Professor Julie Balen


NameProfessor Julie Balen
Job titleProfessor of Health Systems and Global Change
Research instituteSchool of Allied and Public Health Professions
ORCIDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4736-8465

Research outputs

Perception and experiences of adolescent mothers and communities in caring for their preterm babies: findings from an in-depth study in rural Bangladesh

Salam, Shumona Sharmin, Rahman, Ahmed Ehsanur, Mhajabin, Shema, Mazumder, Tapas, Majid, Tamanna, Samad Talha, Md Taqbir Us, Haider, Rajib, Chowdhury, Anika Tasneem, Islam, Sharmin, Ameen, Shafiqul, Jabeen, Sabrina, Balen, Julie, Arifeen, Shams El, Nahar, Quamrun and Anumba, D. 2024. Perception and experiences of adolescent mothers and communities in caring for their preterm babies: findings from an in-depth study in rural Bangladesh. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 24 (1), p. 145. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06345-x

Beliefs surrounding the use of inhaled asthma medication in The Gambia: a qualitative study of asthma patients and healthcare workers.

Jayasooriya, S, Inoue, M, Allen, H, Bojang, M, Ceesay, A, Touray, S, Cooper, R, Mortimer, K and Balen, J 2024. Beliefs surrounding the use of inhaled asthma medication in The Gambia: a qualitative study of asthma patients and healthcare workers. npj: Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. 34 (1), p. 29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-024-00390-x

Delayed cord clamping: Perceptions, practices and influencers among the healthcare providers of selected healthcare facilities in Bangladesh.

Sabrina Jabeen, Shumona Sharmin Salam, Siobhan Gillespie, Mehedi Hasan, Sharmin Islam, Anika Tasneem Chowdhury, Shafiqul Ameen, Julie Balen, Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Shams El Arifeen, Quamrun Nahar and Dilly OC Anumba 2024. Delayed cord clamping: Perceptions, practices and influencers among the healthcare providers of selected healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. PLoS ONE. 19 (12), p. e0313938. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313938

Barriers and facilitators for the inclusion of fertility care in reproductive health policies in Africa: A qualitative evidence synthesis

Afferri, A., Allen, H., Booth, A., Dierickx, S., Pacey, A. and Balen, J. 2024. Barriers and facilitators for the inclusion of fertility care in reproductive health policies in Africa: A qualitative evidence synthesis. Human Reproduction Update. 28 (2), pp. 190-199. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmab040

Fertility care in low and middle income countries: Implementing fertility care: insights from a participatory workshop in The Gambia

Afferri, A., Dierickx, Susan, Bittaye, Mustapha, Marena, Musa, Ceesay, Sainey M, Bittaye, Haddy, Pacey, Allan A and Balen, J. 2024. Fertility care in low and middle income countries: Implementing fertility care: insights from a participatory workshop in The Gambia. Reproduction and Fertility. 5 (4). https://doi.org/10.1530/raf-24-0029

A systematic review of public health interventions to address breast cancer inequalities in low- and middle-income countries

Chanakira, E., Thomas, Chloe V, Balen, Julie and Mandrik, Olena 2024. A systematic review of public health interventions to address breast cancer inequalities in low- and middle-income countries. Systematic Reviews. 13 (1), p. 195. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02620-2

Policy action points and approaches to promote fertility care in The Gambia: Findings from a mixed-methods study

Afferi, A., Dierickx, S., Bittaye, M., Marena, M., Pacey, A. A. and Balen, J. 2024. Policy action points and approaches to promote fertility care in The Gambia: Findings from a mixed-methods study. PLoS ONE.

COVID-19 as a challenge to Nepal’s newly federalized health system: Capacities, responsibilities, and mindsets

Koirala, B., Rushton, Simon, Adhikary, Pratik, Balen, Julie, Basnet, Srijana, Joshi, Saugat, Karki, A., Lee, Andrew, Rijal, B., Simkhada, P., Subedi, Madhusudan, van Teijlingen, Edwin and Karki, Jiban 2024. COVID-19 as a challenge to Nepal’s newly federalized health system: Capacities, responsibilities, and mindsets. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 36 (5), pp. 513-515. https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395241250123

'It's about time': policymakers' and health practitioners' perspectives on implementing fertility care in the Gambian health system.

