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Dr. Tawonga Welson Mwase-Vuma

RESEARCH FELLOW
Centre for Social Research

Research Areas

Emerging diseases in LMICs,Antimicrobial resistance,Non-communicable diseases,Measurement of 24-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) in children and adolescents,Movement behaviour epidemiology (including physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep),Public health,

Profile

Dr Tawonga Mwase-Vuma is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Research (CSR), University of Malawi. He holds a PhD in Physical Activity and Public Health from the University of Strathclyde, UK (2025), an MPH in Public Health with Distinction from the University of Nottingham, UK, and a BSc in Public Health with Distinction from the University of Livingstonia, Malawi. He trained originally as a Nurse Midwife and spent over four years providing direct care in underserved communities in Kasungu and Neno districts, Malawi. Over the past decade, Dr Mwase-Vuma has led or contributed to over 20 research grants totalling more than US$3 million, including as (Co-)Principal Investigator on national studies funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the European Union, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, UNICEF, and USAID. His portfolio includes roles as Country Lead Investigator for two CIHR-funded international studies involving children and adolescents across over 30 countries: the SUNRISE International Study (https://sunrise-study.com/) and the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ; https://gac-paq.com/). In addition to his research leadership, Dr Mwase-Vuma has authored or co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and 12 technical reports. He has also mentored numerous research associates and postgraduate students at CSR and delivered training in quantitative data analysis and research methods. His methodological expertise spans quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research and evaluation. He has a decade of experience in quantitative data management and analysis using Stata, as well as experience in qualitative data analysis supported by NVivo and Dedoose. Dr Mwase-Vuma also has extensive experience managing multi-country, multi-partner research consortia and engaging directly with policymakers, programmers and implementers, and communities in Malawi. Before joining the University of Malawi in July 2018, Dr Mwase-Vuma served as a Lecturer in Epidemiology and Health Systems at ShareWORLD Open University, Malawi. His research focuses on public health, particularly movement behaviour epidemiology, including physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep, and the measurement of physical activity in children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. He is also interested in antimicrobial resistance, non-communicable diseases, and emerging diseases in LMICs.

