Stefanie Dens

Stefanie Dens is a researcher specializing in socio-ecological health at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium. Her work focuses on urban health systems, socio-spatial analysis of disease transmission, and maternal health in low-resource urban settings across Africa and Latin America.

Her research interests center on the intersection of urbanization and health, particularly examining how urban environments shape disease transmission patterns and healthcare access. She investigates socio-spatial variations in health outcomes with emphasis on malaria, COVID-19, and maternal health in cities across Ethiopia, Peru, and Guinea. Her work integrates medical anthropology, epidemiology, and urban planning perspectives to address complex health challenges in rapidly urbanizing contexts.

Analysis of her publications reveals a strong focus on interdisciplinary approaches to understanding health in urban environments, with particular attention to socio-spatial determinants of disease transmission and healthcare access. Her research demonstrates consistent collaboration with institutions across Africa and Europe, addressing pressing global health challenges through mixed-methods approaches.

Dr. Dens leads and contributes to significant research projects funded by major organizations including Research Fund - Flanders, Flemish Government, and The Wellcome Trust. Her current projects include Discontinu-Cities (2024-2027) examining maternal healthcare in African cities, DI-MOB (2023-2026) on disease prevention in Cuba, and CEASE (2021-2025) addressing malaria in Ethiopia and Sudan.