Agriculture Practices and Malaria Risk in East Africa
Malaria remains one of the world’s most devastating infectious diseases, with an estimated 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths globally in 2022 alone. Nearly half the world’s population lives in areas at risk of transmission, and sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden, accounting for 95% of global malaria deaths. Children under five represent approximately 80% of these fatalities. In Uganda, malaria is the leading cause of death among both adults and children, responsible for 30–50% of all hospital visits and 5% of all deaths. While global malaria mortality declined by 36% between 2010 and 2020, progress has plateaued in recent years, and the drivers of this trend reversal remain unclear.
This project investigates the intersection of malaria risk and sustainable agriculture in Uganda through a One Health lens. In collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and ISU-UP extension specialists, we are conducting a mixed-methods, applied research that includes demographic analysis, GIS mapping, and qualitative fieldwork among cocoa farmers in the Busoga Region. The demographic component 
focuses on describing malaria prevalence and burden in East Africa, while the qualitative component explores how post-harvest cocoa practices—particularly the disposal of cocoa pod husks—may contribute to mosquito breeding and malaria transmission. Through interviews and focus groups with subsistence farmers, we aim to identify practical and culturally appropriate strategies to reduce malaria risk while supporting sustainable livelihoods. We are also applying human-centered methods to understand current malaria beliefs, prevention strategies, and local environmental risk factors.
Antimicrobial Resistance Communication Toolkit (FAO Partnership)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis, responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths annually, including 1.3 million directly attributable to bacterial AMR. The economic burden is immense, with rising healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and increased poverty, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to effective antimicrobials is limited and misuse is widespread across human, animal, and agricultural sectors. In LMICs, AMR threatens food security, undermines public health systems, and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.
In partnership with the Food Safety Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), we developed a communication toolkit designed to raise awareness and promote action on AMR across diverse cultural and institutional contexts. The toolkit includes social-media-ready messages, infographics, and science communication resources tailored for use by national ministries, NGOs, and competent food safety officers in low and middle-income countries. Our goal was to support FAO’s One Health approach by equipping stakeholders with tools to effectively communicate the risks of AMR and encourage responsible antimicrobial use in agriculture and food systems. This project was part of the Dean's Global Food and Agriculture Leadership Program.