Curriculum Vitae

DR. RUMANA AKHTER SAIFI

Senior Lecturer
  • Department of Social and Preventive Medicine
    Faculty of Medicine
  • rumana
  • 03-22463383

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • POPULATION HEALTH
    population, health, HIV, Infectious Diseases

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

  • MPH (Hons), (Public Health)
    University of Auckland
  • PhD (Demography), (Demography)
    Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • MA (Population and Reproductive Health Research), (POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH)
    Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • MSocSc (Economics), (ECONOMICS)
    University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • BSocSc (Hons)(Economics), (Economics)
    University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

  • Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for Implementation Research (IR)
    19 Jun 2023 - 30 Jul 2024 (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine)
  • Head of Unit
    01 Apr 2023 - 31 Mar 2024 (Department)
  • Course Coordinator
    01 Oct 2022 - 30 Sep 2023 (University Malaya)

AWARD AND STEWARDSHIP

  • SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND AIDS 2022
    AIDS 2022, 2022 (International)

PUBLICATIONS

Article in Journal
WoS
  1. Earnshaw, Valerie A.; Cox, Jon; Wong, Pui Li; Saifi, Rumana; Walters, Suzan; Azwa, Iskandar; Omar, Sharifah Faridah Syed; Collier, Zachary K.; Hassan, Asfarina Amir; Lim, Sin How; Wickersham, Jeffrey; Haddad, Marwan S.; Kamarulzaman, Adeeba (2023). "I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle": Experiences with and Hopes for Doctor Interactions Among Malaysian Key Populations and People Living with HIV, AIDS AND BEHAVIOR. . doi:10.1007/s10461-022-03942-9
  2. Earnshaw, Valerie A.; Cox, Jon; Wong, Pui Li; Saifi, Rumana; Walters, Suzan; Azwa, Iskandar; Omar, Sharifah Faridah Syed; Collier, Zachary K.; Hassan, Asfarina Amir; Lim, Sin How; Wickersham, Jeffrey; Haddad, Marwan S.; Kamarulzaman, Adeeba; Altice, Frederick L. (2023). Acceptability and Feasibility of Online, Asynchronous Photovoice with Key Populations and People Living with HIV, AIDS AND BEHAVIOR. 27(7), 2055-2069. doi:10.1007/s10461-022-03938-5
  3. JadKarim, Luzan; Wickersham, Jeffrey; Gautam, Kamal; Azwa, Iskandar; Saifi, Rumana; Khati, Antoine; Paudel, Kiran; Ha, Toan; Shrestha, Roman (2023). Correlates of never testing for HIV among men who have sex with men in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study, PLOS ONE. 18(11). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0294937
  4. Shrestha, R., Lim, S. H., Altice, F. L., Copenhaver, M., Wickersham, J. A., Saifi, R., . . . Kamarulzaman, A. (2020). Use of Smartphone to Seek Sexual Health Information Online Among Malaysian Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): Implications for mHealth Intervention to Increase HIV Testing and Reduce HIV Risks. Journal of Community Health, 45(1), 10-19. doi: 10.1007/s10900-019-00713-x
  5. Lall, P., Saifi, R., Baggio, D., Schoenberger, S. F., Choo, M., Gilbert, L., . . . Kamarulzaman, A. (2019). Risk Factors for a Positive Hepatitis C Status in Fishermen in Kuantan Malaysia. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 31(3), 227-237. doi:10.1177/1010539519841294
Scopus
  1. Chong N., Azwa I., Hassan A.A., Mousavi M.E., Wong P.L., Ng R.X., Saifi R., Basri S., Omar S.F.S., Walters S.M., Collier Z.K., Haddad M.S., Altice F.L., Kamarulzaman A., Earnshaw V.A. (2024). HIV Activist Identity, Commitment, and Orientation Scale (HAICOS): Psychometric Evaluation to Assess Clinician s Propensity Towards HIV Activism in Malaysia, AIDS and Behavior. . doi:10.1007/s10461-024-04381-4
  2. Foley S., Keene D.E., Shrestha R., Brown S.-E., Gautam K., Sutherland R.A., Maviglia F., Saifi R., Wickersham J.A. (2024). Exploring Attitudes Toward Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Prior to Implementation Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia: Results from a Qualitative Study, Patient Preference and Adherence. 18, 797-807. doi:10.2147/PPA.S413423
