Selected Publications

Gutin SA, Nishimura H, Ayieko B, Sheira LA, Kwena ZA, Lewis-Kulzer J, Bukusi EA, Thirumurthy H, Charlebois ED, Camlin CS: Hazardous alcohol use is associated with sexual behaviors that increase risk for HIV acquisition among fishermen in a high HIV prevalence area of Kenya. AIDS Care Page: 1-12, Mar 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.

Tachibana, PhD, MS: How to Lower Maternal and Child Deaths Across the World? Give Low-Income Families Cash. Research Brief: Cash Transfer Programs Improve Birth, Nutrition, and Early Childhood Health Outcomes. LDI Population Health. “We hypothesized that the programs can be strong levers for improving population health,” said LDI Senior Fellow Aaron Richterman. The study was co-authored with Senior Fellows Harsha Thirumurthy and Jere Behrman, and Statistical Analyst Elizabeth Bair. (eds.). Mar 2026 Notes: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/how-to-lower-maternal-and-child-deaths-across-the-world-give-low-income-families-cash/

Maughan-Brown B, Egbe TI, Bokolo S, Rabin M, Chetty-Makkan C, Kornides M, Long L, Pascoe S, Penuela-Wermers S, van der Linden S, Thirumurthy H, Buttenheim AM.: Understanding HIV Vaccine Misinformation and Vaccine Intentions Among Young Women in South Africa: Insights from an Online Survey. AIDS and Behavior Mar 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.

Maughan-Brown B, Kopeka M, Thirumurthy H, Buttenheim A, Lurie M, Rousseau E, Smith P, Bekker LG, Harrison A. : You could hear their breathing slow down": insights on a video-based psychosocial support intervention to increase HIV treatment uptake and improve psychosocial well-being among men living with HIV in South Africa. AIDS Care 38(2): 275-286, Feb 2026.

Gibson LA, Richterman A, Randall A, Muruako J, Uzwiak B, Fabian E, Thirumurthy H, Roberto CA: Unconditional cash transfers to improve health behaviors among primary care patients: a qualitative sub-study of a randomized clinical trial. Social Science & Medicine 395: 119068, Feb 2026 Notes: Online ahead of print.

Bokolo S, Rabin M, Penuela-Wermers S, Chetty-Makkan CM, Egbe TI, Thirumurthy H, Maughan-Brown B, Buttenheim A. : Characterising concerns and misinformation shaping global HIV vaccine confidence and demand: a structured literature search and content analysis. BMJ Global Health 11(1): e020730, Jan 2026.

Richterman A, Bùi TN, Bair EF, Jerome G, Millien C, Suffrin JCD, Behrman JR, Thirumurthy H: The effects of government-led cash transfer programmes on behavioural and health determinants of mortality: a difference-in-differences study. The Lancet 406(10520): 2656-2666, Dec 2025.

Glanz K, Thirumurthy H, D'cruze NA.: Effectiveness of Financial Incentives for Health Behavior Change: A Narrative Review and Analysis. Annual Review of Public Health Dec 2025 Notes: Online ahead of print.

Sheira LA, Ayieko B, Gutin SA, Kwena ZA, Charlebois ED, Agot K, Moody J, Olugo P, Adede D, Lewis-Kulzer J, Gandhi M, Thirumurthy H, Bukusi EA, Camlin CS.: Gaps in Effective HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Screening and Uptake Among Fishermen in Kenya. AIDS and Behavior Nov 2025 Notes: Online ahead of print.

Njuguna C, Mistri P, Long L, Chetty-Makkan C, Maughan-Brown B, Buttenheim A, Schmucker L, Pascoe S, Thirumurthy H, O'Connor C, Mutasa B, Rees K: Behaviourally-Informed Two-Way Text Messaging to Improve Return to HIV Care in South Africa: Evidence from a Randomised Controlled Trial. AIDS and Behavior 29(11): 3661-3672, Nov 2025.