Skip to main content

Astha
Ramaiya
, DrPH, MSPH

Assistant Scientist

Astha Ramaiya, DrPH, is a scientist who studies the role of gender as a power system on health outcomes across the life course in LMICs.

Contact Info

Research Interests

adolescent health; maternal child health; violence; violence; implementation science research; mixed methods; reproductive health; menstrual hygiene and health management; monitoring and evaluation; life course; gender

Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
DrPH
Drexel University
2018
MSPH
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
2011
BS
University of Waterloo
2007
Overview

Astha Ramaiya is a global health researcher and Assistant Scientist with over 15 years of experience advancing adolescent, maternal, and sexual and reproductive health, with a specialized focus on gender norms and violence prevention. Astha's leadership at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, combined with a robust portfolio of peer-reviewed publications, demonstrates her commitment to transforming health outcomes by addressing harmful gender norms across diverse communities. Through innovative, mixed-methods research and collaborative partnerships she strives to reduce health disparities, promote gender equity, and foster environments where adolescents and families can thrive. She speaks seven languages, including Kutchi, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Kiswahili and Nepali.

Honors & Awards

2024 Faculty Innovation Fund 

2018 Beta Omega chapter of Delta Omega
2011 Young Alumni Award, University of Waterloo

Select Publications

Most recent and relevant publications

  • Ramaiya A, Fine S, Wheeler J, Stones W, Blum R. (in press). Understanding adolescents’ perceptions and experiences of violence victimization and its perceived impact on mental health and coping: a qualitative study across 13 countries. Journal of Adolescent Health. 

  • Ramaiya A, Li M, Yu C, Lulebo A, Pinandari AW, Gupta J, Kaufman MR, Sabri B, Fine S, Beckwith S. (2025). Examining trajectories of peer violence experiences and their association with gender norms and agency among adolescents: Evidence from China, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia. *Journal of Interpersonal Violence*, 08862605251324966. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251324966

  • Ramaiya A, Li M, Yu C, Pinandari AW, Lulebo A, Fine SL, Kaufman MR, Shirzad M, Sabri B, Beckwith S. (2025). Measuring safe, stable and nurturing relationships among adolescents in China, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia: Association with peer-violence experiences. *Child Abuse & Neglect*, 165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107494

  • Ramaiya A, Muluve E, Li M, Zuo X, Stones W, Bachelet F, Mafuta E, Moreau C, Zimmerman L. (2024). How have COVID-19 related economic shocks exacerbated emotional abuse and emotional neglect among adolescents across four countries? *Journal of Adolescent Health*, 75(6), S14-S23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.09.002

  • Mmari K, Gayles J, Lundgren R, Barker K, Austrian K, Levtov R, Kato-Wallace J, van Reeuwijk M, Richardson L, Green J, Kagesten A, Ramaiya A. (2023). Implementing interventions to address gender and power inequalities in early adolescence: Utilizing a theory of change to assess conditions for success. *Journal of Adolescent Health*, 73(1), S5-S14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.10.032

Projects
Global Early Adolescent Study
Gender Equity Unit
Vaginal Microbiome Research Consortium