  3. Ni Z., Peng M.L., Balakrishnan V., Tee V., Azwa I., Saifi R., Nelson L.E., Vlahov D., Altice F.L. (2024). Implementation of Chatbot Technology in Health Care: Protocol for a Bibliometric Analysis, JMIR Research Protocols. 13(1). doi:10.2196/54349
  4. Earnshaw V.A., Cox J., Wong P.L., Saifi R., Walters S., Azwa I., Omar S.F.S., Collier Z.K., Hassan A.A., Lim S.H., Wickersham J., Haddad M.S., Kamarulzaman A. (2023). I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle :: Experiences with and Hopes for Doctor Interactions Among Malaysian Key Populations and People Living with HIV, AIDS and Behavior. 27(7), 2103-2112. doi:10.1007/s10461-022-03942-9
  5. Earnshaw V.A., Cox J., Wong P.L., Saifi R., Walters S., Azwa I., Omar S.F.S., Collier Z.K., Hassan A.A., Lim S.H., Wickersham J., Haddad M.S., Kamarulzaman A., Altice F.L. (2023). Acceptability and Feasibility of Online, Asynchronous Photovoice with Key Populations and People Living with HIV, AIDS and Behavior. 27(7), 2055-2069. doi:10.1007/s10461-022-03938-5
  6. Gautam K., Paudel K., Jacobs J., Wickersham J.A., Mohd Ikhtiaruddin W., Azwa I., Saifi R., Lim S.H., Shrestha R. (2023). An mHealth-Delivered Sexual Harm Reduction Tool (PartyPack) for Men Who Have Sex With Men in Malaysia: Usability Study, JMIR Formative Research. 7. doi:10.2196/48113
  7. JadKarim L., Wickersham J., Gautam K., Azwa I., Saifi R., Khati A., Paudel K., Ha T., Shrestha R. (2023). Correlates of never testing for HIV among men who have sex with men in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study, PloS one. 18(11), e0294937. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0294937
  8. Ng C.G., Ting S.Q., Saifi R.A., Kamarulzaman A.B. (2023). Ethical Issues in Photovoice Studies involving Key Populations: A Scoping Review, Asian Bioethics Review. . doi:10.1007/s41649-023-00264-3
  9. Rosen A.O., Wickersham J.A., Altice F.L., Khati A., Azwa I., Tee V., Jeri-Wahrhaftig A., Luces J.R., Ni Z., Kamarulzaman A., Saifi R., Shrestha R. (2023). Barriers and Facilitators to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis by Men Who Have Sex with Men and Community Stakeholders in Malaysia, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 20(9). doi:10.3390/ijerph20095669
Others
  1. Testing for HIV among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study
  2. What Power and Agency Do Women Maintain in HIV Disclosure Conversations with Intimate Partners?: A Scoping Review
  3. “I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle”:: Experiences with and Hopes for Doctor Interactions Among Malaysian Key Populations and People Living with HIV
  4. Earnshaw VA, Cox J, Wong PL, Saifi R, Walters S, Azwa I, Omar SFS, Collier ZK, Hassan AA, Lim SH, Wickersham J, Haddad MS, Kamarulzaman A.
  5. Earnshaw, V. A., Cox, J., Wong, P. L., Saifi, R., Walters, S., Azwa, I., ... & Altice, F. L. (2022). Acceptability and feasibility of online, asynchronous photovoice with key populations and people living with HIV. AIDS and Behavior, 1-15.
  6. Walters SM, Li WP, Saifi R, Azwa I, Syed Omar SF, Collier ZK, Amir Hassan AB, Haddad MS, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Earnshaw VA.
  7. Lall P, Saifi R, Baggio D, Schoenberger SF, Choo M, Gilbert L, West B, El-Bassel N, Kamarulzaman A. Risk Factors for a Positive Hepatitis C Status in Fishermen in Kuantan Malaysia. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2019 Apr;31(3):227-237.
  8. Shrestha R, Lim SH, Altice FL, Copenhaver M, Wickersham J, Saifi R, Ab Halim MA, Naning H, Kamarulzaman A. (2019). Use of Smartphone to Seek Sexual Health Information Online Among Malaysian Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): Implications for mHealth Intervention to Increase HIV Testing and Reduce HIV Risks. J Community Health. 2019 Aug 2. doi: 10.1007/s10900-019-00713-x.
  9. Stacey A. Shaw, Olivia Cornwell, Sin How Lim, Rumana Saifi, Lik Teng Ung & Adeeba Kamarulzaman. Allah will decide my life and death : Religion and spirituality among populations at risk for HIV in Malaysia
