Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
I am an Associate Professor of Water, Health and Decisions at the Faculty ITC, University of Twente. My research focuses on water- and health-related infrastructure, knowledge and behaviour.
I consider water and health challenges, such as water-related infectious disease exposure and provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, from a broader nexus perspective. That includes, for example, implications of inequality, extreme weather events, education and cultural context. I am interested in local knowledge, perspectives and perceptions of water- and health-related challenges and in understanding how such local and contextualized knowledge can be used to inform public health planning, decision-making and interventions.
I conduct empirical mixed methods research from local to global level, across different sectors and with different stakeholders, and collaborate with international organizations, governments and research institutes globally. My regional focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa (esp. Kenya, Namibia), South Pacific (esp. Fiji, Solomon Islands) and Latin America (esp. Brazil, Peru).
Prior to joining ITC, I conducted postdoctoral studies at the Water Institute, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, leading research on water, sanitation, hygiene (SDG 6) and health monitoring in households, schools and healthcare facilities in the context of extreme weather events in Fiji, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, funded by UNICEF and in close collaboration with the governments of the three countries (2018-2020). I gained my PhD at the GeoHealth Centre at the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University of Bonn, where I investigated water-related health risks and disease exposures that wetland users, including farmers and nomadic pastoralists, in East Africa are facing, their risk perceptions and their health-related behaviours (2013-2017).
Throughout my career, I conducted consulting projects on water and health with the United Nations (UNICEF, WHO), and with adelphi, GIZ and others.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Mosquitoes, Malaria and Maladies among Men using Marshes. Is the Contraction of Diseases in Wetlands a Question of Use? Behaviours, Risk Assessments and Perceptions from the Ewaso Narok Swamp, Kenya, University of Bonn
Nov 2013 → Jun 2017
Award Date: 10 Oct 2017
Master, The Impact of Flooding on People Living with HIV and AIDS in the Ohangwena Region, Namibia, University of Bonn
Apr 2007 → Aug 2012
Award Date: 22 Aug 2012
External positions
Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Edinburgh, UK
Apr 2020 → Aug 2020
Postdoctoral Research Associate at UNC, Gillings School of Global Public Health
Mar 2018 → Jul 2020
Consultant at World Health Organization Nigeria, World Health Organization
Nov 2017 → Mar 2018
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Federal Environmental Agency, Germany
Oct 2017 → Dec 2017
Consultant at adelphi consult GmbH, Germany, Adelphi consult GmbH
Mar 2017 → Jul 2017
Associate Researcher at Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University of Bonn, Germany, University of Bonn
Nov 2013 → Jul 2017
Consultant at Working Group on Peace & Development, Germany, Working Group on Peace & Development
Mar 2013 → Jul 2013
Intern at Médecins Sans Frontières, Germany , Médecins Sans Frontières
Mar 2011 → Jun 2011
Intern at Mekong River Commission (MRC), and German Corporation for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Mekong River Commission (MRC), and German Corporation for Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
Jul 2010 → Nov 2010
Intern at Ministry of Health and Social Services of Namibia and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Eenhana, Namibia, Ministry of Health and Social Services of Namibia and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ)
Feb 2010 → May 2010
Research Assistant at United Nations University Department for Environment & Human Security, Germany, United Nations University Department for Environment & Human Security
Feb 2010 → May 2010
Research Assistant at Center for Development Research (ZEF), Germany, Center for Development Research
Sept 2009 → Aug 2013
Intern at Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), Germany, Federal Agency for Technical Relief
Feb 2008 → May 2008
Keywords
- G Geography (General)
- Medical geography
- Development research
- GeoHealth
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 2 Active
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Piloting a co-design approach for climate-sensitive blue and green spaces with vulnerable urban populations
Anthonj, C. (PI), Martínez, J. (CoI) & van Rompay, T. J. L. (CoI)
1/05/24 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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A systematic review of water, sanitation and hygiene among Roma communities in Europe: Situation analysis, cultural context, and obstacles to improvement
Anthonj, C., Setty, K., Ezbakhe, F., Manga, M. & Höser, C., 1 Apr 2020, In: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 226, 15 p., 113506.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
62 Citations (Scopus)76 Downloads (Pure) -
Geographical inequalities in drinking water in the Solomon Islands
Anthonj, C., Tracy, W., Fleming, L., Shields, K. F., Tikoisuva, W. M., Kelly, E. R., Thakkar, M. B., Cronk, R., Overmars, M. & Bartram, J., 10 Apr 2020, In: Science of the total environment. 712, p. 1-14 14 p., 135241.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile24 Citations (Scopus)243 Downloads (Pure) -
Health risk perceptions and local knowledge of water-related infectious disease exposure among Kenyan wetland communities
Anthonj, C., Diekkrüger, B., Borgemeister, C. & Kistemann, T., Jan 2019, In: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 222, 1, p. 34-48 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
50 Citations (Scopus) -
Impact of flooding on the social and mental health of older adults- A scoping review
Song, C., Atun, F., Blanford, J. & Anthonj, C., 1 Apr 2025, (E-pub ahead of print/First online) In: Water Security. 12 p., 100190.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile28 Downloads (Pure) -
Perception of the 2021 floods and their mental health, and social well-being among older adults in the Ahr Valley, Germany
Song, C., Atun, F., Blanford, J. I. & Anthonj, C., 24 Apr 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › Academic
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
- 20 Oral presentation
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Co-Design Approach for Climate-Sensitive Green and Blue Spaces with Disadvantaged Urban Populations
Janeka, P. (Speaker), Sawungrana, A. R. (Contributor), Schrammeijer, B. (Contributor), Martínez, J. (Contributor), Cerrone, D. (Contributor), van Rompay, T. J. L. (Contributor) & Anthonj, C. (Speaker)
2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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The effect of water (in)security on human well-being and productivity growth in urban populations of Nairobi, Kenya
Föllmer, J. (Speaker), Musyoka , D. (Contributor), Kabaria , C. (Contributor), Martínez, J. (Contributor), Bockarjova, M. (Contributor) & Anthonj, C. (Contributor)
28 Feb 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Co-design approach for climate-sensitive blue and green spaces with disadvantaged urban populations
Anthonj, C. (Speaker), Schrammeijer, B. (Contributor), Janeka, P. (Contributor), Sawungrana, A. R. (Contributor), Cerrone, D. (Contributor), van Rompay, T. J. L. (Contributor) & Martínez, J. (Contributor)
2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Water, Health and Decisions
Anthonj, C. (Speaker)
21 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Capturing and addressing challenges of health promotion among marginalized groups
Anthonj, C. (Speaker), Flacke, J. (Contributor), Stanglow, S. (Contributor), Leinen, A. (Contributor) & Grunwald, N. (Contributor)
Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Press/Media
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Water Institute uses data to strengthen WaSH systems in Pacific Island countries
11/12/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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UT researchers work with Enschede locals to design changes to the city
21/01/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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The role of water- and health-related local community knowledge and perceptions in decision-making
5/12/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Why schools should have WASH – and teach it too
Anthonj, C. & Poague, K. I. H. M.
22/11/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Water and health insecurity among urban homeless communities
30/08/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research