Akparibo, Robert, Dr

Dr Robert Akparibo

BSc (Ghana), MSc (Denmark), MPH (91ֱ��, UK) & PhD (91ֱ��, UK), MEd (91ֱ��, UK)

Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health

Associate Professor/Snr Lecturer, in Global Health and Nutrition

Director of Students Experience (Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

R.Akparibo@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 4269

+44 114 222 0749 (Fax)

Room 2037, 2nd Floor, Regent Court (ScHARR)

Full contact details

Dr Robert Akparibo
Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health
Room 2037, 2nd Floor
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
91ֱ��
S1 4DA

Profile

Robert Akparibo is Associate Professor in Global Health and Nutrition based within the Division of Population Health, at the School of Medicine and Population Health, University of 91ֱ�� (UK). He is a Registered Nutritionist (Public Health) with the UK Academy for Nutrition (AfN), and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academic (SFHEA). Dr Akparibo received his academic and professional trainings in nutrition, public health, and epidemiology at the University of 91ֱ�� (UK), University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Imperial College London (UK), and the University for Development Studies (Ghana). He has also received management and leadership training from various institutions including at the Jagiellonian University School of Public Health (Poland), Rene School of Public Health (France), and more recently was selected to participate in the White Rose Consortium Universities’ (Universities of Leeds, York, and 91ֱ��) Vice Chancellors equity in leadership development scheme.

Dr Akparibo has considerable real-life experience in designing and implementing health and nutrition programmes to improve population health in the global south, particularly Africa. Prior to joining the University of 91ֱ��, Dr Akparibo worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO) European Office in Denmark, and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Ghana, as well as several other international and national non-governmental organisations including with Family Health International (FHI) in Senegal, Hellen Keller International (HKI) in Burkina Faso, and the Association of Faith-based Development NGOs (ACDEP) in Northern Ghana. During this period, he led the design and delivery of cost-effective interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers, adolescents, and children. Therefore, his research is largely informed by his previous development work and intersects between public health and nutrition.

His current research focuses on addressing the double burden of malnutrition. Specific focus includes young children, adolescents’ and maternal nutrition, food security and food systems and policies in the global south. He is also interested in understanding how the food environment (including the school food environment) impacts on child malnutrition, and NCDs in adults. Since 2017, Dr Akparibo and his colleagues have been exploring the nutrition transition in Africa with the aim to understanding what drives this, and the link between unhealthy dietary behaviours among Africans and increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. In Ghana and Kenya for instance, Dr Akparibo and his colleagues have investigated the food environment and the influences of this on dietary behaviours and practices, and the implication of these behaviours on health. Evidence from their work has led to important policy decisions. For instance, the development of Ghana National NCD policy and implementation strategy (2022-2026), the development of the first ever Food-based Dietary Guidelines for Ghana, and the Food Environment Framework for guiding interventions development to tackle the double burden of malnutrition in Africa.

He is actively involved in influencing global policies, and was a member of the World Health Organisation-led technical working group that developed a Policy Paper to help Ukraine reintroduce and expand its Schools Meals programme which was shut following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: . He co-chairs the Global School Meals Coalition Research Consortium’s Nutrition Community of Practice, as well as Chairs the Global Special Interest Group on School Health and Nutrition set up by the UK nutrition Society. He is co-author of the Research Consortium White Paper on School Meals and Food Systems.

Dr Akparibo holds a visiting Adjunct Professorship position at the University of Allied Health Sciences, and the University of Development Studies in Ghana. He has consulted for several organisations including work carried out for the WHO, the World Food Programme (WFP), the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), The UK Department for International Development (DFID), OXFAM Great Britain, Feinstein International (USA), the UKAID, as well as the UK Public Sector Statutory organisations including the 91ֱ�� City Council, and third Sector Charity organisations including the British Red Cross.

Qualifications

SFHEA	Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
M.Ed.	Master of Medical Education in Higher Institutions – University of 91ֱ�� (UK).
MSc:	Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) - University of Copenhagen (Denmark).
MPH	Master of Public Health, University of 91ֱ�� (UK).
BSc (Hons)	Public Health Nutrition, University for Development Studies, Ghana.
PGCert	Postgraduate Certificate in Nutrition Epidemiology - Imperial College
PhD	Public Health Nutrition – 91ֱ��

Research interests

Young children, adolescents, and maternal nutrition
Food security, and food systems and policy in the global south
Food environment and how these impacts on population health
Double burden of malnutrition
Systematic evidence review including realist synthesis and evaluation.
Capacity building

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Journal articles

Apanga PA, Akparibo R & Awoonor-Williams JK (2015) . Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 33(1).
Laar A, Aryeetey RNO, Akparibo R & Zotor F (2015) . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 74(4), 526-532.
Akparibo R, Harris J, Blank L & Adu-Afarwuah S (2013) COMMUNITY-BASED MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE-ACUTE MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN IN NON-EMERGENCY CONTEXT: EVIDENCE FROM A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN GHANA. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM, 63, 1061-1061.

