Marilyn Ahun

Research Focus

My future research will build upon the learnings from my current research to design, implement, and evaluate a multi-component parenting and mental health intervention aimed at promoting child development and family well-being in Ghana. Through research area #1, I identified parenting practices as a mediator of the association between parental depression and child development. Despite robust associations between them, few interventions jointly target parenting practices and parental mental health, especially in fathers. My qualitative work in Ghana has also highlighted a lack of support services for caregivers, and the desire for community-based partnerships to develop culturally-relevant interventions. Finally, my reviews have highlighted a pressing need for implementation science research to improve understanding of how and for whom early childhood interventions work, and how to effectively integrate them into existing services. I’m working with a team of local and international researchers and policymakers to fundraise for this work. Our aim is to leverage existing community partnerships and use implementation science frameworks to improve child, maternal, and paternal outcomes in Ghana.