Ari Ho-Foster

Ari Ho-Foster serves as a Senior Research Fellow in Epidemiology at the University of Botswana Faculty of Medicine, specializing in global health research focused on Botswana. Her work bridges epidemiological methods with population health improvement through rigorous measurement development.

Her research interests center on stigma-related health barriers across multiple domains:

• Intimate partner violence stigma and help-seeking behaviors
• HIV and mental illness intersectional stigma
• Cervical cancer care access barriers
• Tuberculosis-mental health comorbidities
• Culture-salient intervention development

She employs mixed-methods approaches to develop contextually appropriate measurement tools and stigma-reduction interventions.

Current projects demonstrate her leadership in major global health initiatives:

• Principal Investigator for the Intimate Partner Violence Stigma and Help-Seeking Behaviours Study developing Botswana-specific IPV scales
• Co-Investigator on an RCT testing intersectional stigma interventions for women with HIV and severe mental illness
• Co-Investigator addressing cervical cancer stigma across survivorship stages

Her publication record shows consistent focus on culturally-grounded epidemiology with 10 recent publications in high-impact journals including PLOS Global Public Health and American Journal of Public Health.

Dr. Ho-Foster's scientific contributions emphasize community-engaged research with stakeholders across Botswana's health system. Her work consistently addresses structural vulnerabilities while centering patient perspectives through approaches like "What Matters Most" frameworks.