Dr Oluwaseyi Dolapo Somefun
Postdoctoral Fellow,
University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Email: seyi.somefun@gmail.com
I am social scientist interested in youth sexual and reproductive health, social networks, mixed research methods, health communication and policy. Originally from Nigeria, I completed my PhD in Demography and Population Studies at the University of Witwatersrand in 2019. Currently, I am postdoctoral fellow at UWC School of Public Health and linked to the UKRI GCRF Accelerating Achievement for Africa's Adolescents Hub.
Research Focus
My goal is to generate scholarship supporting the holistic wellbeing of youth who experience cumulative and convergent risks to healthy development. I am interested in what can be learned from considering how, especially prior to intervention, youth manoeuvre risk in everyday life. My research, which targets the identification of risk and promotion of healthy development among marginalized youth, presents a critical step towards alleviating health disparities and socially constructed barriers to positive youth development.
Publications
See also Google Scholar (can't find a PDF? Email me!)
Somefun, O.D., Harries, J. & Constant, D. Reproductive awareness and recognition of unintended pregnancy: young women, key informants and health care providers perspectives in South Africa. Reproductive Health 18, 211 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01262-0
Banougnin BH, Somefun, O.D, Olakunle AA. Migration and interbirth transition rate using Benin Demographic and Health Survey data: Does episode-splitting matter? PLoS One. 2021 Oct 22;16(10):e0258297. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258297.
Somefun, O.D, and Adebayo K. (2021). The role of mentoring in research ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Some experiences through the CARTA opportunity Global Public Health 16.
Adeniyi, O.V., Ajayi, A.I., Somefun, O.D. & Lambert, J.S. (2020) Provision of immediate postpartum contraception to women living with HIV in the Eastern Cape, South Africa; a cross-sectional analysis. Reproductive Health 17, 194.
Akinyemi, J. O., Somefun, O.D, Olamijuwon, E. O., De Wet, N., & Odimegwu, C. O. (2020) How long was the honeymoon? Accelerated failure time model of spousal violence onset among women in sub-Saharan Africa, Women & Health 60, 987-999.
Somefun, O.D, & Fotso, A. S. (2020). The effect of family and neighbourhood social capital on youth mental health in South AfricaJournal of Adolescence, 83: 22-26
Ajayi A. I. & Somefun, O.D. (2020). Recreational drug use among Nigerian university students: prevalence, determinants and frequency of use. PLOS ONE
Ajayi A. I & .Somefun D.O. (2020). Patterns and determinants of short and long birth intervals among women in selected sub-Saharan African countries. Medicine 2020;99:19(e20118).
Odimegwu, C.O., Olamijuwon, E.O., Chisumpa V.H., Akinyemi, J.O., Singini, m.G. & Somefun D.O (2020) How soon do single mothers have another child? A competing risk analysis of second premarital childbearing in sub-Saharan African countries. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 20, 185
Simo Fotso A., Somefun, D.O. & Odimegwu, C. (2020) Child’s health and relatives’ employment in South Africa: the gendered effect beyond parents. In: Konte M. and Tirivayi N. (Eds.), Women and Sustainable Human Development- Empowering Women in Africa, Palgrave Macmillan.
Somefun D.O, Akinyemi, J. & Odimegwu C.(2020). Child Health in sub-Saharan Africa: The Interrelated Effects of Neighbourhoods and Families on Child Health. Putting Children First. New Frontiers in the Fight Against Child Poverty in Africa. Edited by Keetie Roelen, Richard Morgan, and Yisak Tafere. ibidem Press.
Somefun D.O (2020). Family Changes and Adolescent Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Odimegwu C. (eds) Family Demography and Post-2015 Development Agenda in Africa. Springer, Cham
Adedini S.A., Somefun O.D., Odimegwu C.O., Ntoimo L.F.C. (2020). Union Dissolution - Divorce, Separation, and Widowhood in Sub-Saharan Africa: Trends, Patterns, and Determinants. In: Odimegwu C. (eds) Family Demography and Post-2015 Development Agenda in Africa. Springer, Cham
Avogo W. A. & Somefun D.O (2019). Early Marriage, Cohabitation and Childbearing in West Africa Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Adedini S.A, Olusola Omisakin & Somefun D.O (2019) Trends, patterns and determinants of long-acting and reversible methods of contraception among women in sub-Saharan Africa. PLOS ONE
Somefun, O. D., Wandera, S. O., & Odimegwu, C. (2019). Media Exposure and HIV Testing Among Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). SAGE Open.
Somefun D.O (2019). Religiosity and sexual abstinence among Nigerian youths: Does parent religion matter. BMC Public Health 2019;19:416
Ajayi A & Somefun D.O (2019). Transactional sex among Nigerian university students: the mediating role of family structure and family support. PLOS ONE 14(1): e0210349.
Somefun D.O, Odimegwu C, Simo-Fotso A & Adebayo K.(2019) Union Formation among Youth in sub-Saharan Africa: Does Early Sexual Debut Matter? Emerging Adulthood.
Somefun D.O, & Odimegwu Clifford (2018) The protective role of family structure for adolescent development in sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS One 13(10), e0206197.
