Career Summary
Biography
Dr Ama Gyamfua Ampofo is a Senior Research Officer and Academic in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Newcastle. She is a public health and behavioural science researcher whose work focuses on improving preventive health care, health behaviour change, and health outcomes among priority populations.
Dr Ampofo's research spans implementation science, mental health, chronic disease prevention, cancer prevention, and health promotion. She has particular expertise in developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions that improve access to preventive care and support healthy lifestyle behaviours. Her current research includes strengthening the capacity of community-managed organisations to provide preventive care for people living with mental health conditions and supporting engagement with health behaviour change services.
Prior to joining academia, Dr Ampofo worked as a registered nurse in both Australia and Ghana, providing care across hospital and aged care settings. This clinical experience informs her research and commitment to translating evidence into practice.
Dr Ampofo completed her PhD in Public Health and Behavioural Science at the University of Newcastle and holds a Master of Clinical Nursing from King's College London. She has secured competitive research funding as Chief Investigator and has published extensively in the areas of cervical cancer prevention, HPV vaccination, health education, implementation science, and preventive health care.
Her research aims to reduce health inequities and improve population health through evidence-based interventions, implementation strategies, and community-engaged research.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy Public Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Science (Nursing) (Honours), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
- Master of Science (Clinical Nursing for International Stud), Kings College - London
Keywords
- Behavioural Science
- Cervical Cancer Prevention
- Chronic Disease Prevention
- HPV Vaccination
- Implementation Science
- Mental Health
- Preventive Health Care
- Public Health,
Languages
- Akan (Mother)
- English (Fluent)
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 520304 | Health psychology | 50 |
| 420605 | Preventative health care | 25 |
| 420312 | Implementation science and evaluation | 25 |
Professional Experience
Academic appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 6/11/2023 - | Senior Research Officer | School of Psychological Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle Australia |
| 1/2/2020 - | Research assistant | College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle Australia |
| 1/2/2017 - 31/5/2019 | Lecturer | Garden City University College Ghana |
| 1/1/2014 - 31/12/2017 | Tutor | Premier Nurse's Training College Ghana |
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/11/2017 - 31/5/2019 | Registered Nurse | Asonomaso Government Hospital Ghana |
Teaching
| Code | Course | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical nursing |
Surgical nursing Garden City University College |
Lecturer | 1/2/2017 - 30/5/2019 |
| MEDI12101 |
YEAR 2 MD College Health, Medicine and Wellbeing - The University of Newcastle (Australia) |
CASUAL TUTOR | 4/5/2020 - 3/11/2023 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Conference (5 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
Ampofo AG, Boyes A, Asibey SO, Mackenzie L, 'Prevalence of cervical cancer behavioural risk factors among female senior high school students in the Ashanti region of Ghana: Preliminary study', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, 17, 17-17 (2021)
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| 2021 |
Khumalo PG, Carey M, Mackenzie L, Ampofo AG, Sanson-Fisher R, 'Progress and gaps in cervical cancer screening research in sub-Saharan Africa: a bibliometric analysis of publications between 2001 and 2020', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, 17, 20-20 (2021)
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| 2021 |
Ampofo AG, Boyes A, Asibey S, Mackenzie L, 'Cervical cancer information preferences among female senior high school students in the Ashanti Region of Ghana: Preliminary study', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, 17, 20-21 (2021)
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| 2019 | Ampofo AG, Gyamfuaah SA, Opoku SN, Owusu SO, Ibitoye AB, 'A Pilot Study of a Video-Based Educational Intervention and Cervical Cancer Awareness amongst Senior High School Students in Ghana - A Before After Study', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, 15, 25-25 (2019) | ||||
| Show 2 more conferences | |||||
Journal article (17 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
Cameron E, Mansfield E, Ampofo A, Coda A, Boyes A, 'Internet Access and Use Among Dementia Carers and the People They Support in Australia: Cross-Sectional Survey', Jmir Formative Research, 9 (2025) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2024 |
Ampofo AG, Mackenzie LJ, Asibey SO, Oldmeadow C, Boyes AW, 'Prevalence and Correlates of Cervical Cancer Prevention Knowledge Among High School Students in Ghana', HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR, 51, 185-196 (2024) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Boateng EB, Ampofo AG, 'A glimpse into the future: modelling global prevalence of hypertension', BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 23 (2023) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Ampofo AG, Boyes AW, Asibey SO, Oldmeadow C, Mackenzie LJ, 'Prevalence and correlates of modifiable risk factors for cervical cancer and HPV infection among senior high school students in Ghana: a latent class analysis', BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 23 (2023) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Ampofo AG, Boyes AW, Mackenzie LJ, 'Preference For Cervical Cancer Education: A Multisite Cross-Sectional Survey of Female Senior High School Students in Ghana', JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION, 38, 1710-1718 (2023) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Waller A, Ampofo A, Bryant J, Sanson-Fisher RW, 'Child rearing and parenting programs among First