Understanding and addressing the mental health, well-being, and current situation of women experiencing street homelessness in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

I am a PhD candidate from Ethiopia studying Global Health at Uppsala University in Sweden. I am affiliated with WoMHeR (Women’s Mental Health during the Reproductive Lifespan), the Center for Women’s Mental Health, and SWEDESD (Swedish International Centre of Education for Sustainable Development). I worked as a mental health professional and lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry at Dilla University in Ethiopia for five years.

My primary research interest for my PhD is “Understanding and addressing the mental health, well-being, and current situation of women experiencing street homelessness in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia”. I focus mainly on the policy arena for health and social protection for these women, their living circumstances, unmet needs, healthcare utilisation, coping strategies, pathways to homelessness, and lived-experiences. This research project employs interviews, storytelling, and policy analysis to understand the experiences of homeless women of reproductive age on the streets. The Photovoice study approach was utilized to gain a deeper understanding of the lives and challenges faced by the study population.

My research interests include topics such as homelessness, violence against women, health services, health policy, trauma-related disorders, women’s health, substance abuse, emergency psychiatry, affective disorders, and child/adolescent psychiatry.