Publications

  • Journal Article
    Maddren CI, Dhamrait G, Ghogho M, Chong KH, Jáuregui A, Veldman SLC, Venetsanou F, el Hamdouchi A, Hamzavi Zarghani N, Byambaa A, Mwase-Vuma T, Katewongsa P, Subedi N, Abdeta C, Chia M, Engberg E, Lubree H, Sultoni K, Singh P, Užičanin E, Tiongco MM, Chelly M-S, Turab A, Aoko OA, Kontsevaya A, Nusurupia JJ, Okely AD. Parental Perceptions of Environmental Factors on Preschoolers’ Sleep Duration Among 23 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries. Behavioral Sleep Medicine. 2026 Mar 4;24(2):219–31. doi:10.1080/15402002.2025.2576917 (2026)
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2025.2576917
  • Journal Article
    Spring KE, Webster EK, Beyl RA, Abdeta C, Aoko OA, Bayasgalan J, Byambaa A, Chelly MS, Chia M, del Pozo-Cruz J, Draper C, Engberg E, Ghofranipour F, Guan H, Ha AS, el Hamdouchi A, Zarghani NH, Hossain MS, Jáuregui A, Koh D, Kontsevaya A, Löf M, Lubree H, Mwase-Vuma T, Reilly JJ, Tanaka C, Teo W-P, Turrab A, Uzicanin E, Veldman S, Okely AD, Katzmarzyk PT, Staiano AE. Probability of meeting the restrained sitting guideline in early childhood: an international cross-sectional study. J Sci Med Sport. 2026 Apr. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2026.04.018 (2026)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2026.04.018
  • Journal Article
    Maddren CI, Dhamrait G, Byambaa A, Mwase‐Vuma TW, Veldman SLC, Engberg E, Subedi N, Chia M, el Hamdouchi A, López‐Gil JF, Venetsanou F, Ngyah‐Etchutambe IB, de Lucena Martins, CM, Abdeta C, Zarghani NH, Lubree H, Sultoni K, Singh P, Užičanin E, Tiongco MM, Chelly M‐S, Turab A, Aoko OA, Kontsevaya A, Santamaria JG, Jarani J, Ghogho M, Okely AD. Environmental Factors Associated With Preschoolers’ Outdoor Play and Napping in Childcare Settings: The SUNRISE International Study. Child Care Health Dev. 2026 Jan 8;52(3). doi:10.1111/cch.70284 (2026)
    https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70284
  • Journal Article
    Kuzik N, Buchanan S, de Mendonça Bacciotti S, Boyd M, Bremer E, Bruijns B, Caldwell H, Cappa C, Carson V, Faulkner G, Florindo A, Gaya A, Harandian K, Kand U, Kayange J, Lubree H, Martins C, Mwase-Vuma T, Okely A, Pagani L, Petrowski N, Potter M, Ribeiro E, Tucker P, Autran R, Tremblay M. Telephone versus in-person administration of the Early Childhood Development Index 2030: a crossover study Brazil Canada, India and Malawi. Bull World Health Organ. 2026 Aug 1;104(08):530–9. doi:10.2471/BLT.25.294390 (2026)
    https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.25.294390
  • Journal Article
    Toledo‐Vargas M, Chong KH, Engberg E, Jáuregui A, Martins C, Byambaa A, López-Gil JF, Abdeta C, Mwase-Vuma T, El Hamdouchi A, Lubree H, Aoko OA, Chelly MS, Chia MYH, Ghofranipour F, Gonzalez-Santamaria J, Jarani J, Katewongsa P, Kontsevaya A, Singh P, Subedi N, Teo W-P, Tiongco MM, Trampa K, Turab A, Užičanin E, Veldman SLC, Okely AD. Associations Between Caregiver Smartphone Use in a Child’s Presence and Motor Skills and Executive Function in Preschoolers: SUNRISE International Study. Child Care Health Dev. 2026 Jul 14;52(4). doi:10.1111/cch.70305 (2026)
    https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70305
  • Journal Article
    Martins C, Webster EK, Romo-Perez V, Byambaa A, Clark C, Abdeta C, Widyastari DA, Lian D, Roos E, Engberg E, Chong KH, Katewongsa P, Mwase-Vuma T, Okely A. Age- and sex-specific percentile curves for gross and fine motor skills in early childhood: an analysis from the SUNRISE International Study. Eur J Pediatr. 2026 Jul 21;185(8):593. doi:10.1007/s00431-026-07249-y (2026)
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-026-07249-y
  • Journal Article
    Maddren CI, Dhamrait G, Ghogho M, [...] Lubree H, Mwase-Vuma T, Nusurupia J, et al. Parental Perceptions of Environmental Factors on Preschoolers’ Outdoor Play in 19 Low-Income, Middle-Income, and High-Income Countries. J Phys Act Health. 2025 May 1;22(5):555–65. doi:10.1123/jpah.2024-0615 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0615
  • Journal Article
    Togo E, Mwase-Vuma TW, Thakwalakwa C, et al. The thought that i could continue with school got lost: a qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on the education and sexual and reproductive health of Malawi youth. Reprod Health. 2025;22(1):33. doi:10.1186/s12978-025-01972-9 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01972-9
  • Journal Article
    Zhang Z, Abdeta C, Chelly MS, Cruz J del P, Germana L, Ghofranipour F, Ha ASC, El Hamdouchi A, Tang HK, Hossain MS, Jambaldorj B, Koh DCL, Kontsevaya A, Löf M, Lubree H, Jáuregui A, Mwase-Vuma T, Oluchiri AM, Oluwayomi A, Reilly JJ, Roos E, Staiano AE, Suherman A, Tanaka C, Teo WP, Turab A, Užičanin E, Veldman SLC, Webster, EK, Wickramasinghe P, Aunampai A, Okely A. Measurement properties of the SUNRISE Study Parent Questionnaire for assessing sleep and sleep-related family practices. Sleep Health. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2025.04.006 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2025.04.006
  • Journal Article
    Larouche R, de Oliveira, SN, Abadi MRH, Benavides-Castro JK, Sarmiento OL, Garay GA, Argumedo G, Ashaolu JO, [...] Mwase-Vuma TW, Nilwatta N, Oyeyemi AL, et al. Content validation of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) in low-, middle-, and high-income countries across 6 continents. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2025: 101074. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101074 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101074
