Center for
Global Health

International Scholar

Languages: English (native)

Bio statement

I currently work in Botswana, as a Senior Research Fellow. My academic interests are in measurement development and furthering the use of epidemiological methods to improve the health of populations. I am involved with projects focused on (i) improving access to care (cervical cancer care, eye health), (ii) help-seeking behavior (intimate partner violence), (iii) stigma (HIV, mental illness, cervical cancer, intimate partner violence), and (iv) the impact of stigma on mental health, HIV care, and help-seeking behaviors.

Recent global health projects

1. Intimate Partner Violence Stigma and Help-Seeking Behaviours Study - In this study, we are investigating the role of IPV stigma and other barriers to seeking help for women who have experienced IPV, and developing culture-salient scales to measure IPV stigma in Botswana.
Role: Principal Investigator

2. RCT of an intersectional stigma intervention to sustain viral suppression among women living with serious mental illness and HIV in Botswana - This randomized controlled trial adapts and tests a group-based stigma reduction intervention on treatment adherence and mental health among women diagnosed with HIV and severe mental illness.
Role: Co-Investigator

3. Addressing the role of stigma in cervical cancer care in Botswana - This study examines stigma among women diagnosed with cervical cancer at different stages of survivorship, how that intersects with other intersecting factors (e.g. HIV), and co-produce an intervention model with stakeholders.
Role: Co-Investigators

Selected publications

Ho-Foster A, Machisa MT, Moalusi LR, Christofides N (2025) Gender beliefs and norms underlying intimate partner violence stigma among women living in Botswana: Results of an exploratory factor analysis. PLOS Global Public Health 5(2): e0004113. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004113

Yang L H, Poku O B, Misra S, Mehta H T, Rampa S, Eisenberg M M, Yang L S, Cao T X D, Blank L I, Becker T D, Link B G, Entaile P, Philip R. Opondo M, Arscott-Mills T, Ho-Foster A R and Blank M B; Stigma, Structural Vulnerability, and “What Matters Most” Among Women Living With HIV in Botswana, 2017; American Journal of Public Health; 34110916; 10.2105/ajph.2021.306274; https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306274;

Joseph Motsumi M, Mashalla Y, Sebego M, Ho-Foster A, Motshome P, Mokokwe L, Mmalane M and Montshiwa T; O36: DEVELOPING A TRAUMA REGISTRY IN A MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRY – BOTSWANA; British Journal of Surgery; 2021; 10.1093/bjs/znab117.036; https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znab117.036; https://academic.oup.com/bjs/article/108/Supplement_1/znab117.036/6255813

Misra S, Mehta H T, Eschliman E L, Rampa S, Poku O B, Wang W-Q, Ho-Foster A R, Mosepele M, Becker T D, Entaile P, Arscott-Mills T, Opondo P R, Blank M B and Yang L H; Identifying “What Matters Most” to Men in Botswana to Promote Resistance to HIV-Related Stigma; Qualitative Health Research; 33764233; 10.1177/10497323211001361; https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10497323211001361;

Yang L H, Ho-Foster A R, Becker T D, Misra S, Rampa S, Poku O B, Entaile P, Goodman M and Blank M B; Psychometric Validation of a Scale to Assess Culturally-Salient Aspects of HIV Stigma Among Women Living with HIV in Botswana: Engaging “What Matters Most” to Resist Stigma; AIDS and Behavior; 2020; 2020/08/24; 10.1007/s10461-020-03012-y; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-03012-y;

Ramogola-Masire D, Poku O, Mazhani L, Ndwapi N, Misra S, Arscott-Mills T, Blank L, Ho-Foster A, Becker T D and Yang L; Botswana's HIV response: Policies, context, and future directions; Journal of Community Psychology; 2020; 10.1002/jcop.22316; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcop.22316;

Poku O B, Ho-Foster A R, Entaile P, Misra S, Mehta H, Rampa S, Goodman M, Arscott-Mills T, Eschliman E, Jackson V, Melese T, Becker T D, Eisenberg M, Link B, Go V, Opondo P R, Blank M B and Yang L H; ‘Mothers moving towards empowerment’ intervention to reduce stigma and improve treatment adherence in pregnant women living with HIV in Botswana: study protocol for a pragmatic clinical trial; Trials; 2020; 2020/10/07; 10.1186/s13063-020-04676-6; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04676-6;

Molebatsi K, Wang Q, Dima M, Ho-Foster A, Modongo C, Zetola N and Shin S S; Depression and delayed tuberculosis treatment initiation among newly diagnosed patients in Botswana; Global Public Health; 2020; 10.1080/17441692.2020.1826049; https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2020.1826049;

Wang Q, Dima M, Ho-Foster A, Molebatsi K, Modongo C, Zetola N and Shin S S; Association between HIV status and mental health disorders among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Botswana; Annals of Epidemiology; 2019; 2019/12/01/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2019.08.016; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104727971930780X;

Becker T D, Ho-Foster A R, Poku O B, Marobela S, Mehta H, Cao D T X, Yang L S, Blank L I, Dipatane V I, Moeng L R, Molebatsi K, Eisenberg M M, Barg F K, Blank M B, Opondo P R and Yang L H; "It's When the Trees Blossom": Explanatory Beliefs, Stigma, and Mental Illness in the Context of HIV in Botswana; Qual Health Res; 2019; Feb 9; 2019/02/12; 30739566; 10.1177/1049732319827523; https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/104973231982752

Last Updated: 24 February 2025