Journal articles

Lawan UM & Akparibo R (2024) . Journal of Public Health and Primary Care, 5(2), 77-88.
Tuck C, Gray L, Suraj H, Timtoni Iddrisu A-R, Tampuri A-R, Aryeetey R, Baba BA, Akparibo R & Cooper R (2024) . Journal of Cancer Policy.
Osei-Kwasi H, Akparibo R, Zakariah-Akoto S, Holdsworth M, Nicolaou M, Jackson P & Griffiths P (2023) . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 82(OCE5).
Tuck C, Cooper R, Aryeetey R, Gray L & Akparibo R (2023) . International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(1).
Mensah J, Thomas C, Akparibo R & Brennan A (2023) . Value in Health, 26(12), S544-S544.
Osei-Kwasi H, Akparibo R, Zakariah-Akoto S, Holdsworth M, Nicolaou M, Jackson P & Griffiths P (2023) .
Osei-Kwasi H, Boateng D, Asamane EA, Akparibo R & Holdsworth M (2022) . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.
Tuck CZ, Akparibo R, Gray LA, Aryeetey RNO & Cooper R (2022) . BMJ Open, 12(10), e065153-e065153.
Liguori J, Pradeilles R, Laar A, Zotor F, Tandoh A, Klomegah S, Osei‐Kwasi HA, Le Port A, Bricas N, Aryeetey R , Akparibo R et al (2022) . Maternal & Child Nutrition.
Akparibo R, Osei-Kwasi HA & Asamane EA (2021) . International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1).
Akparibo R, Aryeetey RNO, Asamane EA, Osei-Kwasi HA, Ioannou E, Solar GI, Cormie V, Pereko KK, Amagloh FK, Caton SJ & Cecil JE (2021) . Nutrients, 13(10).
Armstrong B, Reynolds C, Martins CA, Frankowska A, Levy RB, Rauber F, Osei-Kwasi HA, Vega M, Cediel G, Schmidt X , Kluczkovski A et al (2021) . British Food Journal, 123(9), 2959-2978.
Pradeilles R, Irache A, Wanjohi MN, Holdsworth M, Laar A, Zotor F, Tandoh A, Klomegah S, Graham F, Muthuri SK , Kimani-Murage EW et al (2021) . Health & Place, 71, 102647-102647.
Osei-Kwasi H, Laar A, Zotor F, Pradeilles R, Aryeetey R, Green M, Griffiths P, Akparibo R, Milka NW, Rousham E , Barnes A et al (2021) . PLoS ONE, 16(4).
Kazmi S, Akparibo R, Ahmed D & Faizi N (2021) . Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(3), 1301-1307.
Booth A, Barnes A, Laar A, Akparibo R, Graham F, Bash K, Asiki G & Holdsworth M (2021) . International Journal of Health Policy and Management.
Foster A, Thompson J, Holding E, Ariss S, Mukuria C, Jacques R, Akparido R & Haywood A (2020) . Health & Social Care in the Community.
Apanga PA, Kumbeni MT, Ayamga EA, Ulanja MB & Akparibo R (2020) . BMJ Open, 10(9).
Holdsworth M, Pradeilles R, Tandoh A, Green M, Wanjohi M, Zotor F, Asiki G, Klomegah S, Abdul-Haq Z, Osei-Kwasi H , Akparibo R et al (2020) . Global Food Security, 26, 100452-100452.
Green MA, Pradeilles R, Laar A, Osei-Kwasi H, Bricas N, Coleman N, Klomegah S, Wanjohi MN, Tandoh A, Akparibo R , Aryeetey RNO et al (2020) . BMJ Open, 10(6).
Rousham EK, Pradeilles R, Akparibo R, Aryeetey R, Bash K, Booth A, Muthuri SK, Osei-Kwasi H, Marr CM, Norris T & Holdsworth M (2020) . Public Health Nutrition.
Reale S, Hamilton J, Akparibo R, Hetherington M, Cecil J & Caton S (2019) . Appetite, 137, 47-61.
Laar AK, Aryeetey RNO, Annan R, Aryee PA, Amagloh FK, Akparibo R, Laar ME, Amuna P & Zotor FB (2017) . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 76(4), 524-534.
Akparibo R, Harris J, Blank L, Campbell MJ & Holdsworth M (2017) . Maternal and Child Nutrition, 13(4).
Lawan UM, Adamu AL, Envuladu EA, Akparibo R & Abdullahi RS (2017) . Sahel Medical Journal, 20(3), 109-116.
Apanga PA, Akparibo R & Awoonor-Williams JK (2015) . Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 33(1).
Laar A, Aryeetey RNO, Akparibo R & Zotor F (2015) . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 74(4), 526-532.
Saeed H, Mogendi J, Akparibo R & Kolsteren P (2015) . Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal, 3(1), 26-35.
Awingura Apanga P & Akparibo R (2015) Ebola: A Call to Strengthen the Healthcare System and Surveillance in West Africa. International journal of health sciences and research, Vol.5(Issue 1).
Akparibo R, Harris J, Blank L & Adu-Afarwuah S (2013) COMMUNITY-BASED MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE-ACUTE MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN IN NON-EMERGENCY CONTEXT: EVIDENCE FROM A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN GHANA. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM, 63, 1061-1061.
Boadu I, Manu A, Aryeetey RNO, Kesse KA, Abdulai M, Acheampong E & Akparibo R () . PLOS Global Public Health, 3(11), e0002448-e0002448.
Aryeetey R, Gyimah F, Agbozo F & Akparibo R () . The Global Health Network Conference Proceedings 2022.
Osei-Kwasi HA, Jackson P, Akparibo R, Holdsworth M, Nicolaou M, De Graft Aikins A & Griffiths P () . Journal of Public Health.
Wanjohi MN, Pradeilles R, Asiki G, Holdsworth M, Kimani-Murage EW, Muthuri SK, Irache A, Laar A, Zotor F, Tandoh A , Klomegah S et al () . Public Health Nutrition, 1-31.
Kwansa AL, Akparibo R, Cecil JE, Infield Solar G & Caton SJ () . Nutrients, 14(9), 1706-1706.