  • Journal Article
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, Okely AD, Kayange J, Chong KH, Cross P, et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Meeting World Health Organization 24-Hour Movement Guidelines Among 3–4 Year-Olds in Malawi: The Cross-Sectional SUNRISE Malawi Study. J Phys Act Health. 2025 Nov 1;22(11):1357–69. doi:10.1123/jpah.2024-0650 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0650
  • Journal Article
    Talabuku P, Mwalwanda A, Chavura E, Mwase‐Vuma T, Mbakaya BC. Un‐Matched 1:1 Retrospective Case–Control Study of the Transmission of Typhoid Fever in Neno District, Malawi. Public Health Challenges. 2025 Dec 11;4(4). doi:10.1002/puh2.70136 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70136
  • Journal Article
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, Chong KH, Okely AD, Tremblay MS, Draper CE, Webster EK, Florindo AA, Staiano AE, Pham BN, Tanaka C, Koh D, Guan H, Tang HK, Löf M, Hossain MS, Munambah NE, Cross P, Chathurangana PWP, Reilly JJ. Prevalence and Correlates of Adherence to the Global Total Physical Activity Guideline Based on Step Counting Among 3- to 4-Year-Olds: Evidence From SUNRISE Pilot Studies From 17 Countries. J Phys Act Heal. 2024;21(8):794-801. doi:10.1123/jpah.2023-0711 (2024)
    https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jpah/21/8/article-p794.xml
  • Journal Article
    Larouche R, Rostami Haji Abadi M, Aubert S, [...] Mwase-Vuma TW, et al. Development and validation of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) in 14 countries: study protocol. BMJ Open. 2024;14(7):e082275. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082275 (2024)
    http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/7/e082275.abstract
  • Journal Article
    Chong KH, Suesse T, Cross PL, [...] Mwase-Vuma, et al. Pooled Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Among Children From 33 Countries. JAMA Pediatr. 2024;178(11):1199. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.3330 (2024)
    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2824006
  • Journal Article
    Reilly JJ, Andrew R, Abdeta C, [...] Mwase-Vuma TW, et al. Improving National and International Surveillance of Movement Behaviours in Childhood and Adolescence: An International Modified Delphi Study. Sport Med. Published online October 3, 2024. doi:10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2 (2024)
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2
  • Journal Article
    Zhang Z, Abdeta C, Chelly MS, [...] Mwase-Vuma TW, et al. Geocultural differences in pre-schooler sleep profiles and family practices: an analysis of pooled data from 37 countries. Sleep. Published online December 23, 2024:zsae305. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsae305 (2024)
    https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae305
  • Journal Article
    Ortega FB, Zhang K, Cadenas-Sanchez C, [...] Manyanga T, Mwase-Vuma T, Kidokoro T, et al. The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories. J Sport Health Sci. 2025 Dec;14:101012. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012 (2024)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012
  • Journal Article
    Rodríguez DC, Balaji LN, Chamdimba E, Kafumba J, Koon AD, Mazalale J, Mkombe D, Munywoki J, Mwase-Vuma T, Namakula J, Nambiar B, Neel AH, Nsabagasani X, Paina L, Rogers B, Tsoka M, Waweru E, Munthali A, Ssengooba F, Tsofa B. Political economy analysis of subnational health management in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda. Health Policy Plan. 2023 May 17;38(5):631–47. doi:10.1093/heapol/czad021 (2023)
    doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czad021
  • Journal Article
    Mwase-Vuma, T. W., Janssen, X., Okely, A. D., Tremblay, M. S., Draper, C. E., Antonio, A., Tanaka, C., Koh, D., Hongyan, G., Tang, H. K., Hau, K., Löf, M., Sorowar, M., Cross, P., Chathurangana, P. W. P., & Reilly, J. J. (2022). Validity of low-cost measures for global surveillance of physical activity in pre-school children: The SUNRISE validation study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. (2022)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2022.10.003
  • Journal Article
    Hampshire, K., Mwase-Vuma, T., Alemu, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Awoke, T., Mariwah, S., Chamdimba, E., Owusu, S. A., Robson, E., Castelli, M., Shkedy, Z., Shawa, N., Abel, J., & Kasim, A. (2021). Informal mhealth at scale in Africa: Opportunities and challenges. World Development, 140. (2021)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WORLDDEV.2020.105257
  • Journal Article
    Okely, A.D., Reilly, J.J., Tremblay, M.S., Kariippanon, K., Draper, C.E., El Hamdouchi, A., Florindo, A.A., Green, J.P., Guan, H., Katzmarzyk, P.T., Lubree, H., Pham, B.N., Suesse, T., Willumsen, J., Basheer, M., Calleia, R., Chong, K.H., Cross, P.L., Nacher, M., Smeets, L., Taylor, E., Abdeta, C., Aguilar-Farias, N., Baig, A., Bayasgalan, J., Chan, C., Chathurangana, P., Chia, M., Ghofranipour, F., Ha, A., Hossain, M., Janssen, X., Jauregui, A., Katewongsa, P., Kim, D., Kim, T.V, Koh, D., Kontsevaya, A., Leyna, G., Lof, M., Munambah, N., Mwase-Vuma, T., Nusurupia, J., Oluwayomi, A., et al. (2021). Cross-sectional examination of 24-hour movement behaviours among 3- and 4-year-old children in urban and rural settings in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: the SUNRISE study protocol. BMJ Open, 11(10), e049267. (2021)
    https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049267