Asefa Anteneh

Roles & Affiliations: Asefa Anteneh is a Research Fellow at the University of Antwerp (Belgium), affiliated with the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM). Previously held academic positions including Assistant Professor and Lecturer at Ethiopian universities and the University of Melbourne (Australia). Current focus areas include global maternal health, health systems research, and implementation science. Holds a PhD from the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne and an MPH from Addis Ababa University.

Education:

• PhD in Global Health, University of Melbourne (Australia)
• MPH, Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)

Research Interests: Dedicated to addressing maternal and reproductive health inequities in low-resource settings. Specializes in respectful maternity care, health systems strengthening, and the integration of perinatal mental health into healthcare systems. Explores implementation strategies for evidence-based practices such as kangaroo mother care and task-shifting in emergency obstetrics. Active in policy advocacy through initiatives like the Emerging Voices for Global Health and Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Grants & Leadership: Principal Investigator/Co-Investigator on multiple regional and international projects, including the UrbanBirth Collective in sub-Saharan Africa. Leads studies on intimate partner violence, antenatal depression, and HIV-exposed infants. Collaborates with global institutions like WHO and UNICEF on maternal health policy.

Awards & Recognition:

• Fellow of Emerging Voices for Global Health
• Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
• Maternal Health Young Champions
• Policy Communication Fellow
• New Voices in Global Health

Labs & Teams: Part of multidisciplinary teams at ITM and the Nossal Institute, focusing on global health equity and systems research. Co-leads the MISPOD study (Maternal Intimate Partner Violence and Postpartum Depression) in Ethiopia and Guinea. Involved in the UrbanBirth Collective's efforts to improve urban maternal health outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa.