DrJulie Abimanyi-Ochom

Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Deputy Co-Chair HSD Academic Progress and Integrity Committee, and Course Director for Honours in Bachelor of Health Science and Honours in Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion. 

As an econometrician specialising in agricultural and development economics, I was drawn to health economics due to its intersection with economic development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). I apply my statistical and modelling expertise to understand factors impacting health service utilisation in resource-poor settings and disadvantaged populations, and to develop burden of disease models in chronic disease. 

Over the last ten years, my research has included modelling chronic disease burden in osteoporosis, Parkinson’s Disease and HIV/AIDS within both the Australian and LMIC contexts. Currently, I am providing economic input to evaluations of prevention interventions in youth alcohol consumption using community initiatives in Australia, endometriosis in young women and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, I am contributing economic input to interventions in maternal and child health focussing on disadvantaged populations, including people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and women, including teenagers, to improve their health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. My research utilises data sets such as Demographic Health Surveys (DHS), Household Income and Labour Dynamics Australia (HILDA), Australian arm of the International Cost and Utility Related to Osteoporotic Fractures (AusICUROS) for statistical and modelling analysis.