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Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba'are, PhD, MA

  • Assistant Professor of Nursing & Public Health
  • H.J. Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Global Health Research
  • Co-Chair, Community Capital Alliance for Recovery Research
  • Affiliate, Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS

Bio

Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba’are is an assistant professor in nursing and public health and the inaugural Harriet J. Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Global Health Research at the University of Rochester. He is the principal investigator of the Behavioral, Sexual, and Global Health Lab that operates out of the University of Rochester School of Nursing,and Jama’a Action in Accra, Ghana. As a global health and behavioral scientist, urban planner, and health geographer, Abu-Ba’are seeks to better understand the role of place and intersectional stigma on HIV and sexual health outcomes. His research develops and refines interventions to reduce intersectional stigma and optimize outcomes among HIV high-risk populations in socially-vulnerable communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe, and the United States. His work employs a community participatory approach where he works closely with faculty at the University of Ghana School of Public Health and community-based organizations in Ghana, Nigeria, and Western Europe. Prior to the University of Rochester, Abu-Ba’are completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at the Yale School of Public Health. He earned his bachelor’s from the University for Development Studies in Ghana, master’s in urban planning and applied geography, and PhD in community and public affairs from Binghamton University.


Current Focus

My current research and implementation science work emphasizes working with HIV high-risk populations at every level to develop interventions that will impact social and behavioral risk factors and improve access to HIV prevention and care services. To improve access to HIV prevention and care services for high-risk populations, I believe we must engage with intended beneficiaries throughout the research process – from conceptualization to intervention design and implementation to dissemination of research findings. Using a community participatory approach within a larger context of the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework, my current work seeks to:

  1. Assess HIV risk, experiences of intersectional stigma, social vulnerability, and place-related factors that promote or hinder access to HIV and sexual health services for high-risk populations, including sexual and gender minorities, adolescents, emerging adults, and sex workers.
  2. Develop, or adapt interventions to reduce intersectional stigma and risk behaviors, increase testing, PreP use, and adherence to care, and address other factors identified in the assessment phase that hinder access to prevention and care services.

Assistant Professor, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY. 2022 - Current

Assistant Professor (joint), University of Rochester School of Public Health Sciences, Rochester, NY. 2020 - Current
Inaugural Harriet J. Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Global Research
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2022

Graduate Student Excellence in Service/Outreach
Binghampton University, 2019

PhD. Tuition Scholarship
Binghampton University College of Community and Public Affairs, 2019

PhD. Tuition Scholarship
Binghampton University College of Community and Public Affairs, 2018

PhD. Tuition Scholarship
Binghampton University College of Community and Public Affairs, 2017

Masters Tuition Scholarship
Binghampton University Geography Department, 2016

1st Place Position, Student Paper Competition Race, Ethnicity, and Place Conference
Kent State University, 2016

Partial Masters Tuition Scholarship
Binghampton University Geography Department, 2015
Demeke, J., Djiadeu, P., Yusuf, A., Whitfield, D.L., Lightfoot, D., Worku, F., Abu-Ba'are, G.R., Mbuagbaw, L., Giwa, S., & Nelson, L.E. (2024). HIV Prevention and Treatment Interventions for Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in Canada: Scoping Systematic Review. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. PMID: 38236626 DOI: 10.2196/40493

Abu-Ba’are, G.R., Aidoo-Frimpong, G., Stockton, M., Zigah, E.Y., Amuah, S., Amu-Adu, P., Amoh-Otoo, R.P., Nyblade,L., Torpey, K., & Nelson, L.E. (2024). "I told myself, be bold and go and test": Motivators and barriers to HIV testing among gay, bisexual, and other cis-gender men who have sex with men in Ghana ‒ West Africa. PLOS Global Public Health. PMID: 38206889 PMCID: PMC10783711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002231

Shamrock, O.W., Abu-Ba'are, G.R., Zigah, E., Apreku, A., Agbemedu, G.R.K., Boy’d, D., Adjaka, G., & Nelson, L.E. (2023). Family rejection of sexuality- sexual and gender anonymity among sexual minority men in slum communities. BSGH-001.. PLOS Global Public Health..

