Zubia Mumtaz
Primary Affiliation(s):
Public Health, School of
University of Alberta
Researcher's fields:
Position:
Associate Professor
Degree/Designation:
PhD, MPH, MBBS
Summary of research:
My research focuses on socio-cultural determinants of women's reproductive health. I investigate the construction of gender and class inequities and ways in which these social inequities impact on maternal health. I also explore the role of gender values and class ideologies on reproductive health policies, design and delivery of maternal health services and access to such services by marginalized and vulnerable women. A parallel body of my research develops systems to measure disparity and inequality. My research program has produced greater understanding of the ways in which some groups are systematically denied material and social resources to maternal health care. Results from my various projects have been disseminated in over 30 peer-reviewed publications, 2 book chapters, 10 policy papers and 45 conferences. My publications are in high impact journals such as the Lancet, British Medical Journal and Social Science and Medicine. My research mostly takes place in Pakistan, a geo-politically volatile region marred by internal and international conflict. I work in remote, insecure rural areas such as districts Layyah and Gwader. This presents unique security challenges for fieldwork which given the ethnographic nature of my research, involves living in villages. I also have strong research partnerships with universities in Pakistan, the UK, Canada and Bangladesh.