Afferri, A., Dierickx, Susan, Allen, Haddijatou, Bittaye, Mustapha, Marena, Musa, Pacey, Allan and Balen, Julie 2024. 'It's about time': policymakers' and health practitioners' perspectives on implementing fertility care in the Gambian health system. BMC Health Services Research. 24 (1), p. 282. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10701-0

Participatory policy analysis in health policy and systems research: reflections from a study in Nepal.

Sapkota, S., Rushton, S., van Teijilingen, E., Subedi, M., Balen, J., Gautam, S., Adhikary, P., Simkhada, P., Wasti, S. P., Karki, J. K., Panday, S., Karki, A., Rijal, B., Joshi, S., Basnet, S. and Marahatta, S. B. 2024. Participatory policy analysis in health policy and systems research: reflections from a study in Nepal. Health Research Policy and Systems. 22 (7), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01092-5

Selection of study sites and participants for research into Nepal’s federal health system

Wasti, Sharada Prasad, van Teijlingen, Edwin, Simkhada, Padam, Rushton, Simon, Balen, Julie, Subedi, Madhusudan, Karki, Jiban, Adhikary, Pratik, Sapkota, Sujata, Gautam, Sujan, Marahatta, Sujan, Panday, Sarita, Bajracharya, Bikesh and Vaidya, Anju 2024. Selection of study sites and participants for research into Nepal’s federal health system. WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health. 12 (2), pp. 116-119. https://doi.org/10.4103/who-seajph.who-seajph_169_22

The impact of decentralisation on health systems: a systematic review of reviews

Sapkota, S., Dhakal, Amshu, Rushton, S., van Teijlingen, E., Marahatta, S., Balen, J., Lee, A. and Nepal Federal Health System Team 2023. The impact of decentralisation on health systems: a systematic review of reviews. BMJ Global Health. 8 (12), p. e013317. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013317

Overcoming the challenges facing Nepal's health system during federalisation: an analysis of health system building blocks.

Wasti, S., van Teijlingen, E., Rushton, S., Subedi, M., Simkhada, P., Balen, J. and Nepal Federal Health System Team 2023. Overcoming the challenges facing Nepal's health system during federalisation: an analysis of health system building blocks. Health Research Policy and Systems. 21 (1), p. 117. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01033-2

Evolving power dynamics in global health: From biomedical hegemony to market dynamics in global health financing; A response to the recent commentaries

Lassa, S., Saddiq, Muhammed, Owen, Jenny, Burton, Christopher and Balen, J. 2023. Evolving power dynamics in global health: From biomedical hegemony to market dynamics in global health financing; A response to the recent commentaries. International Journal of Health Policy and Management. 12, p. 8264. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2023.8264

Research prioritisation on prevention and management of preterm birth in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a special focus on Bangladesh using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method

Salam, Shumona Sharmin, Ameen, Shafiqul, Balen, Julie, Nahar, Quamrun, Jabeen, Sabrina, Ahmed, Anisuddin, Gillespie, Bronwen, Chauke, Lawrence, Mannan, Abdul, Hoque, Mahbubul, Dey, Sanjoy Kumer, Islam, Jahurul, Ashrafee, Sabina, Alam, Husam Md Shah, Saberin, Ashfia, Saha, Palash Kumar, Sarkar, Supriya, Alim, Azizul, Islam, Muhammad Shariful, Gray, Clive, El Arifeen, Shams, Rahman, Ahmed Ehsanur and Anumba, Dilly OC 2023. Research prioritisation on prevention and management of preterm birth in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a special focus on Bangladesh using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method. Journal of Global Health. 13, p. 07004. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.13.07004

Availability of services for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility in The Gambia`s public and private health facilities: A cross‑sectional survey

Afferri, A., Allen, H., Dierickx, S., Bittaye, M., Marena, M., Pacey, A. and Balen, J. 2022. Availability of services for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility in The Gambia`s public and private health facilities: A cross‑sectional survey. BMC Health Services Research. 22 (1127). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08514-0

Infection prevention and control and water, sanitation, and hygiene status of healthcare facilities in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan region during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda

Richard K. Mugambe, Rhoda K. Wanyenze, Tonny Ssekamatte, John Bosco Isunju,Aisha Nalugya, Solomon T. Wafula, David Musoke, Hajra Comfort Mukasa, Julie Balen, Habib Yakubu and Christine L. Moe 2025. Infection prevention and control and water, sanitation, and hygiene status of healthcare facilities in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan region during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. PLoS Water. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000189

