Niels Bal

My research regards the study of syndemics. The theory of syndemics describes two or more co-occurring diseases or health-related outcomes that interact together, resulting in a greater disease burden. Moreover, these disease interactions are found in different frequencies and vary in magnitude between specific populations. The objective of my line of research is to unravel the structural factors that contribute to the HIV Tuberculosis and HIV non-communicable disease syndemics in Sub-Saharan Africa..

In this position I was responsible for teaching, coordinating and developing introductory level bachelor courses in epidemiology and biostatistics.

I initially designed a study on nutrition-sensitive agriculture in rural Nong District, Lao PDR, focusing on intermediate outcomes and short-term impact related to nutritional status of school children. When COVID-19 disrupted fieldwork, I adapted the study outline to analyse UNICEF population surveys on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) trends. My analysis, published in Public Health Nutrition, revealed that region of residence was strongly associated with EBF and that this relationship changed over time. Over the study period, the mountainous northern region consistently showed the highest EBF rates, while the southern region made significant progress, ultimately surpassing the central region. By comparing prevalence maps with Laos’ geography, we demonstrated that mountainous areas—predominantly in Northern Lao PDR—had higher EBF rates, suggesting the influence of cultural or environmental factors. I presented these findings to the Laotian Ministry of Health, providing evidence to support targeted interventions. This experience deepened my expertise in adaptive research, complex survey analysis, and translating complex findings for policy audiences—foundations for my current work in syndemics and health equity. .