Tanzabilities

Training Healthcare Professionals to Address Reproductive Health for Persons with Disabilities in Tanzania

A collaborative research, education, and capacity building project between University of Minnesota and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania aimed at addressing critical sexual and reproductive health challenges facing persons with disabilities in Tanzania and beyond by creating a curriculum for future healthcare providers.

A still photo of a group of 20 collaborators posing for a photo in a hotel lobby. Includes University of Minnesota researchers, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences researchers, and the project's community advisory board.

A photo of the members of the community advisory board together

A photo of the key investigators in the Tanzabilities project. From left to right; Kristen Mark, Stella Mushy, Gudrun Kilian, Simon Rosser, Michael Ross, Dickson Mkoka, Gift Lukumay, Charlotta Lofgren

A photo of the study team with members from the University of Minnesota, Muhimbili University, Malmo University and Johns Hopkins University.

A photo of the members of the community advisory board together with MUHAS team members in a discussion regarding the Tanzabilities project

A photo of the members of the community advisory board together with research teams from University of Minnesota and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

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Published Articles

Needs Assessment of Training Midwifery, Nursing, and Medical Students in Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for People with Disabilities in Tanzania

Mark, K. P., Mushy, S. E., Puchner-Hardman, M., Mgopa, L. R., Lukumay, G. G., Rosser, B. R. S., Massawe, A. F., Mwakawanga, D. L., Chikwala, V. Z., Sumari, E. I., Lyimo, A., Kilian, G., Trent, M. E., Ross, M. W., Löfgren, C., Connor, J. J., Mfinanga, R. H., & Mkoka, D. A. (2026). Needs assessment of training midwifery, nursing, and medical students in sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities in Tanzania. Disability and Health Journal, 19(1), Article 101919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101919

Challenges Faced by People with Disabilities in Accessing Contraception and Childbirth Care in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Mwakawanga, D. L., Mushy, S. E., Massae, A. F., Rosser, B. R. S., Mgopa, L. R., Lukumay, G. G., Mkoka, D., Puchner-Hardman, M., Mfinanga, R., Chikwala, V. Z., Sumari, E., Lyimo, A. A., Trent, M., Ross, M. W., Löfgren, C., Connor, J. J., & Mark, K. P. (2026). Challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing contraception and childbirth care in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. International Journal of Sexual Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2026.2678391

Conferences Presentations

Methodological Approaches to Creating Sexual and Reproductive Health Curriculum for Future Healthcare Providers in Tanzania Catered to People with Disabilities

Rashid H. Mfinanga, Dickson A. Mkoka, Stella E. Mushy, Lucy R. Mgopa, Marguerite Puchner-Hardman, Gift G. Lukumay, Agnes F. Massawe, Dorkasi L. Mwakawanga, Ally A. Lyimo, Gudrun Kilian, Victor Z. Chikwala, Emmanuel I. Sumari, Charlotta Löfgren, Jennifer J. Connor, Maria E. Trent, B.R. Simon Rosser, Michael W. Ross, Kristen P. Mark

American Public Health Annual Conference - 2024

Assessing the Feasibility of Training Future Healthcare Providers in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Persons with Disabilities in Tanzania

Marguerite Puchner-Hardman, Dickson A. Mkoka, Stella E. Mushy, Lucy R. Mgopa, Gift G. Lukumay, Agnes F. Massawe, Dorkasi L. Mwakawanga, Ally A. Lyimo, Gudrun Kilian, Victor Z. Chikwala, Emmanuel I. Sumari, Charlotta Löfgren, Jennifer J. Connor, Maria E. Trent, B.R. Simon Rosser, Michael W. Ross, Rashid H. Mfinanga, Kristen P. Mark

American Public Health Annual Conference - 2024

"We are Humans Like Any Other Human”: Dehumanization, Belonging, and Sexual Health for People with Disabilities in Tanzania

Marguerite Puchner-Hardman, Dickson A. Mkoka, Lucy R. Mgopa, Gift G. Lukumay, Agnes F. Massawe, Dorkasi L. Mwakawanga, Ally A. Lyimo, Gudrun Kilian, Victor Z. Chikwala, Emmanuel I. Sumari, Charlotta Löfgren, Jennifer J. Connor, Maria E. Trent, B.R. Simon Rosser, Michael W. Ross, Rashid H. Mfinanga, Kristen P. Mark, Stella E. Mushy

Sexuality, Disability, and the Power to Disrupt Conference - 2026

What's New?

Randomized Controlled Trials

We’re excited to share that we have completed the Randomized Control Trials in September 2026 for the treatment group at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. A total of 208 students successfully completed a 3-day training.

You can access our latest newsletter here.

Tanzabilities Newsletter 6.pdf