From Nursing to health research

I have always been intrigued and motivated by change. As such, it did not come as a surprise when I felt the urge to drive change in my society. My background is in nursing, and through the training, I witnessed firsthand the gaps within the health sector, a lack of quality local data for evidence-based practice. The experience also helped me understand the vital role of policies in filling the gaps within the health sector and in turn, improving the health of our people.  Armed with this knowledge, I sought avenues that I could explore to influence health policies in Kenya. Research emerged as the perfect advocacy tool and this discovery ignited my urge to delve deeper into it. Filled with hope, I applied for the ALMA/IDEAL post graduate diploma in Health Research Methods to gain the skills and expertise necessary for conducting scientific research studies. You can imagine my joy when I got the email informing me that I had been selected to join the programme – I was delighted!

I am part of a research project that aims to reduce the burden of depression and anxiety among adolescents through early detection and diagnosis of the conditions using locally adapted screening tools. In Kenya, Swahili is the national language and most understood language. Tools adapted to the Swahili language can thus be used more widely. My research project deals with validating the Swahili version of the 25-item Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) in a rural sample of Kenyan adolescents. The RCADS tool is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. The Swahili version of the tool will aid in the assessment of more children and adolescents in Kenya and help researchers gain insights that will be instrumental in formulating appropriate interventions for this vulnerable group.

I have gained a deeper understanding of the research cycle, including technical skills such as qualitative analysis (evaluating non-numerical data), psychometric analysis (evaluating psychological tests and measurements) and systematic review and analysis. I have also gained soft skills such as critical thinking, time management and teamwork. Under the mentorship of my supervisors, Prof Amina Abubakar and Dr Patrick Mwangala, I have actively received timely support and constructive feedback, which has enriched my research work and deepened my interest in the field. From my peers, I am continuously learning new ideas and different problem-solving techniques. The journey, however, has had its own fair share of challenges. I would say, the biggest challenge I have faced is not having prior knowledge and skill in R programming, which is necessary for the analysis of my research project. However, with the support from my supervisors and the department I have been able to undertake classes in R programming as I also engage with my peers in learning the skill.

To those planning to apply for this programme, I would say that research is intriguing and challenging, often in equal measure. Embrace learning from different people and fields; learn time management, teamwork and collaboration; and lastly, give yourself grace, everyone makes mistakes.

Looking ahead, in the next two years I hope to pursue a master’s degree in public health and contribute to research that influences policy and practice especially in African contexts.