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Melissa Watt

Adjunct Associate Professor of Global Health
Duke Global Health Institute
Box 90519, Trent Hall 333, Durham, NC 27708
Trent Hall, Room 329, BOX_90519, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Dr. Watt's research focuses on understanding and addressing gender-specific health issues in sub-Saharan Africa, with specific attention to HIV, substance use and mental health. In Tanzania, she currently leads an implementation science study aimed at improving access to long-term antiretroviral therapy for pregnant women with HIV. In South Africa, she is collaborating with Dr. Kathleen Sikkema on a study to support HIV care engagement in the context of sexual trauma. In Ghana, she is supporting a team of DGHI graduate students in Global Health to examine the impact of community health workers on the uptake of family planning. Completed research includes the development and evaluation of mental health treatment for women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania, prevention of alcohol-exposed pregnancies in South Africa, and understanding HIV risk behaviors among individuals who use methamphetamine in South Africa.

Dr. Watt directs the Master of Science in Global Health at DGHI and serves as the Associate Director for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Core of the Duke Center for AIDS Research. She has a Ph.D. in Health Behavior from the University of North Carolina, and an M.A. in Gender and Development from the University of Sussex in the U.K.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Adjunct Associate Professor of Global Health · 2020 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published June 6, 2017
DGHI/KCMC Symposium Addresses Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
Published August 7, 2013
Psychological help for fistula patients in Tanzania

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Recent Publications


The Disclosure Dilemma: Willingness to Disclose a Positive HIV Status Among Individuals Preparing for HIV Testing During Antenatal Care in Tanzania.

Journal Article AIDS and behavior · March 2021 HIV status disclosure can reduce transmission risks and improve care engagement. Individuals may have strong feelings about HIV disclosure even prior to diagnosis. We assessed willingness to disclose a positive HIV status among pregnant women and their mal ... Full text Cite

"She Just Told Me Not To Cry": A Qualitative Study of Experiences of HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Tanzania.

Journal Article AIDS and behavior · January 2021 HIV testing and counseling (HTC) in antenatal care is extremely effective at identifying women living with HIV and linking them to HIV care. However, retention is suboptimal in this population. We completed qualitative interviews with 24 pregnant women liv ... Full text Cite

Screening for Traumatic Experiences and Mental Health Distress Among Women in HIV Care in Cape Town, South Africa.

Journal Article Journal of interpersonal violence · November 2020 Traumatic events can negatively affect clinical outcomes among HIV positive women, particularly when those events result in ongoing psychological distress. Consequently, there have been calls to integrate screening and treatment of traumatic experiences an ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


A stigma reduction intervention at time of entry into antenatal care to improve PMTCT services in Tanzania

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2019

Cancer Treatment Disparities in the HIV Population: Exploring the Impact of HIV on Physician and Patient Decision-Making

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2019

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2008 Ph.D.