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Dr Akanksha Marphatia

Research Fellow in Gender and Sanitation

United Kingdom

I am an interdisciplinary global health researcher, with a central focus on gender. I completed my PhD in human geography and an MPhil in International Education at the University of Cambridge with ESRC funding. I hold an EdM in International and Comparative Education (Harvard Graduate School of Education).

My research examines the life course emergence of educational and economic inequalities, and the impact of early women’s marriage (<18 years) on gender inequality.

I currently work on a project linking gender, sanitation and quality of life.

Before joining LSHTM, I worked on a joint University of Cambridge-UCL project investigating maternal and child health and human capital outcomes associated with women’s early marriage in lowland rural Nepal and rural India.

Prior to my PhD, I worked in international gender and education policy for 18 years, with the International Centre for Research on Women, UNESCO, the World Bank and Save the Children, finishing as Acting Director of ActionAid’s International Education Team. During secondments to Ministries of Education across Sub-Saharan Africa, I integrated gender into national policy, programmes and budgets.

Affiliations

Department of Disease Control
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Teaching

I have lectured on introductory statistics (geography), and given interdisciplinary seminars linking global health with women's early marriage, education, nutrition, mental health, and gender inequality.

I have also been an advisor on MSc theses, and a secondary PhD Supervisor.

Research

My research uses a bio-social framework to examine gender inequality across the life course and at different spatial and temporal scales.

My work aims to connect different aspects of women's lives, including the age at which they marry, their educational and nutritional status, and how differential access to water, sanitation and economic resources constrains women time-use, life opportunities and mental health.

My research uses a range of methods, from survey and time-use data to qualitative and participatory approaches.
Research Area
Gender
Sanitation
Water
Global Health
Adolescent health
Statistical methods
Research : policy relationship
Social and structural determinants of health
Disease and Health Conditions
Mental health
Malnutrition
Country
India
Kenya
Nepal
Region
South Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa (developing only)

Selected Publications

Delight, EA; Santiago, DC D C; Palma, FA G; De Oliveira, D; Souza, FN; Santana, JO; HIDANO, A; López, YA; Reis, MG; Ko, AI; MARPHATIA, AA; Cremonese, C; Costa, F; Eyre, MT;
2025
PLOS global public health
Awuah, RB; Antwi, P; Sanuade, OA; Kushitor, SB; MARPHATIA, AA; Akwo Kretchy, I; Amon, S; Blandford, A; Vaughan, M; Baatiema, L; Fottrell, E; Jennings, HM;
2025
Global public health
MARPHATIA, A; Simiyu, S; Flint-O’Kane, M; Bukachi, S; Caruso, BA; Khurana, I; Slaymaker, T; Cumming, O; Ross, I;
2025
F1000 Research Ltd
MARPHATIA, AA; Simiyu, S; Flint O'Kane, M; Alexander, KT; Nascimento de Castro, AC A; Azcona, G; Boni-Morkla, PE; Bukachi, SA; Busienei, P; Caruso, BA; Chase, C; Chipungu, J; Dwivedi, A; Johnston, R; Khurana, I; Kome, A; Kuria, W; Labadia, J; Makoni, F; Mberu, B; Mojumdar, S; Mule, J; Namatende Sakwa, L; Njeri, N; Oliveira de Souza, FA; ... CUMMING, O.
2025
BMJ global health
MARPHATIA, AA; Wells, JC K; Reid, AM; Bhalerao, A; Yajnik, CS;
2025
Frontiers in Global Women's Health
MARPHATIA, AA; Wells, JC K; Reid, AM; Poullas, M; Bhalerao, A; Yajnik, P; Yajnik, CS;
2025
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
Ali, R; Zinab, B; Megersa, BS; Yilma, D; Girma, T; Abdissa, A; Berhane, M; Admasu, B; Filteau, S; NITSCH, D; Friis, H; Wells, JC K; Andersen, GS; Abera, M; Olsen, MF; Wibaek, R; MARPHATIA, AA;
2024
BMC public health
Ali, R; Zinab, B; Megersa, BS; Yilma, D; Girma, T; Admassu, B; FILTEAU, S; Friis, H; Wells, JC K; MARPHATIA, AA; Olsen, MF; Wibaek, R; Abera, M;
2024
The British journal of nutrition
MARPHATIA, AA; Saville, NM; Manandhar, DS; Cortina-Borja, M; Wells, JC K;
2024
PeerJ
Delight, EA; De Carvalho Santiago, DC; Palma, FA G; De Oliveira, D; Souza, FN; Santana, JO; HIDANO, A; López, YA A; Reis, MG G; Ko, AI; MARPHATIA, AA; Cremonense, C; Costa, F; EYRE, MT;
2024
medRxiv