Social Epidemiology Lab

19/08/2025

📖We are excited to share our latest research from our research group: “Social Media and Mental Health Among Young Adults in Cameroon”
Published in Health Promotion Perspectives.

This study explores how social media use influences psychological well-being among young adults in Cameroon.

🔍 Key findings:

-WhatsApp (97.7%) was the most widely used platform, followed by Facebook (66.9%) and TikTok (43.4%).

-Nearly 40% of participants reported using social media for more than 5 hours daily.

-Excessive use was linked with poorer self-reported mental health and increased feelings of inadequacy.

-Cultural factors also played a role in shaping mental health outcomes.

💡 Takeaway:

-Social media is deeply embedded in the lives of young Cameroonians. While it offers many benefits, balancing usage is key to protecting mental well-being.

-We hope these insights contribute to designing culturally tailored mental health interventions, digital literacy programs, and supportive policies in Cameroon and beyond.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/evztDHc9

👏 A huge thank you to our incredible co-authors for making this possible!

16/08/2025

🤝 Advancing Global Health Together

Social Epidemiology Lab has partnered with Global Health Otherwise to strengthen efforts toward health equity and inclusive global health.

We especially recognize Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain, founder of Global Health Otherwise, for his visionary leadership in reimagining the future of global health.

Our Collaboration Focuses On:

-Policy & Advocacy: Promoting inclusive healthcare and hosting critical global health dialogues.

-Research & Knowledge: Joint studies on health disparities, universal health coverage, and decolonization.

-Capacity Building: Training, mentorship, and certification programs for global health leaders.

-Community Impact: Initiatives addressing social determinants of health and awareness campaigns for underserved populations.

Why It Matters:
Together, we bring research, advocacy, and community action to create fairer, healthier societies worldwide.

14/08/2025

🚀 We are thrilled to share our latest article in the BioSocial Health Journal:

"The socio-epidemiological impact of a growing demand for cosmetic surgery in low- and middle-income countries: The case of Cameroon"

https://lnkd.in/e_JPCz6W

🔍 Key Highlights

📈 Surging demand driven by globalized beauty standards.

⚖️ Inequities in access; lower-income groups face greater risks and poorer outcomes.

🛡 A pressing need for culturally sensitive guidelines, stronger regulation, and equitable healthcare systems.

🙏 Heartfelt thanks to our outstanding coauthors

13/08/2025

Join us for Session 5 of the Practical Research Skills Series: Policy Impact & Knowledge Translation in Social Epidemiology

🗓 When: Aug 20, 2025 | 12 PM–1 PM EDT (6 PM–7 PM CEST)
🎙 Speaker: Dr. Brittney Francis, PhD, MPH

📌 What You’ll Learn:
✅ How epidemiology shapes public health policy
✅ Crafting compelling policy briefs that decision-makers read
✅ Engaging stakeholders for maximum impact
✅ Real-world case studies of research driving change

📍 Join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/e9F6yjuJ

25/07/2025

We’re proud to announce the publication of our latest review article:
“Malaria burden and social determinants in Cameroon” in Discover Public Health! 🦟📖

💡 Key Highlights:

📚 Education level strongly influences malaria prevention and treatment behavior.
💰 Socioeconomic status affects exposure, vulnerability, and access to care.
🏥 Healthcare accessibility remains a barrier, especially in rural and underserved regions.
🏡 Poor infrastructure and low-income settings show higher malaria prevalence.
🌦️ Seasonal and geographic variations also play a role in transmission dynamics.
🛠️ Recommendations emphasize multi-sectoral strategies, linking public health with education, economic development, and environmental management.

👏 Huge thanks to all co-authors for their collaboration on this important work.

📄 Read the full open-access paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12982-025-00833-x

09/07/2025

📢 Upcoming Webinar – Session 4!
Join us for the next session in the Practical Research Skills Webinar Series hosted by the Social Epidemiology Lab.

🎯 Topic: Introduction to R for Data Analysis in Social Epidemiology
🗓 Date: 19.07.2025
🕖 Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM (Cameroon Time)
📍 Venue: Google Meet
🎓 E-Certificates will be provided

💻 Objective:
To familiarize participants with R and RStudio for basic epidemiological data analysis.

👨🏾‍💻 Speaker: Mr. Desmond – Founder/Data Analyst/Researcher at STATS Academy

🔍 What You’ll Learn:
-Introduction to R & RStudio – Why use R? Installing and setting up RStudio
-Basic R Syntax & Data Manipulation – Importing datasets; cleaning & transforming data
-Basic Statistical Analysis – Descriptive stats, histograms, boxplots, and more
-Q&A Session

Whether you’re new to R or looking to strengthen your data skills in public health, this session is for you!

📝 Register now by scanning the QR code on the flyer or using the link below: https://calendar.app.google/2UGW5Fwpqd9MKq2q9

16/06/2025

📢 Upcoming Webinar Alert!