  10. 1.Lall P; Shaw SA, Saifi R, Sherman S, Azmi NN, Pillai V, El-Bassel N, Kamarulzaman A, Wickersham JA. (2017). Acceptability of a Microfinance-based Empowerment Intervention for Transgender and Cisgender Women Sex Workers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. J Int AIDS Soc. 2017 Aug 2;20(1):1-10. doi: 10.7448/IAS.20.1.21723.
  11. Nasaruddin, A.; Saifi RA; and Kamarulzaman A. (2017). Opening up the HIV epidemic: A Review of HIV Seropositive Status Disclosure among People Who Inject Drugs. AIDS Care 29(5).
  12. Shaw SA; Saifi RA; Saifuddeen S.M; Kamarulzaman A. (2017). Islam and HIV prevention services in Malaysia. Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work. Special Issue on Islam.
  13. Aishah M. Nasarruddin, Rumana A. Saifi, Sajaratulnisah Othman & Adeeba Kamarulzaman (2016): Opening up the HIV epidemic: a review of HIV seropositive status disclosure among people who inject drugs. AIDS Care, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2016.1220485 [E-publication]
  14. Lall P, Saifi R, Kamarulzaman A.Tobacco Consumption Among HIV-Positive Respondents: Findings From the Third Round of the National Family Health Survey.
  15. Sarowar M.G., Medin E, Gazi R, Koehlmoos T.K., Rehnberg C., Saifi RA., Bhuiya A., Khan, J. Calculation of costs of pregnancy and puerperium related care: Experience from a hospital in a low-income country (2010). Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition 2010 Jun 28(3).
  16. Saifi, R.A., Podhisita, C., Guest, P. and Braynt, J. (2006). The Effect of Migration on Health. Journal of Population and Social Studies 15(1)
  17. Levin A, Amin A, Saifi RA, Barkat-e-Khuda, Mozumder KA. (1999). Cost-effectiveness of Family Planning and Maternal-Child Health Service Delivery Strategies in Rural Bangladesh. International Journal of Health Planning and Management. 14(3):219-233.
Article in Proceeding
  1. Saifi, R. (2023) Making implementation science approachable, affordable and acceptable. Pulse magazine. Faculty of Medicine.. Universiti Malaya.
Other Publications
  1. Rahman F, Saifi R, Sreedharan L. - Blueprint
  2. 20 Years of HIV in Bangladesh: Experiences and Way Forward (2010). - Technical Report
  3. Saifi, R.A and Oliveras, E. (2010). Impact of Migration on the Health of Bangladeshi Female Labour Migrants. ICDDR, B publication - Technical Report
  4. Saifi, R.A. (2007). Consequences of early marriage on female schooling in rural Bangladesh. Health and Sciences Bulletin 5(4). - Technical Report
  5. Sarker S; Islam Z.; Routh S. Saifi R.A.; Begum H.A. Nasim A., Mesbahuddin, M. (2001). Operations research on ESP delivery and community clinics in Bangladesh. Transition plan on shift from outreach to community clinic-based service-delivery system: a study of perspectives of stakeholders. ICDDR, B working paper 146 - Technical Report
  6. Sarker, S.; Islam, Z.; Hossain,S.; Saifi, R.A.; Saha, N.C.; Jahan, M.; Begum, H.A.; Routh, S. Operations research on ESP delivery and community clinics in Bangladesh. Preliminary assessment of performance of two selected community clinics. ICDDR,B - Technical Report
  7. Sarker, S; Islam, Z.; Saifi, R.A.; Begum, H.A.; Anwar, S.; Routh, S. (2000). Operations research on ESP delivery and community clinics in Bangladesh. Operational guidelines for management of community clinics by community groups: a study on perspectives of stakeholders. ICDDR,B working paper 138. - Technical Report
  8. Levin A, Amin A, Saifi RA, Rahman MA, Khuda, B, Mozumder, KA. (1997). Cost-effectiveness of Family Planning and Maternal-Child Health Alternative Service Delivery strategy in Rural Bangladesh In Kane, T.; Khuda, B. and Phillips, J. edited Reproductive Health in Rural Bangladesh. ICDDR, B Research Monograph No. 7 - Monograph
  9. Levin, A.; Amin, M.A.; Mozumder, K.; Saifi, R.A. (1997). Effect of the Introduction of Contraceptive Pricing on its Use. (ICDDR,B special publication). - Technical Report