Odimegwu C, Chisumpa V, & Somefun D.O (2018). Adult Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa Using 2001 – 2009 Census Data: Does Estimation Method Matter? Genus 74 (1) 10
De Wet, N, Somefun, O., & Rambau, N. (2018). Perceptions of community safety and social activity participation among youth in South Africa. PLoS One, 13(5), e0197549.
Odimegwu C, Somefun D.O & Chisumpa V (2018) Regional Differences in Protective Sexual Behaviour among Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Biosocial Science .
Odimegwu C, Somefun D.O & Joshua Akinyemi (2017). Gender Differences in the Effect of Family Structure on Educational Outcomes Among Nigerian Youth. Sage Open 7 (4)
Odimegwu C, De Wet, N and Somefun D.O (2017) Perceptions of social capital and sexual behaviour among youth in South Africa. Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 1-13
Akinyemi, J. O., Somefun, O. D., & Ajaero, C. K. (2017). Family structure and full vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months in West Africa: Analysis of the interaction effects of maternal education. African Population Studies, 31(1).
Odimegwu C, Somefun D.O and Nicole De Wet (2017). Contextual Determinants of Marital Dissolution in sub-Saharan Africa. Development Southern Africa, 1-17
Odimegwu C & Somefun D.O (2017). Ethnicity, Gender and Sexual Behaviour in Nigeria: An Alternative Explanation. Reproductive Health 14 (6)
Somefun, O. D., & Ibisomi, L. (2016). Determinants of postnatal care non-utilization among women in Nigeria. BMC Research Notes, 9(1), 1-11.
Oluwaseyi, S. D., & Latifat, I. (2015). Intimate Partner Violence and Contraceptive Behaviour: Evidence from Malawi and Zambia. Southern African Journal of Demography, 16(1), 123.
De Wet, N.C., Somefun D.O. & Odimegwu C.O (2014). Youth Mortality due to HIV/AIDS in South Africa: an application of life table techniques. African Journal of AIDS Research 1 (13): 13-20
De Wet, N.C., Gumbo, J., & Somefun D.O (2014). Multiple sexual partners and the gendered differences in HIV-testing among youth in South Africa. Gender and Behaviour Journal 12 (4): 6023-6049
Adedini S.A, Somefun D.O, & Odimegwu C.O (2014). Gender Inequality and Maternal and Child Healthcare Utilization in sub-Saharan Africa. Gender and Behaviour Journal 12 (4): 6050-6069
Somefun D.O, Odimegwu C.O, Adedini S.A, Motsa, L., & De Wet N.C (2014) Gender Differentials in Extramarital Sexual Behaviour: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. Gender and Behaviour Journal 12 (4): 6093-6113
Simo Fotso A., Somefun Dolapo Oluwaseyi and Clifford Odimegwu. “Child’s. (2020) health and relatives’ employment in South Africa: the gendered effect beyond parents.” In: Konte M. and Tirivayi N. (Eds.), Women and Sustainable Human Development-Empowering Women in Africa, Palgrave Macmillan.
Somefun D.O, Joshua Akinyemi and Odimegwu Clifford. “Child Health in sub-Saharan Africa: The Interrelated Effects of Neighbourhoods and Families on Child Health” In: Keetie Roelen, Richard Morgan, and Yisak Tafere (Eds.) Putting Children First. New Frontiers in the Fight Against Child Poverty in Africa. Ibidem Press
Somefun D.O (2020) Family Changes and Adolescent Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Odimegwu C. (eds) Family Demography and Post-2015 Development Agenda in Africa. Springer, Cham
AdediniS.A., Somefun O.D., Odimegwu C.O.,Ntoimo L.F.C. (2020) Union Dissolution - Divorce, Separation, and Widowhood in Sub-Saharan Africa: Trends, Patterns, and Determinants. In: Odimegwu C. (eds)
Family Demography and Post-2015 Development Agenda in Africa. Springer, ChamPopular Writing
Somefun, D.O. (2021). Journal Clubs are Beneficial for Early Career Researchers. AuthorAid.
Somefun, D.O. (2021). Sexual and reproductive health interventions to build resilience in youth. The African Academy of Science.
Somefun, D.O. (2020).How to keep adolescents’ social networks strong in a disrupted world. The Conversation.
Somefun, D.O. (2020). Africa’s research ecosystem needs a culture of mentoring. The Conversation.
Somefun, D.O. (2020).Flaws in the collection of African population statistics block COVID-19 insights The Conversation.
Somefun, D.O. (2020). Weathering the Storm: COVID-19 and the Case for Universal Basic Income in Nigeria. The Republic.
Somefun, D.O. (2018).Know Your Audience: Ensure Your Research Influences the Right People. Insights.
Awards and Fellowships
2019 - Africa Fellow, World Bank
2018 - Policy Fellow, Population Reference Bureau
2017 - Carnegie Fellow, African Studies Association
2016-19 - Fellow, Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa
[Profile in 2019 CARTA Newsletter].
2016-18 - Fellow, National Research Foundation
Research Dissemination to Stakeholders in Nigeria
This policy engagement exercise was funded by the PACE project, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through Population Reference Bureau (PRB). I shared the results of my PhD dissertation with several stakeholders and discussed ways to sustain efforts being made to improve sexual and reproductive health of young people in Nigeria.