Email cmwong@nus.edu.sg

Christina Wong is a socio-behavioral scientist, specializing in qualitative research, and implementation science to address public health challenges affecting vulnerable populations. Her multidisciplinary projects span HIV prevention—including clinical trials and acceptability studies on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—reproductive and maternal health, child nutrition, and the adoption of innovative health technologies such as HIV self-testing, new contraceptive methods, and community health worker decision aids across Asia-Pacific and Africa. Prior to joining NUS, Dr. Wong spent over 17 years with an international non-governmental organization (NGO), collaborating with ministries of health, NGOs, and academic partners to scale up evidence-based interventions.

At NUS, Dr. Wong teaches a graduate-level course on women’s, children’s, and adolescent health, and leads research on community engagement in clinical trials and health equity. She is also involved in regional partnerships to improve access to safe drinking water and reduce waterborne diseases in Southeast Asia. Dr. Wong is also collaborating on research to understand how socio-economic disparities affect adherence to cancer treatment, with the aim of informing strategies to reduce inequities in cancer care. She is dedicated to mentoring future public health leaders and developing practical, context-sensitive solutions that advance health equity and improve health outcomes across diverse settings.

• NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health

• Qualitative research
• Implementation science
• HIV prevention, care and treatment
• Maternal, infant and young child nutrition
• Maternal and child health
• Reproductive health
• Cancer

• Health of women, children and adolescents
• Qualitative research

• PhD, Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007
• MPH, Yale University, 1996
• BA, International Relations, Mount Holyoke College, 1993

• Scientist, Behavioral, Epidemiological & Clinical Sciences, FHI 360 (2007-2024)
• Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (1997-1999)
• Lecturer, Institute of Health and Community Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (1996-1997)

• Wong CM, Munthali T, Mangunje FG, Katoka, ML, Burke HM, Musonda B, Musonda M, Todd CS (2024). Creating allies: qualitative exploration of young women’s preferences for PrEP methods and parents’ role in PrEP uptake and user support in urban and rural Zambia. BMC Women’s Health 24, 71 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-02913-7
• Callahan R, Cartwright AF, Lawton A, Wong C, Muchiri O, Matan S (2024). Assessing acceptability of biodegradable contraceptive implants in Kenya and Senegal. Global Health: Science and Practice 2024;12(4):e2300503. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-23-00503
• Iellamo A, Wong CM, Bilukha O, Smith JP, Ververs M, Gribble K, Walczak B, Wesolowska A, Samman SA, O’Brien M, Brown AN, Stillman T, Thomas, B (2024). “I could not find the strength to resist the pressure of the medical staff, to refuse to give commercial milk formula”: a qualitative study on effects of the war on Ukrainian women’s infant feeding. Frontiers in Nutrition 11:1225940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1225940
• Callahan RL, Burke HM, Lawton A, OlaOlorun FM, Mubiru F, Anyasi H, Wong CM, Bidashimwa D, Velarde M, Ruderman LW (2023). Service delivery considerations for introducing new injectable contraceptives lasting 4 and 6 months in Nigeria and Uganda: A qualitative study. Global Health: Science and Practice December 2023, 11(6):e2300214. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-23-00214
• Burke HM, Wamburi A, Rademacher KH, Wong CM,Were E, Hoppes E and Solomon M (2023). A field test of the NORMAL job aid with community health workers in Kenya to address contraceptive-induced menstrual changes. Global Health: Science and Practice February 2023, 11(1):e2200364. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00364
• Girault P, Wong CM, Jittjang S, Fongkaew K, Cassell MM, Lertpiriyasuwat C, et al. (2021) Uptake of oral fluid-based HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Thailand. PLoS ONE 16(8): e0256094. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256094
• Wong CS, Kumar PA, Wong CM, Choong CH, Lim O, Chan YY, Ibrahim MA, Chio MT, Tan RKJ, Chen MI. Acceptability of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and opinions on PrEP service delivery among men who have sex with men in Singapore: A qualitative study. AIDS Education and Prevention 2019; 31(2): 152-162. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2019.31.2.152
• Tan RKJ, Wong CM, Chen, MIC, Chan YY, Ibrahim MA, Lim OZ, Chio MTW, Wong CS, Chan RKW, Chua LJ, Choong BCH (2018). Chemsex among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Singapore and the challenges ahead: A qualitative study. International Journal of Drug Policy 61 (2018) 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.10.002
• Van Damme L, Corneli A, Ahmed K, Agot K, Lombaard J, Kapiga S, Malaheleha M, Owino F, Manongi R, Onyango J, Temu L, Monedi MC, Mak’Oketch P, Makanda M, Reblin I, Makatu SE, Saylor L, Kiernan H, Kirkendale S, Wong C, Grant R, Kashuba A, Nanda K, Mandala J, Fransen K, Deese J, Crucitti T, Mastro TD, Taylor D, on behalf of the FEM-PrEP study group. Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among African women. New England Journal of Medicine, 2012;367:411-22. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1202614