Research

Publications

Books and peer-reviewed research from Place Alert Labs and collaborators — 42 peer-reviewed articles and preprints, presented chronologically.

Books

Practicing Health Geography: The African Context
Makanga, P. T. (2021)
Springer Series: Global Perspectives on Health Geography
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Peer-Reviewed Publications

2026

Characterizing Effects of Air Quality in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (CHEAQI–MNCH) in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Research Protocol
Munthali, L., Mushore, T. D., Nyoni, H. B., Makhanya, S. A., Van Aardenne, L., Makanga, P. T., et al.
Journal of Global Health Economics and Policy, 6
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Daily Outdoor PM2.5 Exposure Characterization and Road Edge Effect During a 2022–2023 Monitoring Campaign in The Gambia, Kenya and Mozambique
Mushore, T. D., Nyoni, H. B., Munthali, L., Makhanya, S. A., Chikoko, L., Makanga, P. T., et al.
Atmospheric Environment: X
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Performance of Road-Traffic-Based Exposure Proxies Against Personal PM2.5 Measurements in Three Sub-Saharan African Countries
Nyoni, H. B., Mushore, T. D., Munthali, L., Makhanya, S. A., Chikoko, L., Luchters, S., Makanga, P. T., et al.
medRxiv (preprint)
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The Place Alert Portal: A Reusable Digital Infrastructure and Platform for Climate, Environment and Maternal Health Research in Sub-Saharan Africa
Makanga, P. T., Nyoni, H. B., Sibanda, R., Chinwadzimba, Z., Shangwa, T., et al.
Technical / Conference paper
Link coming soon

2025

Measuring access to schools and health facilities in Zimbabwe: A distance-based analysis of service islands
Watambwa, P., Sibanda, R., et al., & Jakachira, R.
Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 41(4)
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Edge Effect of Distance from Roads on Outdoor Air Quality in Mozambique
Mushore, T. D., Nyoni, H. B., Munthali, L., Makhanya, S. A., Chikoko, L., Luchters, S., Makanga, P. T., et al.
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 132(Suppl.), 21
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PREgnancy Care Integrating translational Science, Everywhere (PRECISE): a prospective cohort study of African pregnant and non-pregnant women to investigate placental disorders
Craik, R., Akuze, J., Volvert, M. L., Blencowe, H., Mukhanya, M., Makanga, P. T., et al.
BMJ Open, 15(5), e091831
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Community engagement approaches and lessons learned: a case study of the PRECISE pregnancy cohort study in Kenya
Wanje, O., Koech, A., Kinshella, M. L. W., Mwashigadi, G., Kombo, A., Maitha, G., et al.
Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1439150
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2024

Geographical accessibility to functional emergency obstetric care facilities in urban Nigeria using closer-to-reality travel time estimates: a population-based spatial analysis
Banke-Thomas, A., Wong, K. L. M., Olubodun, T., Macharia, P. M., et al.
The Lancet Global Health, 12(5), e848-e858
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Measuring geographic access to emergency obstetric care: a comparison of travel time estimates modelled using Google Maps Directions API and AccessMod in three Nigerian conurbations
Macharia, P. M., Wong, K. L. M., Beňová, L., et al.
Geospatial Health, 19(1), 1266
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The PRECISE-DYAD protocol: linking maternal and infant health trajectories in sub-Saharan Africa
Craik, R., Volvert, M. L., Koech, A., Jah, H., Pickerill, K., Abubakar, A., et al.
Wellcome Open Research, 7, 281
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Postpartum recovery after severe maternal morbidity in Kilifi, Kenya: a grounded theory of recovery trajectories beyond 42 days
Gazeley, U., Ochieng, M. C., Wanje, O., Etyang, A. K., Mwashigadi, G., Barreh, N., et al.
BMJ Global Health, 9(6), e014821
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2023

A geospatial database of close-to-reality travel times to obstetric emergency care in 15 Nigerian conurbations
Macharia, P. M., Wong, K. L. M., Olubodun, T., et al.
Scientific Data, 10(1), 736
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SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kilifi, Kenya from March 2020 to March 2022
Koech, A., Omuse, G., Mugo, A. G., Mwaniki, I. G., Mutunga, J. M., Mukhanya, M. W., et al.
Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1292932
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A participatory learning approach for the development of a maternal mobile health technology in Zimbabwe
Dabengwa, I. M., Nyati-Jokomo, Z., Chikoko, L., Makanga, P. T., Nyapwere, N., et al.
Development Southern Africa, 40(2), 421-440
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Concerning mobilising transport for accessing maternal health care and how impactful strategies are in low resourced settings: A scoping review
Makacha, L., Mlambo, R., Chikoko, L., Matinez-Alvarez, M., Makanga, P. T.
The Dyke, 16(1), 1-32
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2022

