Mike Strauss
- Research fellow
- Health Systems Strengthening
Mike is a research fellow at HEARD working primarily in the Health Systems Strengthening Programme on various projects including the HIV Provincial Prevalence Study in South Africa, and the evaluation of attitudes towards self-testing for HIV in Kenya. He has been involved in a number of economic costing studies for HIV related interventions. Currently, he is working on a cost-effectiveness evaluation of the Stepping Stones and Creating Futures Intervention being rolled out in the Gender Equality and Health Programme. Additionally he is working with UNAIDS and Namibian Ministry of Health to develop the Namibia Investment Case Framework. He has worked on a number of technical consultancies for the WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA, MSF, SANAC and South African Department of Health.
His research interests include health financing and policy, specifically, understanding the transition from HIV as an emergency to the integration of the HIV response into the Universal Health Care agenda. Mike recently graduated with a master’s degree in economics. For the completion of this degree, his study used a discrete choice experiment to investigate the preferences for school going adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa regarding service delivery models for HIV testing and medical circumcision. Prior to his involvement at HEARD, Mike was involved in lecturing undergraduate economics and coordinating various tutorial programmes within the department.
Latest Publications
Research outputs
Journal article
Dzobo, M. Dzinamarira, T. Strauss, M. Mashamba-Thompson, T. (2024). Rural women’s preferences for cervical cancer screening via HPV self-sampling: a discrete choice experiment study in Chidamoyo, Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe. AJOG Global Reports, 4(4).
George, G. Strauss, M. Lansdell, E. Nota, P. Peters, R. Brysiewicz, P. Nadesan-Reddy, N. Wassenaar, D. (2024). Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among South African health care workers. Vaccine, 42(21).
George, G. Nota, P. Strauss, M. Lansdell, E. Peters, R. Brysiewicz, P. Nadesan-Reddy, N. Wassenaar, D. (2023). Examining the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses among healthcare workers in South Africa: A mixed-methods study. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(11).
Meehan, S. Hesseling, A. Boulle, A. Chetty, J. Connell, L. Dlamini-Miti, N. Dunbar, R. Du Preez, K. George, G. Hoddinott, G. Jennings, K. Marx, F. Mudaly, V. Naidoo, P. Ndlovu, N. Ngozo, J. Smith, M. Strauss, M. Tanna, G. Vanqa, N. von Delft, A. Osman, M. (2023). Reducing Initial Loss to Follow-up Among People With Bacteriologically Confirmed Tuberculosis: LINKEDin, a Quasi-experimental Study in South Africa. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 11(1).
Strauss, M. Wademan, D. Mcinziba, A. Hoddinott, G. Rafique, M. Jola, L. Streicher, C. du Preez, K. Osman, M. Boffa, J. Hausler, H. Hesseling, A. Hirsch-Moverman, Y. (2023). TB preventive therapy preferences among children and adolescents. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 27(7), 520-529
George, G. Nota, P. Strauss, M. Lansdell, E. Peters, R. Brysiewicz, P. Nadesan-Reddy, N. Wassenaar, D. (2023). Examining healthcare worker willingness to promote COVID-19 vaccines in South Africa: the importance of a clear evidence base. South African Health Review, 25.
George, G. Nota, P. Strauss, M. Lansdell, E. Peters, R. Brysiewicz, P. Nadesan‐Reddy, N, Wassenaar, D. (2023). Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers in South Africa. Vaccines, 11, 414.
Mantell, J. Khalifa, A. Christian, S. Romo, M. Mwai, E. George, G. Strauss, M. Govender, K. Kelvin, E. 2022. Prefences, beliefs, and attitudes about oral fluid and blood-based HIV self-testing among truck drivers in Kenya choosing not to test for HIV. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 911932.
George, G. Strauss , M. Lansdell, E. Nadesan-Reddy, N. Moroe, N. Reddy, T. Eshun-Wilsonova, I. Moshabela, M. 2022. South African University Staff and Students’ Perspectives, Preferences, and Drivers of Hesitancy Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines: A Multi-Methods Study. Vaccines.,10(8), 1250.
Mumbauer, A. Strauss, M. George, G. Ngwepe, P. Bezuidenhout, C. de Vos, L. Medina-Marino, A. 2021. Employment preferences of healthcare workers in South Africa: Findings from a discrete choice experiment. Plos one,16(4),1-17.
Hirsch-Moverman, Y. Strauss, M. George, G. Mutiti, A. Mafukidze, A. Shongwe, S. Dube, G. El Sadr, W. Mantell, J. Howard, A. 2021. Paediatric tuberculosis preventive treatment preferences among HIV-positive children, caregivers and healthcare providers in Eswatini: a discrete choice experiment. BMJ Open.
Rabkin, M. Strauss, M. Mantell, J. Mapingure, M. Masvawure, T. Lamb, M. Zech, J. Musuka, G. Chingombe, I. Msukwa, M. Boccanera, R. 2020. Optimizing differentiated treatment models for people living with HIV in urban Zimbabwe: Findings from a mixed methods study. PLoS ONE, 15(1), 1-14.
