medicalisation of female genital cutting among the Kisii population in Kenya. Culture Health and Sexuality.
13. Joachim Osur, Edward Mugambi Ireri, Tammary Esho. (2021). The Effect of COVID-19 and its Control Measures on Sexual Satisfaction among Married Couples in Kenya.
14.  Muhammad Rahman et al. (2021). Mental Distress and Human Rights Violations During COVID-19: A rapid review of the evidence informing rights, mental health needs, and public policy of vulnerable populations. Policy and Practice reviews, Frontiers in Psychiatry.
15. Leye E., Van Eekert N., Shamu S., Esho T., and Barret H., (2019) Debating medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): Learning from policy experiences across countries. Reproductive Health.
16. Carolyne Njue, Jamlick Karumbi, Tammary Esho, Nesrin Varol, and Angela Dawson (2019) Preventing female genital mutilation in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence. Reproductive Health (2019) 16:113. In https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-019-0774-x
17. Esho Tammary; Muniu Samuel; Yussuf Mohamed; Okondo Chantalle; Kabiru Caroline. (2019). Measurement of the Sexual Health and Well-being of Women who have Undergone Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Scoping Review. international Journal of Sexual Health. The DOI of the paper is 10.1080/19317611.2019.1572687.
18. ANSER, Emilomo Ogbe, Dirk Van Braeckel, Marleen Temmerman, Elin C. Larsson, Ines Keygnaert, Wilson De los Reyes Aragón, Feng Cheng, Gunta Lazdane, Diane Cooper, Simukai Shamu, Peter Gichangi, Sónia Dias, Hazel Barrett, Anne Nobels, Kaiyan Pei, Anna Galle, Tammary Esho, Lucia Knight, Hanani Tabana and Olivier Degomme (2018). Opportunities for linking research to policy: lessons learned from implementation research in sexual and reproductive health within the ANSER network. Ogbe et al. Health Research Policy and Systems (2018) 16:123 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0397-7
19.  Esho T., 2018. Sexual Health and FGM (Chapter 8). In Care of girls and women living with female genital mutilation: a clinical handbook. ISBN 978-92-4-151391-3 © World Health Organization 2018
20. Samuel Kimani, Tammary Esho, Violet Nyambura Kimani, Samuel Muniu, Jane Kamau, Christine Kigondu, Joseph Karanja, Jaldesa Guyo (2018). Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Innovative Training Approach for Nurse-Midwives In High Prevalent Settings. Obstetrics and Gynecology International.
21. Esho T., Datta A., & Muniu S. (2018) Sexuality experiences of secondary school students in nakuru, kenya: a cross-sectional study. Africa Health Sciences
22. Tammary Esho. 2017 ‘What works?’: effectiveness of interventions to end female genital mutilation/cutting Researching Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Book chapter in Els Leye & Gily Coene (eds.) in Proceedings of the 2nd International Academic Seminar of MAP-FGM Project 2017.
23. Esho, T., Kimani, S., Nyamongo, I., Kimani, V., Muniu, S., Kigondu, C., Ndavi P. & Guyo, J. (2017). The ‘heat’ goes away: sexual disorders of married women with female genital mutilation/cutting in Kenya. Reproductive Health, 14(1), 164. doi:10.1186/s12978-017-0433-z
24.  T. Gerrits, F. Van Rooij , T. Esho , W. Ndegwa , J. Goossens , A. Bilajbegovic , A. Jansen , B. Kioko , L. Koppen , S. Kemunto Migiro , S. Mwenda , H. Bos., Infertility in the Global South: Raising awareness and generating insights for policy and practice. Facts Views Vision Obstetrics and gynecology, 2017, 9 (1): 39-44
25. Promundo and UNFPA. (2016). Strengthening CSO-Government Partnerships to Scale Up Approaches Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Equality and SRHR: A Tool for Action. Washington, D.C.: Promundo-US and New York City, NY: UNFPA (Contribution).
26. Esho T., Enzlin, P., Van Wolputte, S. (2014). Borders of the present: Maasai tradition, modernity, and female identity. In: Van Wolputte S. (Eds.), Borderlands and frontiers in Africa, Chapt. 8. Munster: LIT Verlag, 213-233.
27.  Esho T,. Enzlin P., Van Wolputte S., Temmerman M., (2012) An Exploration of the Psycho-Sexual Experiences of Women Who Have Undergone Female Genital Cutting: A Case of the Maasai in Kenya. Facts Views & Vision in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 4, (2): 121-132.