Neha Zahid
Malnutrition, Tooth Decay, and Gender
In low-income communities across the world, we have been observing an epidemic that is 100% preventable: tooth decay. Our in-depth analysis has repeatedly shown the correlation between poor oral health and malnutrition and our research aims to uncover the associated risk factors – junk food consumption and access, dental care access, oral health and nutrition education, mother’s education and feeding practices, family size, etc. I am interested in furthering our investigations by looking at the role of gender. What is the difference, if any, between tooth decay and malnutrition among girls and boys?
Message To Sponsor
With a strong interest in underserved areas and global health, this research allows me to interact with communities through on-site fieldwork as well as learn about the social, economic, and political factors that affect their health. I am particularly excited to analyze the role of gender to learn about social equity issues and take the next steps of empowerment and advocacy for the marginalized population.
Major: Public Health, Molecular & Cell Biology
Mentor: Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, Public Health