Strauss, M. George, G. Mantell, J. Mapingure, M. Masvawure, T. Lamb, M. Zech, J. Musuka, G. Chingombe, I. Msukwa, M. Boccanera, R. 2020. Optimizing Differentiated HIV Treatment Models in Urban Zimbabwe: Assessing Patient Preferences Using a Discrete Choice Experiment. AIDS and Behavior, 25(2), 397-413.
Crankshaw, T. Strauss, M. Gumede, B. 2020. Menstrual health management and schooling experience amongst female learners in Gauteng, South Africa: a mixed method study. Reproductive Health,17,1-15.
Korte, J. Strauss, M. Ba, A. Buregyeya, E. Matovu, J. Kisa, R. Musoke, W. Chemusto, H. Vrana-Diaz, C. Malek, A. Wanyenze, R. George, G. (2019). HIV testing preferences among pregnant women attending antenatal care and their male partners: a discrete choice experiment in Uganda African Journal of AIDS Research, 18(4), 332-340
Romo, M.L., George, G., Mantell, J.E., Mwai, E., Nyaga, E., Strauss, M., Odhiambo, J.O., Govender, K., Kelvin, E.A. 2019 Depression and sexual risk behavior among long-distance truck drivers at roadside wellness clinics in Kenya PeerJ 7:e7253 DOI 10.7717/peerj.7253
Strauss, M. George, G. Mantell, J. Romo, M. Mwai, E. Nyaga, E. Odhiambo, J. Govender, K. Kelvin, E. (2018). Stated and revealed preferences for HIV testing: can oral self-testing help to increase uptake amongst truck drivers in Kenya? BMC Public Health 18(1231).
George, G., Chetty, T., Strauss, M., Inoti, S., et al. (2018) Costing analysis of an SMS-based intervention to promote HIV selftesting amongst truckers and sex workers in Kenya PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0197305
Strauss, M. George, G. Lansdell, E. Mantell, J. Govender, K. Romo, M. Odhiambo, J. Mwai, E. Nyaga, E. Kelvin, E. (2018). HIV Testing Preferences Among Long Distance Truck Drivers in Kenya: A Discrete Choice Experiment. AIDS Care, 30(1), 72-80, doi: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1367086
Gibbs, A. Washington, L. Willan, S. Ntini, N. Khumalo, T. Mbatha, N. Sikweyiya, Y. Shai, N. Chirwa, E. Strauss, M. Ferrari, G. Jewkes, R. (2017). The Stepping Stones and Creating Futures intervention to prevent intimate partner violence and HIV-risk behaviours in Durban, South Africa: study protocol for a cluster randomized control trial, and baseline characteristics BMC Public Health. 17(136).
George, G., Strauss, M and Asfaw, E (2017) The cost of demand creation activities and voluntary medical male circumcision targeting school-going adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Plos One, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179854
Strauss M., George G and Rhodes B (2017) Designing human immunodeficiency virus counselling and testing services to maximize uptake among high school learners in South Africa: What matters? Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 44 (5), pp 290-296, DOI 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000586
Strauss, M., George, G and Rhodes, B.D (2016) Determining preferences related to HIV counselling and testing services among high school learners in KwaZulu-Natal: A discrete choice experiment AIDS and Behavior, DOI 10.1007/s10461-016-1602-8
Whiteside, A. Cohen, J. Strauss, M. (2015). Reconciling the science and policy divide: The reality of scaling up antiretroviral therapy in South Africa South African Journal of HIV Medicine.16(1).
Strauss, M. George, G. Rhodes, B. (2015). A qualitative analysis of the barriers and facilitators of HIV counselling and testing perceived by adolescents in South Africa BMC Health Services Research. 15(250).
George, G., Strauss, M., Chirawu, P., Rhodes, B., Frohlich, J., Montague, C., and Govender, K. 2014 Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) among adolescent boys in KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa African Journal of AIDS Research, 13 (2), 179-187, Routledge, DOI: 10.2989/16085906.2014.943253
Whiteside, A. Strauss, M. (2014). The end of AIDS: Possibility or pipe dream? A tale of transitions. African Journal of AIDS Research, 13(2), 101-108
Govender, K. George, G. Mucheuki, C. Strauss, M. (2013) Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in South Africa : challenges and opportunities South African Health Review 2013/14, 1-12.
Gow, J. Strauss, M. Whiteside, A. (2013). The State of Health Economic Research in South Africa. PharmacoEconomics. 31(2013), 251-253
Report
Poku, N.K., Strauss, M., Crankshaw, T.L. and Chareka, S. (2023). SRHR in East and Southern Africa HEARD Report
Research Brief
George, Gavin, Phiwe Babalo Nota, Michael Strauss, Emma Lansdell, Remco Peters, Petra Brysiewicz, Nisha Nadesan-Reddy, and Douglas Wassenaar. Examining Healthcare Workers' Willingness to Promote COVID- 19 Vaccines in South Africa. Issue Brief 2 (May 2023). HEARD, DRILL and FDP.
George, Gavin, Phiwe Babalo Nota, Michael Strauss, Emma Lansdell, Remco Peters, Petra Brysiewicz, Nisha Nadesan-Reddy, and Douglas Wassenaar. Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers in South Africa. Issue Brief (May 2023). HEARD, DRILL and FPD