Dr. Simona Simona

The image for Dr. Simona Simona, Assistant Dean Research
Dr. Simona Simona
Assistant Dean Research
Senior Lecturer
Social Work and Sociology
Research Profiles
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uI6in6EAAAAJ&hl=en

Biography

Dr. Simona is a research and data science expert who is currently a Senior Lecturer and Assistant Dean Research in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zambia. Dr. Simona holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Quantitative Social Science Methods from the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom. His research interests are wide ranging, and they include sexual reproductive health, medical sociology, gender-based violence, mental health, migration, Multilevel Modelling and agent-based modelling. His works have been published in international peer-reviewed journals including Plos Global Public Health, Plos One, Reproductive Health, BMC Women's Health and Global Health Action, among others. Dr. Simona is skilled in several social research methods and techniques including the use of advanced computer programming packages for data management and analysis including R Programming, Python and Stata. He has been a visiting scholar in the Institute of Health and Social Policy at McGill University in Canada, Department of Social Sciences at the University of East of Finland, and the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis in Austria.

Publications

  1. Simona, S. 2026. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Academic Research and Writing. Lusaka: Simz Academy Publishers.
  2. Simona, S and Likando. 2025. Trends and Factors Associated with Sexual Spousal Violence: Amultilevel Analysis. Plos One, 20 (3), e0318640.
  3. Hachiboola, F., Lemba, M., Simona, S and Phiri, M. (2025). A multilevel analysis of barriers to utiliza- tion of modern contraceptive methods among adolescent girls and young women in Zambia based on demographic and health survey data. Discover Public Health, 22(1), 872.
  4. Michalopoulos, L., Walton, E., Aggarwal, N., Shula, R., Diaz, M., Mwango, L.,Northrup, T and Simona, S. 2025. Health and Psychosocial Needs and Barriers Among Female Fish Traders in Rural Zambia. Journal of Social Policy, Social Change and Development, 3 (1): 1-16.
  5. Simona, S. 2025. A Well-Rounded Student: Achieving Academic Excellence and Building Life Skills in University. Lusaka: Simz Academy Publishers.
  6. Simona,S.,Likando,N.,Banda,A.,andPhiriM.2023.IntegratingtheRights-basedandCapabilityAp- proaches in the Analysis of Maternal Healthcare Utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: A Multilevel Mod- elling Study. Plos Global Public Health, 3 (8).
  7. Odimegwu, C., Phiri, M., Tapera, T and Simona, S. 2023. Patterns and correlates of intention to use contraceptives among fecund sexually active women in developing countries. Global Health Action, 16 (1)
  8. Kalinda., C, Phiri., Simona, S., Banda, A., Wong, R., Qambayot, M. A., Ishimwe, S. M. S., Amberbir, A., Abebe, B., Gebremariam, A and Nyerere, J. O. 2023. Understanding Factors Associated with Rural-urban Disparities of Stunting Among Under-five Children in Rwanda: A Decomposition Analysis Approach. Maternal and Child Nutrition e13511
  9. Phiri, M., Lemba, M., Simona, S, Sikaluzwe, M. 2022. Perceived Ideal Number of Children Among Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does Exposure to Family Planning Messages Matter? Outlet: BMC Women’s Health, 23 (1): 1-9.
  10. Likando, N and Simona, S. 2023. Factors Influencing Arrest Decision-Making in Domestic Violence Cases in Zambia. Archives of Current Research International, 23 (6): 73 – 86.
  11. Phiri, M., Odimegwu, C., Namukoko, H., Adewoyin, Y and Simona, S. 2023. COVID-19 and Sexual Re- productive Health Service Utilisation Among Women of Reproductive Age in Zambia. Development Southern Africa. DOI:10.1080/0376835X.2023.2229865
  12. Phiri, M., Mwewa, E.K., Moyo, N, Sikaluzwe, M., Simona, S. 2023. A Multilevel Analysis of Trends and Predictors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy and Early Motherhood in Zambia (2001 - 2018). BMC Reproductive Health, 20: 16
  13. Kalinda.,C,Phiri.,M,Chimpinde.,K,Ishimwe,M,andSimona,S.2022.TrendsandSocio-demographic Components of Modern Contraceptive Use Among Sexually Reproductive Women in Rwanda: A Mul- tivariate Decomposition Analysis. Reproductive Health, 19 (1): 1-12.
  14. Simona, S. 2023. Gender Relations, Women Empowerment, and Maternal Healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa: A Bayesian Multilevel Analysis. medRxiv Preprint: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.10.22279809
  15. Simona,S.2023.GlobalisationandMaternalHealthcareUtilisationinsub-SaharanAfrica.ABayesian Multilevel Analysis. medRxiv Preprint. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.02.22275939
  16. Simona, S. 2023. Structural Violence and Maternal Healthcare: A theoretical perspective. Social Sci- ence, 11(4): 194-200.
  17. Simona, S, Lumamba, C., Moyo, F and Ng’andu, E. 2023. The Influence of Contextual Factors on Ma- ternal Healthcare Utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review of Multilevel Models. medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.15.22272437
  18. Michalopoulos, L., Jiwatram-Negrón, T., Meinhart, M., Ncube, N., Simona, S. 2020. Trauma expo- sure and mental health outcomes among male truck drivers from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo: A cross sectional study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 1-17
  19. Simona,S.,Muchindu,MandNtalasha,H.2018.IntimatePartnerViolence(IPV)inZambia:Socioeco- nomic Determinants and Association with Use of Maternal Healthcare in Zambia. International Journal of Social Science Studies, 6(6): 42-54.
  20. Ntalasha, H., Simona, J. S., Moyo, F et al. 2018. An assessment of Quality Assurance in HIV and AIDS- Related Services in Chivuna Rural Health Facility of Southern Zambia. World Journal of AIDS, 8: 37-53.
  21. Michalopolous, L., Baca-Atlas, S., Simona J. S., Jiwatram-Negron, T., Ncube, A and Chery, M. B. 2017. ”Life at the River is a Living Hell” : Qualitative study of trauma, mental health, substance use and HIV risk behaviour among female fish traders from the Kafue Flatlands in Zambia. BMC Women’s Health, 17:15.
  22. Michalopolous,L.,Nomagogu,N.,SimonaJ.S.,Kansankala,B.,Sinkala,EandRaidoo,J.2016.AQuali- tative study of migrant-related stressors, Psychological outcomes and HIV risk behaviour among truck drivers in Zambia. African Journal of AIDS Research, 15(13): 219-226.
  23. Ntalasha, H., Malungo, J.S. and Simona, S.J. (2015). Public Perception of ART to Entry and Retention in HIV Continuum of Care. Findings from a Rural setting of Chivuna. ZANGO Journal of Contemporary Issues Vol 31
  24. Simona,J.S.,Muchindu,MandNtalasha,H.2015.IntimatePartnerViolence(IPV)inZambia:Socioe- conomic Determinants and Association with Use of Maternal Healthcare in Zambia. ICF International Working paper 121. Available here
  25. Ntalasha, H., Malungo, J. R. S., Merten, S., Simona J. S. 2015. Influence of food supplements on test- ing for HIV and AIDS and adhering to treatment in a resource poor rural setting: A case of Chivuna, Southern Zambia. Science Journal of Public Health, 3(3): 314-320.

Research Interests

  • Medical Sociology
  • Gender-Based Violence
  • Sexual Reproductive Health
  • Agent-Based Modelling
  • Bayesian Statistics
  • Mental Health
  • Migration