The Intersection of Faith and Health in Kenya

Nikki Georgi

Nikki and her research partner, Sherine Adipo.

Published November 16, 2012, last updated on September 15, 2017 under Voices of DGHI

Nikki Georggi is a second year MSc-GH student who presented at Monday’s Global Health Showcase hosted by the Duke Global Health Institute.  The Global Health Showcase featured the work of more than 20 students involved with global health research at Duke and featured five TEDx-style presentations.  Nikki, who gave her own TEDx talk at the event, sat down with Madeline Boccuzzi to answer five questions about her research and work at DGHI. 

Tell us more about yourself and your global health interests. My name is Nikki Georggi and I am from Tampa, Florida.  I have been interested in global health for a long time and studied Health Education and Behavior at the University of Florida. In high school and college, I went on various mission trips that solidified my passion for international service.  I came to Duke last year after working in tobacco education and programming for the College of Medicine at UF.  I began this program with a strong interest in maternal and child health, but through coursework and experiences, I became interested in capacity building through education and training.

What is your research focus? In 2011, the Duke University/Moi University Comparative Health Research Twinning Program was formed. Developed and led by DGHI faculty member Wendy O’Meara, the program pairs a MSc-GH student from the Duke Global Health Institute with an MPH student from Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya.  As an inaugural program participant, I was afforded the opportunity to be mentored by a professor here at DGHI and a professor at Moi University. My research partner, Sherine Adipo, and I looked at the health of United Methodist Church (UMC) clergy in Western Kenya.  More specifically, our exploratory study used qualitative methods to better understand how UMC clergy conceptualize health, how indigenous cultural traditions and religious beliefs relate to that conceptualization, what health-related programs are available to them in Western Kenya, and what barriers and facilitators to health-seeking behaviors may exist. This study is part of the ongoing Duke Clergy Health Initiative led by my mentor and thesis chair, Rae Jean Proeschold Bell.

Where did you conduct your research? Sherine and I were based in Eldoret, Kenya which is in the Rift Valley.  However, in order to collect data, we traveled southwest to Nyanza Province on the border of Tanzania and Lake Victoria where more clergy live. Then, we both came to Durham and began data analysis together in July. The Duke Clergy Health Initiative is investigating the health of UMC clergy here in North Carolina.  Participating in a comparative research project was an amazing way to look at similar issues across two different cultures.

When did you conduct research? My time in the field began in May 2012 and ended in September 2012.  The Duke Clergy Health Initiativeu began in 2007 and is ongoing through 2014.

Why is clergy health important? Clergy are a dynamic group of the population: pointing people to God, navigating social and spiritual waters, providing advice and guidance, and teaching and visiting parishioners.  Research has shown that caregivers often neglect their health to tend to the health and well-being of others.  Because of their unique role in society, the health and well-being of the clergy is important to study. While clergy health is a growing topic of interest in the Western world, very little is known about it.  The few studies conducted on the health of clergy have found that, in some areas, this group is less healthy than the general population due to their hectic schedules, lack of social support and job-related stress.  With the exception of literature in the United States, Canada and Great Britain, little has been documented internationally regarding clergy health. Traditionally, Africans do not compartmentalize religion and health as Westerners tend to do, but believe a person is made up of many parts that are merged into a harmonious, united whole.  In Africa, religion is known to play an important role in the daily life of its inhabitants; however, the overall well-being of clergy, including mental, spiritual and physical health, remains under-studied. To date, nothing has been reported regarding the health of pastors in Kenya. I became interested in this project because my personal faith plays a significant role in my life. Over the years, pastors have influenced and shaped me and I wanted to better understand their health needs and concerns.

Learn more about Nikki's research in this  video.

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