Conference proceedings papers

Badger NA, Tetteh B & Akparibo RA (2023) . 2023 IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica, 6 November 2023 - 10 November 2023.
Mensah J, Thomas C, Akparibo R & Brennan A (2023) PUBLIC HEALTH ECONOMIC MODELLING IN EVALUATIONS OF SALT AND ALCOHOL POLICIES: A SCOPING REVIEW. VALUE IN HEALTH, Vol. 26(12) (pp S544-S544)
Osei-Kwasi H, Akparibo R, Ojwang A, Asamane E, Olayanju A & Ellahi B (2022) . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, Vol. 81(OCE5)
Osei-Kwasi H, Jackson P, Akparibo R, Holdsworth M, Nicolaou M, De Graft Aikins A & Griffiths P (2022) . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, Vol. 81(OCE5)
Nagumo W-R, Cooper R & Akparibo R (2020) Determinants of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among healthcare professionals in Ghanaian hospitals: A presentation of preliminary qualitative findings. PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Vol. 29 (pp 644-644)
Nagumo W-R, Cooper R & Akparibo R (2018) Factors Influencing Low Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Among Healthcare Professionals in Ghana. DRUG SAFETY, Vol. 41(11) (pp 1152-1153)
Tuck C, Baba A, Cooper R, Gray L, Akparibo R, Aryeetey R, Timtoni A & Rahman T () . Population Medicine, Vol. 5(Supplement)
Tuck C, Boadu I, Akparibo R, Gray L, Aryeetey R & Cooper R () . Population Medicine, Vol. 5(Supplement)

Reports

Harris J, Abualbashir ABU, Akparibo R, Ariss S, Haywood A, Messina F, Soady J & Young T (2017) Shifting Demand for Non Medical Services Evaluation Report
Akparibo R, Booth A & Lee A ()
Akparibo R, Lee A, Booth A, Harris J, Woods H, Blank L & Holdsworth M ()

Preprints

Wambiya EOA, Gillespie D, Akparibo R, Oguta JO, Akoth C, Otieno P & Dodd PJ (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Kamal Lettor IB, Apanga PA, Kumbeni MT, Akunvane R & Akparibo R () , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Research group

Food and Nutrition Research Group, University of 91ֱ��.
Global Health and Policy Research Group, University of 91ֱ��.
Fellow of the Institute for Sustainable Foods, University of 91ֱ��.
Fellow of the Institute for Global Sustainable Development, University of 91ֱ��
Global School Health and Nutrition Special Interest Group, NS (UK)
Global School Health and Nutrition Research Consortium, London School of Hygiene.

