Institution Registered at: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
PhD Title: Prevalence, pattern, and impact of multimorbidity in Tuberculosis patients across the life course in West Africa
Study Description: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious disease in West Africa, and its management is increasingly complicated by multimorbidity (co-existence of multiple chronic conditions in a single individual). Emerging evidence suggests that multimorbidity affects a substantial proportion of TB patients in the region and may vary significantly across age groups, influencing treatment outcomes and straining already fragile health systems. Despite this growing burden, there is limited region-specific evidence to inform integrated care models that address both TB and comorbid conditions, particularly across different stages of life. Understanding how these multimorbidities manifest and interact with TB care is critical for designing effective, context appropriate interventions.
My research seeks to investigate the prevalence, patterns and impact of TB multimorbidity across the life course in West Africa, using a mixed-methods approach. The study will begin with a multi-country cross-sectional survey at WANETAM partner sites in high TB incidence countries, to assess the burden distribution of TB multimorbidity. This will then be followed by a prospective cohort study in four selected high-burden countries to evaluate how multimorbidity affects TB treatment outcomes over time. Finally, a qualitative longitudinal study will be conducted to explore the socio-economic, cultural and health system barriers to effective TB multimorbidity care at the cohort study sites. Through this detailed design, the project aims to generate actionable evidence for the development of integrated care strategies tailored to the needs of TB patients with comorbidities in West Africa.
Supervisors:
- Professor Toyin Togun, MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM and LSHTM (Lead supervisor)
Profile: I am a Gambian public health researcher with a strong background in both laboratory science and epidemiology. After earning a BSc in Biology with Magna Cum Laude honors, I worked as a Scientific Officer at the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRCG) at LSHTM, contributing to several immunology and infectious disease studies. I recently completed an MSc in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a UK Commonwealth Scholar. My research interests center on infectious disease epidemiology. I am passionate about advancing research that improves health outcomes in West Africa and committed to mentoring future African women scientists.
X: @lenak_ms
LinkedIn: Ellen Lena Sylva