RESEARCH PROJECT

National
  1. 2021 - 2023, Partnership Grant
    Using A Popular Teletraining Platform To Reduce Clinician Stigma And Disparities In Hiv Testing, Prevention And Linkage To Care In Malaysia ( Co-Researcher)
Private
  1. 2024 - 2025, Private Funding
    Acceptability Of Long-acting Injectable Prep And Hiv Antiretroviral Therapy Among Key Populations In Malaysia Research Project By Ceria ( Principal Investigator(PI))
International
  1. 2023 - 2028, International Funding
    Strengthening The Master Of Health Research Ethics Training Program ( Co-Researcher)
  2. 2024 - 2026, International Funding
    Reducing Stigma in People Who Inject Drugs with HIV Using a Rapid Start Antiretroviral Therapy Intervention ( Co-Researcher)
  3. 2023 - 2026, International Funding
    Reducing stigma among people who inject drugs with HIV using a rapid start Antiretroviral therapy intervention., National Institute of Education ( Co-Researcher)
  4. 2020 - 2025, International Funding
    Malaysian Implementation Science Training (mist) Program In Hiv ( Co-Researcher)
  5. 2020 - 2025, International Funding
    Implementing Stigma Reduction Tools Via A Popular Teletraining Platform To Reduce Clinician Stigma And Disparities In Hiv Testing, Prevention, And Linkage To Care In Malaysia ( Co-Researcher)
  6. 2023 - 2025, International Funding
    Strengthening The Hiv Care Continuum For Transgender Women Living With Hiv In Malaysia ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  7. 2022 - 2025, International Funding
    Developing an artificial intelligence-based mHealth intervention to increase HIV testing in Malaysia, National Institute of Education ( Co-Researcher)
  8. 2020 - 2024, International Funding
    Malaysian Implementation Science Training (MIST) Program in HIV, National Institute of Education ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  9. 2021 - 2024, International Funding
    Improving HIV testing and PrEP for transgender women through mHealth, National Institute of Education ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  10. 2022 - 2024, International Funding
    Integrated online to offline model (020) of care for HIV prevention and treatment of care among men who have sex with men, National Institute of Education ( Co-Researcher)
  11. 2021 - 2024, national institute of health
    Development and Testing of a Mobile Application to Enhance HIV Prevention Cascade in Malaysian MSM, National Institute of Education ( Co-Researcher)
  12. 2021 - 2023, International Funding
    Gamification to enhance engagement in HIV prevention and comorbid conditions.in young men who have sex with men, National Institute of Education ( Co-Researcher)
  13. 2021 - 2023, National Institute of Health (NIH), US
    Strengthening the HIV Care Continuum for Transgender Women Living with HIV in Malaysia, National Institute of Education ( Principal Investigator(PI))

CONSULTANCY PROJECT

  • Tdr Regional Training Centre for Implementation Research Western Pacific Region (Rtc-Ir-Wpr), WHO, Professional Consultant (Ir., Ar., Sr., Ts., dsbnya)
    01 Dec 2020 - 31 Dec 2022 (International)
  • Transition Towards Financial Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities of The Civil Society Organizations, Malaysian AIDS Council
    01 Dec 2018 - 01 Dec 2018 (National)