Sensitive near point-of-care detection of asymptomatic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in African endemic countries

Dimbintsoa Rakotomalala Robinson, Ivana Pennisi, Matthew L. Cavuto, Francois Kiemde, Martin Chamai, Diane Yirgnur Some, Elliot Quigley, Kenny Malpartida-Cardenas, Mamadou O. Ndiath, Simon Correa, Bubacarr Darboe, Lindsay B. Stewart, Pantelis Georgiou, Mamadu Baldeh, Halidou Tinto, Aubrey J. Cunnington, Annette Erhart, Umberto D’Alessandro, Jesus Rodriguez-Manzano, Azumah Abdul-Tawab, Jamal-Deen Abdulai, Mohammed Abumanga, Jane Achan, Darlington A. Akogo, Angelina A. Amengu, Linda E. Amoah, Tochukwu D. Anyaduba, Emilia A. Udofia, Gordon A. Awandare, Frances B. da-Costa Vroom, Leonard Baatiema, Kevin Baker, Fatou Baldeh, Julie Balen, Jake Baum, Weston Baxter, Craig Bonnington, Salome A. Bukachi, Céire E. Costelloe, Luc P. de Witte, Samuel Duodu, Francis Dzabeng, Fahad A. Elnour, Joe Fitchett, Sahar Gamil, Sebastian S. Hachizovu, Prudence Hamade, Muzamil M. Abdel Hamid, Jethro A. Herberg, Waleed M. A. Jebreel, Jean-Bertin Kabuya, Flavia K. Bawa, Myrsini Kaforou, Dennis O. Laryea, Michael Levin, Christine Manyando, Abdelrahim O. Mohamed, Shola K. Molemodile Dele-Olowu, Nicolas Moser, Sydney Mwanza, Erick Odoyo, Patience Ofosuhemaa, Lucy C. Okell, Abubakr Omer, Francesca M. Piffer, Talya Porat, Anthony W. Sifuna, Maria Suau Sans, Faiza U. Bawah, Effua Usuf, Alfred E. Yawson, Shunmay Yeung and Asadu Sserwanga 2025. Sensitive near point-of-care detection of asymptomatic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in African endemic countries. Nature Communications. 16 (8925). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64027-4

Application of the behaviour-centred design to understand facilitators and deterrents of hand hygiene among healthcare providers: findings from a formative phase of a cluster randomised trial in the Kampala Metropolitan area

Tonny Ssekamatte, Richard K. Mugambe, John Bosco Isunju, Rhoda K. Wanyenze, Aisha Nalugya, Christine Adyedo, Solomon T. Wafula, Esther Buregyeya, Rebecca Nuwematsiko, Joann Bateman, Julie Balen, Lynnette Lusenaka, Habib Yakubu and Christine L. Moe 2024. Application of the behaviour-centred design to understand facilitators and deterrents of hand hygiene among healthcare providers: findings from a formative phase of a cluster randomised trial in the Kampala Metropolitan area. BMC Health Services Research. 24 (1), p. 1031. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11512-z

Patients with presumed tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa that are not diagnosed with tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Balen, J. 2023. Patients with presumed tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa that are not diagnosed with tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Thorax. 78 (1), pp. 50-60. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-217663

Introducing assisted reproductive technologies in The Gambia, a survey on the perspectives of Gambian healthcare professionals and medical students

Bittaye, H., Mooney, J. P., Afferri, A., Balen, J. and Kay, V. 2023. Introducing assisted reproductive technologies in The Gambia, a survey on the perspectives of Gambian healthcare professionals and medical students. BMC Health Services Research. 23 (1), p. 203.

The fertility care gap in the Global South: lessons from The Gambia, West Africa, and ways forward to establish fertility care for all

Balen, J. 2023. The fertility care gap in the Global South: lessons from The Gambia, West Africa, and ways forward to establish fertility care for all. Global Reproductive Health. 8 (4), p. e0073. https://doi.org/10.1097/GRH.0000000000000073

A cross-sectional survey of sociodemographic characteristics, primary care health needs and living conditions of asylum-seekers living in a Greek reception centre

Gordon, A., O'Brien, C., Balen, J., Duncombe, S. L., Girma, A. and Mitchell, C. 2021. A cross-sectional survey of sociodemographic characteristics, primary care health needs and living conditions of asylum-seekers living in a Greek reception centre. Journal of Public Health. 31 (6), pp. 837-847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-021-01622-x
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