Using mobile phone data to study how climate and conflict affect health and movement in Africa
Official title: Novel use of mobile phone big data to evaluate the effect of climatic and non-climatic shocks on human mobility and women's health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-10930945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how extreme weather and conflicts affect where people, especially women in sub-Saharan Africa, move and how it impacts their health, using mobile phone data to find ways to improve health support in these communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $128,817 |
| NIH project number | 5K99HD112500-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10930945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women and communities in sub-Saharan Africa who are affected by climate variability and armed conflict.
✕Less likely to help
Patients living in regions not impacted by climate change or conflict may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how extreme weather events and conflicts impact human mobility and health outcomes, particularly for women in sub-Saharan Africa. By analyzing mobile phone data, the study aims to understand how these shocks influence where people move and how it affects their health. The research will utilize machine learning techniques to process this data, providing insights into the health challenges faced by populations affected by climate change and conflict. The findings could help inform public health strategies and interventions in these vulnerable communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for populations affected by climate change and conflict by informing targeted interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using mobile data to analyze health outcomes in crisis situations, indicating that this approach has potential for impactful findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luetke, Maya — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Luetke, Maya
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.