We’re excited to invite you to Session 3 of the Practical Research Skills Webinar Series organized by the

🔍 Topic: Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analysis – Basics & Process

📅 Date: June 21, 2025
🕖 Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM (Cameroon Time)
📍 Location: Online via Google Meet
🎓 E-Certificates will be issued to all participants.

Speaker:
Mr. Che Henry
Epidemiologist & Researcher, American University of Beirut

What you will learn:
-Introduction to systematic reviews

-Fundamentals of meta-analysis

-How to develop an effective search strategy

Whether you’re a student, researcher, public health professional, or just passionate about social epidemiology, this is for you!

👉 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register or register using this link: https://lnkd.in/ewPjfAQp

see you there!

07/05/2025

📢 Join us for the Practical Research Skills Webinar - Session 2

🗓 Date: Saturday, 31st May

🕒 Time: 7-8 pm Cameroon Time

In this session, we will dive into Sampling Methods, Bias, & Ethical AI Use in Research, exploring essential concepts to enhance your research skills.

🔍 Agenda:

*Sampling Methods & Bias – Learn about random, stratified, and convenience sampling, and strategies to minimize bias.

*Ethical AI Use in Research – Gain insight into the responsible use of AI tools, with key ethical considerations in mind.

*Q&A & Discussion – A chance to interact and clarify any questions you may have.

Whether you’re a researcher, data scientist, or just someone passionate about ethical research practices, this session will equip you with valuable knowledge. Don’t miss it!

📍 Register Now: https://calendar.app.google/j2uXTiY3r4cgCeiK7

👉 Feel free to invite colleagues or anyone who might be interested. Let's expand the discussion around ethical research practices and improve our skills together!

30/04/2025

🌍 Today, we had the pleasure of joining Research and Statistical Association Cameroon (RaSA)’s research seminar, where we shared insights from one of our projects:
"Cross-Cultural Dynamics: Social Media and Health Information-Seeking Behaviour among Young Adults in Cameroon."
https://lnkd.in/ehiZU7uy

This study sheds light on how young people engage with health information online, what platforms they turn to, which topics resonate most, and how cultural background and digital literacy influence their choices.

In a world where health and technology are increasingly intertwined, these insights are essential for building more responsive, inclusive public health strategies.

Thank you to Research and Statistical Association Cameroon (RaSA) for the kind invitation. We look forward to continued collaboration as we work to deepen our understanding of how social factors shape health outcomes.



https://www.linkedin.com/posts/social-epidemiology-research-lab_today-30th-april-rasa-hosted-a-research-activity-7323441888047345664-OBwc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAACTNLkUBvNMDbEXCps9JjvhXkZ8LnAhTX8s

🌍 Today, we had the pleasure of joining Research and Statistical Association Cameroon (RaSA)’s research seminar, where we shared insights from one of our projects: "Cross-Cultural Dynamics: Social Media and Health Information-Seeking Behaviour among Young Adults in Cameroon." https://...

30/04/2025

The Social Epidemiology Lab, in collaboration with CAMSA, is hosting a virtual research training session for medical students in Cameroon.

The focus of the session is "Referencing and Publication", important skills for producing high-quality research outputs.

This initiative underscores our commitment to strengthening global health research capacity by equipping emerging scholars with practical, hands-on tools to effectively communicate their work.

The Social Epidemiology Lab, in collaboration with SCORE CAMSA, is hosting a virtual research training session for medical students in Cameroon The focus of the session is "Referencing and Publication", important skills for producing high-quality research outputs. This initiative underscor...

22/04/2025

🎉 What an incredible kickoff! 🎉

On April 19, 2025, we hosted 1 of the Practical Research Skills Webinar Series, and the turnout was amazing!

With participants joining from across the globe, it was inspiring to see such strong interest in Social Epidemiology & Research Processes. Huge thanks to our speaker, Dr. KIBU ODETTE, for delivering such an impactful session!

📊 The interaction and shared insights made this a truly enriching experience.

💡 We’re just getting started! Stay tuned for info on 2-coming soon.

Let’s keep growing this learning community. Thank you for being part of it! 🙌

19/04/2025

Going live soon for this exciting webinar!

Registration still open, don’t miss out!

📢 Announcing the Practical Research Skills Webinar Series! 📢

We are excited to share that we are launching a Practical Research Skills webinar series designed to strengthen our expertise in research methodologies and social epidemiology.

Join us for Session 1: Introduction to Social Epidemiology & Research Processes, where we will explore key research concepts and best practices in the field.

📅 Date: April 19, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM (Cameroon Time)
📍 Location: Virtual (Google Meet)
🎓 E-Certificates will be provided to all participants

Led by Dr. KIBU ODETTE, Senior Health Policy Analyst at the Nkafu Policy Institute and Lecturer at the University of Buea, this session will cover:

✔ Key concepts in social epidemiology
✔ Research methods & study designs
✔ Ethics in research
✔ Interactive Q&A

This webinar series aims to provide valuable insights and practical knowledge to empower professionals and researchers in the field. We look forward to your participation!

🔗 Join: https://lnkd.in/ePwP8VwT