Peter Akera

Senior Lecturer


Dr. Paul Akera is a Senior Lecturer at the department of public health, Gulu University. In this position he has been involved in several research projects in different capacities; collaborator, supervisor, and co-investigator. He has also published several articles in high impact peer- reviewed journals and presented his research works at various conferences, workshops, and meetings.

Qualifications

Institution Period Degree obtained
Gulu University 2025-To date Post Doc
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 2018 – 2023 Doctor of Philosophy, Public health and community medicine
Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi 2007 – 2009 Master of Science                   Health Services Management
Makerere University, Kampala 1995 – 2000 Bachelor of Dental Surgery

 
St. Mary’s College Kisubi 1993 – 1995 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education
St. Mary’s College Kisubi 1993 – 1995 Uganda Certificate of Education

Research Interests

  1. Communicable and non-communicable disease prevention.
  2. Community based interventions to improve health.
  3. Sexual and reproductive health among vulnerable populations.
  4. Climate change, disasters and refugee health in Low – and middle – income countries.

Publications

Otika D., Okello O. M., Opee J., Ayikoru J., Okema J.N., Olum R., Ajilong H., Akera P., Baluku J.B., Pebolo P. F., Ebbs D. S., & Bongomin F. (2026) . (2026) . Caregiver acceptability, and uptake of voluntary male circumcision among male children under 5 years in Gulu city, Northern Uganda
Kamulegeya, P.D., Nakalyowa, H., Wanyama, R. & Akera, P. (2026 . (2026) . “When they stop coming, we lose them”: a qualitative study assessing health workers’ experiences on treatment default during outpatient therapeutic care for severe acute malnutrition at Gulu regional referral hospital, Uganda
Kamulegeya, P. D., Wanyama, R., & Akera, P. (2026) . (2026) . Prevalence and exploratory analysis of factors associated with treatment default in outpatient therapeutic care for severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months in northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Biira AM, Kintu C, Nkamba E, Kamulegeya A, Muwazi L, Odida M . (2025) . Genotyping HPV 16 and 18 in oral and oropharyngeal cancer: uncovering HIV as a key risk factor in a Ugandan cohort . Infectious Agents and Cancer, 20(65)
Nicholas Aguma, Steven Ekak, Lambert Emetu, Samson Ojok and Peter Akera. (2025) . (2025) . Prevalence and factors associated with neonatal mortality at the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Northern Uganda
Peter Akera, Sean E. Kennedy, Raghu Lingam, Robyn Richmond, and Aletta E Schutte. (2024) . (2024) . Oral health status and factors associated with oral health of primary school children in Gulu district, northern Uganda . BMC Oral Health
Peter Akera, Sean E. Kennedy, Aletta E. Schutte, Robyn Richmond, Michael Hodgins, and Raghu Lingam. (2023) . (2023) . Perceptions of oral health promotion in primary schools among health and education officials, community leaders, policy makers, teachers, and parents in Gulu district, northern Uganda: A qualitative study
Robyn Lesley Richmond, Wei Hao Lee, Sophia Lin, James Henry Obol, Peter Akera, Gail Meneze, Fran Hyslop, Agnes Awor, Mike Shabiti Sevenska, Phillip Ojara, Amanzuru Geofrey Melik, Daniel Oceng, Lucy Acaye, Phiona Ayero, Ruth Ayeerwot, Rutuja Dandgaval, Emma Bence, Eleanor Black, Susan Clarke, Helen Fry, and Heather Worth. (2022) . (2022) . Comparing Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Violence Among Rural and Urban Women in Northern Uganda
Peter Akera, Sean E. Kennedy, Mark J. Obwolo, Aletta E. Schutte, Raghu Lingam and Robyn Richmond. (2022) . (2022) . Primary school teachers’ contributions to oral health promotion in urban and rural areas of the Gulu District, Northern Uganda: a qualitative study
Peter Akera, Sean E. Kennedy, Raghu Lingam, Mark J. Obwolo, Aletta E. Schutte and Robyn Richmond. (2022) . (2022) . Effectiveness of primary school‑based interventions in improving oral health of children in low‑ and middle‑income countries: a systematic review and meta‑analysis
Eleanor Black, Heather Worth, Susan Clarke, James Henry Obol, Peter Akera, Agnes Awor, Mike Sevenska Shabiti, Helen Fry & Robyn Richmond. (2019) . (2019) . Prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence against women in conflict affected northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study . Confl Health , 13(34)
Obol, J.H., Akera, P., Ochola, P.A. et al. (2018) . (2018) . Community-based training of medical students is associated with malaria prevention and treatment seeking behaviour for children under 5 years in Uganda: a study of MESAU-MEPI COBERS in Uganda
James Henry Obol, Peter Akera, Pamela Ochola Atim, Sylvia Awor, Ronald Wanyama, Kenneth Luryama Moi, Bongomin Bodo, Patrick Olwedo Odong, Emmanuel Otto Omony, Hussein Oria, David Musoke and Felix Kaducu. (2018) . (2018) . Prevalence of borrowing and sharing prescription medicines and associated socio-demographic factors: findings from COBERS health centres in northern Uganda . BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 19(17)
Samuel Kizito1, Rhona Baingana, Kintu Mugagga, Peter Akera, Nelson K. Sewankambo. (2017) . (2017) . Influence of community-based education on undergraduate health professions students’ decision to work in underserved areas in Uganda . BMC Res Notes , 10
Waiswa, A., Nsubuga, R., Muwasi, M., Kimera, I., Ndikabona, G., Tusingwire, P. D., Mshilla, M., Emilio Ovuga, E. & Akera, P. (2017) . (2017) . Knowledge and Attitude towards Cervical Cancer Screening among Females Attending out Patient Department in Health Centre IIIs in Oyam District
Atuyambe, L. M., Baingana, R. K., Kibira, S., Katahoire, A., Okello, E., Mafigiri, D. K., Ayebare, F., Oboke, H., Acio, C., Muggaga, K., Mbalinda, S., Nabaggala, R., Ruzaaza, G., Arubaku, W., Mary, S., Akera, P., Tumwine, J. K., Peters, D. H., & Sewankambo, N. K. (2016) . (2016) . Undergraduate students’ contributions to health service delivery through community-based education: A qualitative study by the MESAU Consortium in Uganda . BMC medical education, 16(123)
Wakida, E. K., Ruzaaza, G., Muggaga, K., Akera, P., Oria, H., & Kiguli, S. (2015) . (2015) . Health-profession students’ teaching and learning expectations in Ugandan medical schools: pre- and postcommunity placement comparison . Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 6, pp. 641—656
Turyasiima, M., Tugume, R., Openy, A., Ahairwomugisha, E., Opio, R., Ntunguka, M., Mahulo, N., Akera, P., & Odongo-Aginya, E. (2014) . (2014) . Determinants of first antenatal care visit by pregnant women at Community Based Education, Research and Service sites in northern Uganda . East African medical journal, 91(9), pp. 317–322
Baingana R, Ruzaaza G, Akera, P, Emorut SP, Peters, D, Tumwine, J & Sewankambo, N for the MESAU COBERS Evaluation Team (2012) . (2012) . A Consortium Approach to Evaluating the Impact of Community-Based Education: The MEPI-MESAU Experience . Thunder Bay, Canada:
Baingana R, Ruzaaza G, Akera, P, Emorut SP, Peters, D, Tumwine, J and Nelson Sewankambo for the MESAU COBERS Evaluation Team. (2012) . (2012) . A Cross-Sectional Exploration of the Impact of Community-Based Education in Uganda. The MEPI-MESAU Experience

