Portia Nartey, MSW ’22, MSP ’22, a doctoral student in social work at the WashU Brown School, has been selected to receive the 2026 Public Health Social Work (PHSW) Student Award from the American Public Health Association (APHA).
The award recognizes outstanding student research in public health social work. Nartey’s award-winning abstract, titled “Poverty is the killer of dreams”: A socioecological qualitative exploration of the drivers of adolescent girls’ vulnerability in the eastern region of Ghana,” examines how poverty and interconnected social, family, educational and community conditions contribute to health vulnerabilities among adolescent girls in Ghana. The research draws on perspectives from adolescent girls, caregivers and community stakeholders.
Her research was supported by a Global Doctoral Pilot Research Grant from the Brown School’s Global Programs Office. The grant supported Nartey’s study of poverty and associated risk behaviors among adolescent girls in Ghana.