HEARD is celebrating the graduation of one of our students, Dr Lilian Akoth Oogo, who was supported in her studies through the HEARD PhD Scholarship Programme. Below are a few insights on Dr Oogo’s PhD journey.

Your thesis topic: The title of my study is Risk Environment Factors in the Disproportionate HIV Incidence in Nyanza region: A Comparative Historical Analysis. The study sought to investigate whether
there was a particular set of environmental factors that could help explain the historically high HIV incidence rates in Nyanza region when compared to other regions in Kenya. The study involved: i) a comparative qualitative study (community level) comparison of Siaya and Busia counties in Nyanza region and Western region respectively, and ii) a comparative historical analysis of Nyanza region and other regions in Kenya.

What inspired you to start your PhD: I am a sociologist at heart, driven by a deep-seated curiosity about the social structures and inequalities that shape human lives. From early on, I’ve been particularly drawn to interrogating societal issues that impact human development, including those related to health. My interest lies in understanding how systemic factors—such as poverty, education, gender, culture and policy—intersect to influence health outcomes. Pursuing my PhD offered me the opportunity to explore social determinants that influence a population’s’ vulnerability to HIV, and to contribute to research that informs more equitable, culturally sensitive, and effective interventions.

The main findings of your PhD: Findings suggest factors within Nyanza’s normative and sociocultural, as well as its demographic environment underlie its disproportionately high HIV incidence. The comparative study of Siaya and Busia counties revealed obligatory widow/wife inheritance, lower prevalence of male circumcision, women’s lack of bargaining power in sexual relationships, high prevalence of HIV and a large number of orphans and vulnerable children in Siaya County. Except for women’s lack of bargaining power in sexual relationships, the comparative historical analysis of Nyanza and other regions revealed similar factors in addition to polygyny, early age of sexual debut amongst girls, a relatively high incidence of STIs, and a high incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nyanza region. Findings highlight the significance of environmental influences on populations’ disease risk.

Your plans for the future: My goal is to continue conducting sociologically grounded research that informs public health strategies, particularly in underserved and high-risk populations. Ultimately, I envision contributing to both scholarship and practice—whether through a research institute, a university setting, or policy advocacy work—ensuring that evidence-based approaches are responsive to the lived realities of those most vulnerable.

A quotation of your own or another that resounds with you: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela