Dr Nicole Vidal (PhD, MSc Res, MSc, BA) is a social anthropologist specialising in global health and social development. Her primary research interests include exploring ways to improve health and social care services among excluded and vulnerable groups, with particular emphasis on linking communities to health systems and improving the accessibility, acceptability and quality of health services.
- Overview
- Research Interests
- Research Publications
- Funded Projects
- Teaching & Learning
Nicole currently works as a research assistant for the project: Impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on isolation in a neglected population group. This research, currently in its second phase, focuses on the impacts on the social and mental wellbeing of asylum seekers and refugees throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nicole’s previous work in IGHD has included research for the NIHR-Funded Research Unit for Health in Fragility (RUHF) which involved research coordination and advising for study on the management of non-communicable diseases and comprehensive primary health care in El Salvador.
Other projects she has been involved with include: The IMPACT study: Intervening with a Manualised Package to Achieve treatment adherence in people with tuberculosis (TB); the ReBUILD Consortium which focused on concerns for improving access to effective and equitable health care for excluded and vulnerable populations in low and middle income countries; the Thematic Working Group on Health Systems in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States; the ECDC-funded project on TB treatment adherence among vulnerable populations in Riga, Latvia, and the Joint Learning Initiative’s Learning Hub on Ending Violence Against Children.
Nicole’s doctoral thesis explored the integration of formal and community health services through investigating the role of Andean Community Health Workers as frontline providers of maternal health services in Peru.
Active research interests
Health systems research, social determinants of health, health inequalities, sexual and reproductive rights and health –with specialisation in maternal health
Research Methods
Qualitative research, grounded theory, ethnography, participatory methods, health systems research
Research Grants & Contracts Funding:
Impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on isolation in a neglected population group funded by Chief Scientist Office (phase 1) and Scottish Funding Council (phase 2)
ReBUILD Consortium: Research for building pro-poor health systems during the recovery from conflict. ReBUILD is an international partnership funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID).
Interventions to increase TB treatment adherence and improved treatment outcomes among specific hard-to-reach and vulnerable population groups in Riga, Latvia. Funded by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and World Health Communication Associates (WHCA) in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
As a visiting lecturer at IGHD, Nicole has contributed to teaching sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, gender and global health, researching global health and development, qualitative research methods, social development policy and practice and social justice.