Reeves, J.M., Zigah, E.Y., Shamrock, O.W., Aidoo-Frimpong, G., Dada, D., Batten, J., Abu-Ba'are, G.R., Nelson, L.E., & Dijadeu, P. (2023). Investigating the impact of stigma, accessibility and confidentiality on STI/STD/HIV self-testing among college students in the USA: Protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open. PMID: 36792328 PMCID: PMC9933744 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069574

Abu-Ba’are, G.R., Zigah, E.Y., Shamrock, O.W., Ogunbajo, A., Dakpui, H.D., Agbemedu, G.R.K., Boyd, D., Ezechie, O. & Torpey, K. (2023). Qualitative description of interpersonal HIV stigma and motivations for HIV testing among gays, bisexuals, and men who have sex with men in Ghana’s slums - BSGH-005. MedRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.29.23293357

Abu-Ba'are, G.R., Aidoo-Frimpong, G., Stockton, M., Zigah, E.Y., Amuah, S., Amu-Adu, P., Panix Amoh-Otoo, R., Nyblade, L., Torpey, K., & Nelson, L. (2023). “I told myself, be bold and go and test”: Motivators and barriers to HIV testing among gays, bisexuals, and all other men who sex with men in Ghana – West Africa. MedRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.12.23292583

Boyd, D.T., Abubakari, G.M., Turner, D., Raquel Ramos, S., Hill, M.J., & Nelson, L.E. (2022). The Influence of Family Bonding, Support, Engagement in Healthcare, on PrEP Stigma among Young Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Path Analysis. MDPI Children. PMID: 35327703 PMCID: PMC8947403 DOI: 10.3390/children9030330

Abubakari, G.M., Smith, M.D.R., Boyd, D.T., Raquel Ramos, S., Johnson, C., Benavides, J.L., Threats, M., Allen, J.L., & Quinn, C.R. (2022). Assessing Different Types of HIV Communication and Sociocultural Factors on Perceived HIV Stigma and Testing among a National Sample of Youth and Young Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (2). PMID: 35055823 PMCID: PMC8776079 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19021003

Nyblade, L., Stockton, M., Saalim, K., Clay, S., Chonta, M., Dada, D., Abu-Ba’are G.M.R., Mankattah, E., Vormawor, R., Appiah, P., Boakye, F., Akrong, R., Manu, A., Gyamera, E., Turner, D., Sharma, K., Torpey, K., & Nelson, L. (2022). Using a mixed-methods approach to adapt an HIV stigma reduction to address intersectional stigma faced by men who have sex with men in Ghana. The Journal of the International AIDS Society. PMID: 35818873 PMCID: PMC9274363 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25908

Demeke, J., Djiadeu, P., Yusuf, A., Darren Lovell Whitfield, David Lightfoot, Fiqir Worku, Gamji Rabiu Abu-Ba'are, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Sulaimon Giwa, LaRon E Nelson (2022). HIV Prevention and Treatment Interventions for Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in Canada: Scoping Systematic Review (Preprint). . DOI: 10.2196/preprints.40493

Ajiboye, W., Nelson, L., Odhiambo, A., Yusuf, A., Djiadeu, P., Turner, D. A., Abubakari, M., Pedersen, C., Brown, R., Ni, A., Guillaue, G., Lofters, A., & Williams, G. (2022). Decision conflict and the decision support needs of HIV PrEP-eligible Black patients in Toronto regarding the adoption of PrEP for HIV prevention. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC). PMID: 35098770 PMCID: PMC8808024 DOI: 10.1177/23259582211073399

Abubakari, G.M.R. (2021). Grocery stores or convenience stores? The food accessibility situation of a Rust Belt city in Upstate New York. Praxis: A Journal of Gender and Cultural Critique.

Ogunbajo, A., Abubakari, G.M., Edeza, A., Iwuagwu, S., Williams, R., Biello, K., & Mimiaga, M.J. (2021). Transactional Sex Is Associated with Income Level and Psychosocial Health Problems among Gay and Bisexual Men (GBM) in Nigeria, Africa. Journal of Sex Research, 58 (6), 706-712. PMID: 33284044 PMCID: PMC8180523 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2020.1854649

Guillaume, G., Ramos, S.R., Abubakari, G.M.R., Turner, D.E., Ajiboye, W., Yusuf, A., & Nelson, L.E. (2021). Barriers and Facilitators to Providing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Decision Support to Black Patients in Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Health Trends and Perspectives. DOI: 10.32920/ihtp.v1i3.1457

Nelson, L.E., Nyblade, L., Torpey, K., Logie, C.H., Qian, H.-Z., Manu, A., Gyamerah, E., Boakye, F., Appiah, P., Turner, D., Stockton, M., Abubakari, G.M., & Vlahov, D. (2021). Multi-level intersectional stigma reduction intervention to increase HIV testing among men who have sex with men in Ghana: Protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE. PMID: 34843529 PMCID: PMC8629287 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259324