Grants

Current projects

Co-PI: NutriShed Project Funded by the Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA). Adapting Food Shed Analysis for Nutrition Security Planning in Ghana. Co-PI: £285,000 (YR: 2023-2025)
Co-I: Evaluating the impact of social enterprise interventions in improving food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa with the University of Maastricht. Co-I: 15,000 (YR:2020-2024).

Previous/completed projects.

Co-PI: Erasmus Plus Knowledge Exchange Project funded by the European Erasmus+ Credit Mobility Fund. The project aims at strengthening the existing collaboration between the university of Ghana and the university of 91ֱ�� through staff and students’ mobility for Knowledge exchange around teaching and research: Co-PI: £236,000 (YR: 2019-2023).
Co-I: Drivers of Food Choice Competitive Grants Program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This project investigated and mapped out the factors in the social and physical food environments that drive consumption of energy dense nutrient-poor foods and beverages, to identify interventions targeting women and adolescent girls throughout the reproductive life course. Co-I: $117,000 (YR: 2017-2019).
Co-I: TACLED project: Transitions in African Cities Leveraging Evidence for Diet-related non communicable diseases This is a MRC-led Foundation Award to study the dietary transitions in African cities in Ghana and Kenya. The project involved interdisciplinary partnership of ten co-applicants from five academic institutions across Ghana, Kenya, and the UK. Co-I: £243,675 (YR: 2017-2019).
Co-I: Systematic qualitative evidence synthesis on feasibility, acceptability, accessibility and sustainability, and the cost of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) with low milk content (<50%) of protein coming from dairy products compared to the standard RUTF for treating uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition in children. Co-I: 43,000 (YR:2019-2020).
Co-I: Cooking as part of a Sustainable Food System – creating a wider evidence base for policy makers: Co-I: £52,000 (YR: 2019-2020).
PI: Building research capacity for evidence generation to address the double burden of malnutrition in Ghana. Partners – University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Ghana: PI: £7000 (YR: 2019-2020).
Co-I: Empowering Women through health literacy to address non-communicable diseases in low and middle-income countries’ (Empower) with the University of Massachusetts, USA, University of Ghana and University of Sydney, Australia. Co-I: 15000 (YR: 2017-2018).
PI: Evaluating the effectiveness of nutrition interventions in humanitarian emergencies. PI: £50,000 (YR: 2016-2017).

Consultancies

Situational Analysis and evaluation of impact of school feeding interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa (2020-2021)
Impact evaluation of British Red Cross Community Connectors programme in the UK (2017-2019)
Impact evaluation of CRUSE Bereavement Service in the UK (2018-2019).
Impact evaluation of the 91ֱ�� City Council Keeping People well in their communities’ programme (2015-2017).
Third Independent External Evaluation of the European Communicable Diseases Control (ECDC) programme (2018-2019).
Review of Stakeholder Views and management of the UK Department for International Development (DfID) Health Partnership Scheme in Ghana (2016).
Development and evaluation of community health and well-being programmes in 91ֱ�� (2015-2016).

Teaching interests

Nutrition in Emergency management,
Food systems, Policy, and Food Sustainability
Food Security in the global South
Research methods
Health Needs Assessment,
Intervention Development and evaluation
Critical reflection in global health

Teaching activities: In ScHARR, I lead the development and delivery of teaching (as well as contributes to teach), of students pursuing the Masters of Public Health and MSc Human Nutrition programmes. Specific modules I lead/teach are listed below:

Module Leadership
- HAR6041: Health Needs Assessment, Planning and Evaluation (f2f)
- HAR6214: Nutrition in the Global South (f2f)

Teaching Contributions
- HAR686 Nutrition In emergency Situations (f2f).
- HAR685: Communicable Disease Control (f2f).
- HAR675: Key Issues in global Health (f2f and online).
- Year 2 MBChB programme: Global Perspective of public Health (f2f).
- HAR697: Using policy to strengthen Health systems (f2f and online).
- HAR682: Leading and managing Health Services (f2f and online).

In addition, I supervise Masters and PhD dissertations in my research interest areas.

Professional activities and memberships

Registered Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition (AfN/UK)
Member, Nutrition Society, UK.
Member, Ghana Academic of Nutrition and Dietetics
Review of proposal of publicly funded bodies such as the Wellcome Trust, NIHR, MRC
Reviewer of various Journals – American Journal of Clinical nutrition, BMJ Open, Frontiers Public health, PLoS One Global Health, Journal of Public Health, BMC Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, BMC Public Health nutrition, and others