Nations' populations in high-income countries: a bibliometric review', AUSTRALIAN HEALTH REVIEW, 47, 26-57 (2023) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Ampofo AG, Boyes AW, Khumalo PG, Mackenzie L, 'Improving knowledge, attitudes, and uptake of cervical cancer prevention among female students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of school-based health education', GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY, 164, 675-690 (2022) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Ampofo AG, Mackenzie L, Boyes AW, 'HPV vaccination: Intention to participate among female senior high school students in Ghana', VACCINE, 41, 159-169 (2022) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Ibitoye BM, Suleiman EK, Ampofo AG, 'The awareness and practice of testicular self-examination among male undergraduates in Nigeria: a descriptive cross-sectional study', BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION, 22 (2022) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Khumalo PG, Carey M, Mackenzie L, Ampofo AG, Sanson-Fisher R, 'Trends in cervical cancer screening research in sub-Saharan Africa: A bibliometric analysis of publications from 2001 to 2020', JOURNAL OF CANCER POLICY, 34 (2022) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2021 |
Diby T, Khumalo PG, Anokyewaa-Amponsah G, Mustapha R, Ampofo AG, 'Knowledge about epilepsy and factors associated with attitudes toward marrying, employing, and driving people with epilepsy: A cross-sectional survey of Asokore Mampong community dwellers in Ghana', EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR, 115 (2021) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2020 |
Ampofo AG, Gyamfuaah SA, Opoku NS, Owusu SO, Ibitoye MB, 'A pilot study of a video-based educational intervention and knowledge of cervical cancer among senior high school students in Ghana: A before-after study', Journal of Cancer Policy, 24 (2020) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2020 |
Ampofo AG, Adumatta AD, Owusu E, Awuviry-Newton K, 'A cross-sectional study of barriers to cervical cancer screening uptake in Ghana: An application of the health belief model', PLOS ONE, 15 (2020) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2020 |
Ampofo AG, Khan E, Ibitoye MB, 'Understanding the role of educational interventions on medication adherence in hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis', HEART & LUNG, 49, 537-547 [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2020 |
Ampofo AG, Boateng EB, 'Beyond 2020: Modelling obesity and diabetes prevalence', Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 167 (2020) [C1]
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Open Research Newcastle | |||||||||
| 2019 |
Gyamfua AA, Ehsan K, Ibitoye BM, 'Is galectin 3 more accurate than brain natriuretic peptide in diagnosing chronic heart failure? A systematic review', Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research, 10, 81-86 (2019)
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| 2019 |
Gyamfua AA, Nkrumah I, Ibitoye BM, Agyemang BA, Ofosu ES, Tsoka-Gwegweni JM, Cumber SN, 'The level of knowledge and associated socio-demographic factors on cervical cancer among women: a cross-sectional study at Kenyase Bosore community, Ghana', PAN AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL, 34 (2019) [C1]
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| Show 14 more journal articles | |||||||||||
Preprint (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
Freund M, Ampofo A, Szwec S, Haber PS, Dunlop AJ, Bryant J, 'From attitudes to action: Factors influencing implementation of evidence-based practice in Australian community and outpatient substance use treatment setting' (2026)
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Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 4 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $38,027 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20222 grants / $24,385
Improving cervical cancer prevention among students in Ghana and India: Developing a school-based nurse-led educational (SHiNE) toolkit intervention$22,276
Funding body: Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI)
| Funding body | Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Lisa Mackenzie, Allison Boyes, Mahati Chittem |
| Scheme | HMRI Equity Health and Wellbeing research seeding grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2023 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | C3300 – Aust Philanthropy |
| Category | 3300 |
| UON | N |
Capability Building Grants$2,109
Funding body: The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
| Funding body | The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Lisa Mackenzie, Allison Boyes |
| Scheme | Seeding Grants Program |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
20212 grants / $13,642
Understanding cervical cancer knowledge, perceptions and attitudes among females senior high school students in Ghana$13,142
Funding body: 2021 College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing Strategic Research Pilot Grant
| Funding body | 2021 College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing Strategic Research Pilot Grant |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Lisa Mackenzie, Allison Boyes |
| Scheme | 2021 College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing Strategic Research Pilot Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
Improving knowledge of cervical cancer, attitudes, and uptake of cervical cancer prevention services among female students. A systematic review and meta-analysis of school-based health education.$500
Funding body: Priority Research Centre for Health Beharviour (PRCHB)
| Funding body | Priority Research Centre for Health Beharviour (PRCHB) |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Lisa Mackenzie, Allison Boyes |
| Scheme | PRCHB Project Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2021 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
Dr Ama Ampofo
Position
Senior Research Officer
Health Behavior Research Collaborative
School of Science
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
| ama.ampofo@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Mobile | 0426491989 |