Maryam Al-Mujtaba, PhD

Maryam Al-Mujtaba’s global health focus centers on understanding how social and structural determinants influence health outcomes among medically underserved populations. She is particularly interested in how systems of inequality—including gender inequality, racism, xenophobia, ethnic discrimination, and religious intolerance—shape interpersonal relationships, institutions, organizations, and health policies and contribute to poorer health outcomes. Her interests in global health equity align with the Center’s themes of empowering women, strengthening systems for health, and addressing social and environmental determinants of health. Al-Mujtaba’s research focuses on HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa, examining how social and structural determinants influence HIV risk and how gender inequality contributes to disproportionate vulnerability. Her broader research experience spans cancer survivorship and screening, HIV treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and maternal and child health across Canada, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Rwanda.