Leveraging big data for improving the estimation of close to reality travel time to obstetric emergency services
Banke-Thomas, A., Macharia, P. M., Makanga, P. T., et al.
Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 931401
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Comparing human exposure to fine particulate matter in low and high-income countries: A systematic review of studies measuring personal PM2.5 exposure
Lim, S., Bassey, E., Bos, B., Makacha, L., Varaden, D., Arku, R. E., Baumgartner, J., et al.
Science of the Total Environment, 833, 155207
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2021

Implementation of a community transport strategy to reduce delays in seeking obstetric care in rural Mozambique
Amosse, F., Boene, H., Kinshella, M. L. W., et al.
Global Health: Science and Practice, 9(Supplement 1), S122-S136
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2020

Is the closest health facility the one used in pregnancy care-seeking?
Makacha, L., Makanga, P. T., Dube, Y. P., Bone, J., Munguambe, K., Katageri, G., et al.
International Journal of Health Geographics
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RoadMApp: a feasibility study for a smart travel application to improve maternal health delivery in a low resource setting in Zimbabwe
Nyati-Jokomo, Z., Dabengwa, I. M., Makacha, L., et al.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), 501
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The PRECISE Network's first protocol: deep phenotyping in three sub-Saharan African countries
von Dadelszen, P., Flint-O'Kane, M., Poston, L., Craik, R., et al.
Reproductive Health, 17(Suppl 1), 51
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The contribution of qualitative research within the PRECISE study in sub-Saharan Africa
Daniele, M. A. S., Martinez-Alvarez, M., Etyang, A. K., Vidler, M., Salisbury, T., Makanga, P. T., et al.
Reproductive Health, 17(Suppl 1), 58
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The PRECISE database: open-access data collection in maternal and newborn health
Magee, L. A., Strang, A., Li, L., Tu, D., Tumtaweetikul, W., Craik, R., et al.
Reproductive Health, 17(Suppl 1), 50
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Harnessing the PRECISE network as a platform to strengthen global capacity for maternal and child health research in sub-Saharan Africa
Flint-O'Kane, M., von Dadelszen, P., Makanga, P. T., Sevene, E., Roca, A., et al.
Reproductive Health, 17(Suppl 1), 52
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Pregnancy cohorts and biobanking in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Bone, J. N., Pickerill, K., Kinshella, M. L. W., Vidler, M., Craik, R., Poston, L., et al.
BMJ Global Health, 5(11), e003716
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Interactions between the physical and social environments with adverse pregnancy events related to placental disorders—a scoping review
Dube, Y. P., Nyapwere, N., Magee, L. A., Vidler, M., Moore, S. E., Barratt, B., Craik, R., et al.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), 5421
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The Potentials of a Maternal Mobile Wallet: a Qualitative Case Study on Opportunities and Challenges From Zimbabwe
Nyati-Jokomo, Z., Dabengwa, I. M., Chikoko, L., Makacha, L., Nyapwere, N., Makanga, P. T.
Research Square (preprint)
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2019

How accurate are modelled birth and pregnancy estimates?
Dube, Y. P., et al.
BMJ Global Health
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Place-specific factors associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in Southern Mozambique
Makanga, P. T., et al.
BMJ Open
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2018

Health and socio-demographic profile of women of reproductive age in rural communities of southern Mozambique
Sacoor, C., et al.
PLOS ONE
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2017

Reverse Innovation in Maternal Health
Firoz, T., Makanga, P. T., et al.
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Seasonal variation in geographical access to maternal health services
Makanga, P. T., et al.
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Geographic Information System for Improving Maternal and Newborn Health
Molla, Y. B., et al.
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2016

Community perspectives on the determinants of maternal health
Firoz, T., et al.
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Guidelines for creating framework data for GIS analysis
Makanga, P. T., et al.
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A Scoping Review of Geographic Information Systems in Maternal Health
Makanga, P. T., et al.
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Barriers and facilitators to health care seeking behaviours
Munguambe, K., et al.
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2015

Community perceptions of risk for interpersonal violence in Cape Town, South Africa
Makanga, P. T., Schuurman, N., & Randall, E.
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2013

Towards Effective City Planning
Brown-Luthango, M., Makanga, P., & Smit, J.
Urban Forum
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2012

Piloting a Trauma Surveillance Tool for Primary Healthcare Emergency Centres
Govender, I., Matzopoulos, R., Makanga, P., & Corrigal, J.
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2010

A Review of the Status of Spatial Data Infrastructure Implementation in Africa
Makanga, P., & Smit, J.
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