Research
Research Philosophy
Translating evidence into sustainable improvements
Prof. Peter Waiswa’s research is grounded in implementation science and health systems strengthening, with a focus on translating evidence into sustainable improvements in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). His work bridges global scientific standards with local realities, ensuring that policy reform and program design are informed by rigorous data and grounded in community needs.
Across clinical, community, and national systems levels, his research seeks to answer a central question: how can health systems deliver quality care equitably, consistently, and at scale?
Core Research Pillars
Health Systems Strengthening
Prof. Waiswa’s work addresses structural barriers that limit effective service delivery in low- and middle-income countries. His research examines governance, accountability mechanisms, health workforce performance, data systems, and financing structures to improve system-wide responsiveness and resilience.
Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH)
A central focus of his scholarship is reducing preventable maternal and neonatal mortality. His work has contributed to improved quality of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, particularly in high-burden settings.
He has played a leading role in research on stillbirths, preterm birth management, and neonatal survival — including contributions to landmark global analyses and the Lancet Series on Stillbirths.
Implementation Science
Prof. Waiswa designs and tests scalable strategies to translate global evidence into national and sub-national programs. Using cluster-randomized trials, quality improvement frameworks, and mixed-method evaluations, he evaluates practical models for strengthening frontline care delivery.
His implementation research focuses particularly on neonatal care in community and primary healthcare settings, ensuring that interventions are both evidence-based and contextually feasible.
Quality of Care & Facility-Level Improvement
Through large-scale initiatives and partnerships, Prof. Waiswa has advanced quality improvement models for maternal and newborn care facilities. His work integrates mentorship, training, standardization of care protocols, and data-driven feedback systems to improve clinical outcomes.
These approaches have informed district health programming and contributed to national guideline revisions.
Global Policy & Norms Development
Beyond primary research, Prof. Waiswa contributes to shaping global health norms and accountability frameworks. His work informs international guidelines, strategic advisory recommendations, and progress monitoring mechanisms aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
He collaborates with multilateral agencies and academic institutions to ensure that evidence influences policy at global, regional, and national levels.
Rsearch Focus Areas
Prof. Peter Waiswa’s research focuses on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health, Nutrition (RHMNCH/A/N), digital health, artificial intelligence in health, health systems innovation, implementation science, quality improvement, capacity strengthening, and policy engagement, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.
Prof. Peter Waiswa serves on multiple national and international advisory platforms that shape health policy and implementation. He is a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts (STAGE) for Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition. He also contributes to WHO–UNICEF technical advisory groups, guideline development processes, and global commissions.
Research Funding & Collaborations
Prof. Waiswa has secured over $20 million in competitive international research funding over the past decade. Funding partners include:
Prof. Peter Waiswa alongside global health partners during the Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi) program, a collaborative effort advancing evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for preterm newborns.
He collaborates with leading global institutions including Johns Hopkins University, the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Belgium), Aga Khan University, and multiple African research centers.
Key Funded Projects
Research Impact
Prof. Waiswa’s research has informed national and global policies aimed at improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. His work has contributed to WHO guidelines, global monitoring initiatives such as Countdown to 2030, and national health system reforms in Uganda and other low- and middle-income countries. Through implementation research and policy engagement, his work supports the translation of evidence into scalable health system improvements.
Publications & Scholarly Impact
Prof. Waiswa has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals. His work has generated more than 16,600 citations globally, with an h-index of 56, reflecting sustained scholarly influence in maternal and newborn health systems research.
His research continues to shape the global evidence base for improving health systems and advancing equitable care for women and newborns.
Collaboration Opportunities
Prof. Waiswa collaborates with academic institutions, governments, and international organizations on research and policy initiatives focused on strengthening health systems and improving maternal and newborn outcomes. He welcomes partnerships that translate evidence into scalable solutions for global health challenges.