Abubakari, G.M., Turner, D., Ni, Z., Conserve, D.F., Dada, D., Otchere, A., Amanfoh, Y., Boakye, F., Torpey, K., & Nelson, L.E. (2021). Community-based interventions as opportunities to Increase HIV self-testing and linkage to care among men who have sex with men – Lessons from Ghana, West Africa. Frontiers in Public Health. PMID: 34178919 PMCID: PMC8226123 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.660256

Ogunbajo, A., Oke, T., Okanlawon, K., Abubakari, G.M.R., & Oginni, O. (2021). Religiosity and Conversion Therapy is Associated with Psychosocial Health Problems among Sexual Minority Men (SMM) in Nigeria. Journal of Religion and Health. PMID: 34455514 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01400-9

Abubakari, G.M., Owusu-Dampare, F., Ogunbajo, A., Gyasi, J., Adu, M., Appiah, P., Torpey, K., Nyblade, L., & Nelson, L.E. (2021). HIV Education, Empathy, and Empowerment (HIVE 3): A Peer Support Intervention for Reducing Intersectional Stigma as a Barrier to HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. PMID: 34948712 PMCID: PMC8702001 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413103

Abubakari, G.M., Dada, D., Nur, J., Turner, D., Otchere, A., Tanis, L., Ni, Z., Mashoud, I.W., Nyhan, K., Nyblade, L., & Nelson, L.E. (2021). Intersectional stigma and its impact on HIV prevention and care among MSM and WSW in sub-Saharan African countries: a protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open. PMID: 34362801 PMCID: PMC8351482 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047280

Abubakari, G.M., Nelson, L.E., Ogunbajo, A., Boakya, F., Appiah, P., Odhiambo, Ap. Sa, T., Zhang, N., Ngozi, I., Scott, A., Mania, G., Manu, A. & Torpey, K. (2021). Implementation and evaluation of a culturally grounded group-based HIV prevention programme for men who have sex with men in Ghana. Global Public Health, 1-18. PMID: 33050773 PMCID: PMC8728790 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1832555

Abubakari, G M.R., Turner, D., Nelson, L.E., Odhiambo, A.J., Boakye, F., Manu, A., & Wilton, L. (2021). An application of the ADAPT-ITT model to an evidence-based behavioral HIV prevention intervention for men who have sex with men in Ghana. International Health Trends and Perspectives. DOI: 10.32920/ihtp.v1i1.1412

Ogunbajo, A., Restar, A., Edeza, A., Goedel, W., Jin, H., Iwuagwu, S., Williams, R., Abubakari, M.R., Biello, K. & Mimiaga, M. (2020). Poor sleep health is associated with increased mental health problems, substance use, and HIV sexual risk behavior in a large, multistate sample of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Nigeria, Africa.. Sleep Health. PMID: 32201228 PMCID: PMC7501157 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2020.02.010

Abubakari, M.R., DiNicola, K., & Lee, W. (2020). Empirical insights on technology use for navigating human services. Journal of Technology in Human Services. DOI: 10.1080/15228835.2020.1789025

Abubakari, M.R. (2018). Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach to Food Accessibility Research. Global Journal of Human Social Science.
Multi-level interventions for intersectional stigma reduction to improve HIV outcomes for transgender sex workers.
NIH Fogarty, Yale University Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS/NIMH
7/2023 - 6/2026
Role: Principal Investigator

Understanding the role of neighborhoods on substance use and mental health among Urban Youth: A community-based substance use prevention project
NIH Director's Early Independence Award 
None/2022 - None/2025
Role: Co-Investigator
PI: Opara, I.

Formative research to adapt a community-based HIV self-testing education and promotion (STEP) intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM) living in slum settlements in Ghana
National Institute of Mental Health Grant/Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS 
None/2021 - None/2023
Role: Principal Investigator

Assessing the role of place and intersectional stigma on access to HIV testing and options for HIVST and linkage to care among West African immigrant sexual minority men - sex workers in Italy
National Institute of Mental Health/Center for interdisciplinary Research on AIDS
12/2022 - 11/2023
Role: Principal Investigator




Assessing community acceptable alternative in meeting transportation needs of a low-income area in Binghamton, NY.
Town and Gown Board, Binghamton 
None/2018 - None/2021
Role: Principal Investigator
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