PAPER PRESENTED

INVITED SPEAKER
  1. Ethical Issues Involving Vulnerable Populations, FERCAP INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023, UMMC (International) (27 Nov 2023 - 29 Nov 2023)
  2. Listening to the voice of transgender population through photovoice, Trans-Specific Healthcare Workshop for Healthcare Providers, SEED Foundation (International) (21 Oct 2023 - 23 Oct 2023)
  3. Ethics in Health Research and Clinical Research: Understanding the Grey Area in a Real-Life Research Project, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CLINICAL ETHICS (UICCE) 2023, UiTM (International) (06 Sep 2023 - 07 Sep 2023)
  4. Incorporation of Stigma-Reduction Strategies in Implementation Research, Mental Health Implementation Hackathon, Ministry of Health, Thailand (International) (28 Aug 2023 - 30 Aug 2023)
  5. Incorporation of Stigma-Reduction Strategies in Implementation Research, MIST Summer Bootcamp 2023, Ceria Yale (International) (17 Jul 2023 - 19 Jul 2023)

ACADEMIC/PROF. SERVICES

Evaluation
  1. (2023) Infection Control for Critical Care Nurses, University, (External Assessor)
  2. (2023) Appointment as a Panel Reviewer for Dom-Rsf Cycle 4, 2023, University, (Reviewer)
  3. (2023) Review of The Submission #52055, "Testing The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote Hiv Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malaysia: a Mixed-Methods Study, International, (Reviewer)
  4. (2023) Review of The Submission #52055, "Testing The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote Hiv Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malaysia: a Mixed-Methods Study, International, (Reviewer)
  5. (2023) Review of The Submission #52055, "Testing The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Artificial Intelligence Chatbot to Promote Hiv Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malaysia: a Mixed-Methods Study, International, (Reviewer)
  6. (2023) Expert Panel in Assessing Student Scholar's Phd Research in Terms of Ethics, International, (External Evaluator)
Contribution to event
  1. (2023) Chair of a Scientific Session, Fercap International Conference 2023, International, (Panelist/Moderator)
  2. (2023) Malaysian Implementation Science Bootcamp (Mist) 2023, International, (Event Organiser)
Mentoring
  1. (2024) Global Health Equity Scholars Fellowship Program (Ghes), University, (Academic Advisor)
  2. (2024) Cmb Global Health Leadership Development Program, University, (Academic Advisor)
  3. (2024) Down Fellow, Yale University, University, (Mentor)
  4. (2023) Universiti Malaya Mobility Student Program, University, (Mentor)
  5. (2023) Exploration and Preparation of Tele-Medicine Services Research Title: Focused On Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders in Malaysian Prisons Using The Epis Implementation Science Framework, University, (Mentor)
  6. (2023) Supervision of Mohre Student (Ng Chong Guan (Matric Number: 22051899), University, (Academic Advisor)
  7. (2023) Supervision of Mohre Student, University, (Academic Advisor)

SUPERVISION

Postgraduate Student
  1. (2024) HIV STATUS, AWARENESS AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES AMONG REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA, GRAZELE JENARUN

TEACHING

Master
  1. (2023) MQD7015 - Medical Statistics
  2. (2023) MQF7008 - Practicum in Health Reserach Ethics
  3. (2023) MQD7013 - Research Methodology in Nursing
  4. (2022) NA - Mqd7015
  5. (2022) MQD7015 - Medical Statistics
  6. (2022) MQB7001 - Research Method
  7. (2022) MQD7013 - Research Methodology in Nursing

COURSE ATTENDED

Internal / External Course
CONFERENCE
  1. 9TH IAS CONFERENCE ON HIV SCIENCE , The Palais Des Congres De Paris, Paris, (23 Jul 2017 - 28 Jul 2017)
  2. 19TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE FORUM FOR ETHICAL REVIEW COMMITTEES IN ASIA AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC (FERCAP) , Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) (25 Nov 2019 - 26 Nov 2019)
EXTERNAL COURSE
  1. INTENSIVE GLOBAL BIOETHICS TRAINING PROGRAM, John Hopkins, Baltimore (31 May 2019 - 13 Jul 2019)
INTERNAL COURSE- ORGANIZED BY PTJ
  1. ORGANISING A TWO-FULL DAY MASTER OF HEALTH RESEARCH ETHICS (MOHRE) FAKULTY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP , Aloft,Kuala Lumpur (05 Oct 2022 - 06 Oct 2022)
  2. MOHRE FACULTY RETREAT 2023, Aloft Kuala Lumpur (21 Sep 2023 - 21 Sep 2023)
External Course
INTERNATIONAL
  1. MOHRE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP (FDW), Aloft Kuala Lumpur (30 Nov 2023 - 30 Nov 2023)