Patmoz
Prof. Violet Naanyu, Lead for Social Behavioural Research at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Research, has underscored the critical role of social and behavioural science in transforming healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes.
Speaking during the ongoing Health Research Symposium, Prof. Naanyu emphasized that effective healthcare extends beyond biomedical solutions, requiring a deep understanding of the social and cultural contexts that shape health decisions.
“Biomedical interventions alone are not enough,” she said. “To achieve sustainable health outcomes, we must understand how social dynamics, beliefs, and community interactions influence health behaviours and treatment adherence.”
Prof. Naanyu, a respected scholar and research leader, has been instrumental in embedding behavioural and community-based approaches into AMPATH’s programs. Her research examines how human behaviour and societal structures affect health-seeking practices, mental health management, and chronic disease prevention.
Under her leadership, AMPATH Research has advanced work in key areas including maternal health, HIV and AIDS, and mental health, integrating community engagement and cultural sensitivity into evidence-based interventions.
She called on policymakers and health institutions to embrace multidisciplinary collaboration, stressing that lasting healthcare reform requires synergy between medical science, social science, and policy.
Prof. Naanyu’s vision continues to inspire a new generation of researchers committed to building health systems that are inclusive, evidence-driven, and socially responsive, ensuring that research not only informs policy but directly transforms lives.
Shadrack Nyakoe