Projects

Medical Education for Equitable Services for All Ugandans
    Akera Peter
Building Stronger Universities (BSU)
    Prof. Charles N. Okumu, Dr. Agatha Alidri, Dr. Geofrey Tabo, Ms. Judith Awacorach, Assoc. Prof. Komakech Daniel

Supervision

PhD student supervision
1. Maternal Near-Miss Events among Women Who Were Pregnant in the Past One Year: A Community Based Survey in Acholi Sub-region. (2026).

Masters student supervision
1. Prevalence and factors associated with road traffic accidents among boda-boda cyclists in Gulu city. (2026)
2. Complementary and alternative medicines use among sickle cell anemia patients and caregivers: an exploratory study in Gulu city. (2026)
3. Treatment default among children aged 6-59 months in outpatient therapeutic care for malnutrition at Gulu regional referral hospital. (2026)
4. Acceptability of HIV pre- exposure prophylaxis, associated factors, and experiences among hiv negative female sex workers in Gulu City, northern Uganda. (2026).
5. Teenage pregnancy among adolescent girls aged 13-19 years in Palabek refugee settlement, Lamwo district, northern Uganda. (2025).
6. Adolescents and teachers experience health promotion in schools on substance abuse. (2025)
7. Experiences of health workers and end users with the implementation of mental health services in the post conflict Northern Uganda. A case of the Wayo-Nero Program. (2025)
8. Healthcare workers’ experiences with the malaria smart discharge initiative in Gulu city. (2024)
9. Factors associated with HIV viral load suppression and quality of life among adolescents living with HIV in Kitgum district, northern Uganda. (2024)
10. High blood pressure prevalence, awareness, control and its associated factors among adult market salespersons in Gulu city, Uganda. (2023)
11. Food safety knowledge, attitude, practices, and factors associated with food safety practices among food handlers in Gulu city, Uganda. (2022)
12. The prevalence and factors associated with iodine deficiency among children age 6-12 years and women of reproductive age: a case study of Gulu and Lira districts. (2019)

Undergraduate student research projects supervised

1. Factors influencing the utilization of health management information systems among healthcare workers in Gulu regional referral hospital. (2021).
2. The prevalence and factors associated with iodine deficiency among children aged 6-12 years and women of reproductive age: a case study of Gulu and Lira districts. (2018)
3. Prevalence and factors associated with utilization of antenatal care services among women who gave birth during the past one year in Gulu district. (2018)
4. The acceptability of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive among women of reproductive age in Gulu municipality. (2017)
5. Maternal practices in children on management of diarrhea in children under five. (2017)
6. Impact of depression on health workforce performance. (2017)
7. Utilization of postnatal care services among mothers in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. (2017)
8. Perceptions of women on postnatal services at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. (2017)
9. Healthcare problems of prison setting and likely impact on the rehabilitation process of prisoners in Gulu district. (2016)
10. Prevalence of caesarean section among mothers who delivered at Lacor Hospital. (2016)
11. Community perceptions of community-based education and research services (COBERS) – A case study of Bobi health center III (2016)
12. Prevalence of Caesarean section among mothers who delivered at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. (2016)
13. Determinants of first antenatal care visit by pregnant mothers at Community Based Education Research and Service (COBERS) sites in northern Uganda. (2014)
14. Knowledge and attitudes on obstetric fistulae among women of reproductive age in Bobi sub county, Gulu District (2014)
15. Awareness of dietary and behavior-related risk factors of cardiovascular disease amongst women of rural Northern Uganda. (2014)
16. Awareness and acceptability of safe male circumcision among secondary school students. (2014)
17. Breastfeeding practices among mothers attending immunization at Gulu regional referral hospital. (2011)
18. A study to determine the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women attending ANC at Lacor hospital from 1st June to 31st December 2011. (2011)

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