Ms Ernestina Nyaaba

Tina is currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Newcastle. Her research focuses on exploring the "shadow pandemic"; gender-based violence (GBV) and its potential impact on higher education. Having observed the alarming rise in GBV and its adverse effects on victims’ wellbeing, her doctoral study seeks to investigate the relationship between GBV and access to, as well as participation in higher education.

A particularly troubling aspect of the issue is that many victims of GBV do not recognize the abuse they endure, often interpreting such behavior as expressions of love and affection. While existing studies in Ghana have highlighted the emotional, psychological, physical, social, and economic impacts of GBV, few have drawn a direct connection between GBV and higher education, unlike research in Australia and other parts of the world. Tina’s research aims to bridge this gap by raising awareness of how GBV affects educational attainment. Her findings could potentially influence institutional policies, guide the programming of NGOs, and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 5 (Gender Equality).

For her previous studies, Tina hold a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Philosophy in Population and Health from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Her undergraduate dissertation and Master’s thesis focused on transactional sexual practices and sexual violence, respectively, among young women in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region of Ghana. During her national service in Ghana, she worked as a teaching assistant.

In terms of research experience, Tina has served as a field data collector on several projects, notably a 2019 study on comprehensive sexuality education and a prospective study on empowering adolescent girls in sexual and reproductive health in Ghana. She has also worked as a supervisor for monitoring and evaluation exercises on the administration of the polio vaccine in Ghana on two separate occasions.

During the 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census, she served as both a Regional Trainer and a Field Supervisor. Additionally, Tina worked with the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) as a Learner Facilitator. She also manages a non-governmental organization, the Female Empowerment Initiative; which supports young women in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, including menstrual hygiene education, the distribution of sanitary pads, and campaigns against gender-based violence (GBV). The organization also provides vocational skills training as a means of livelihood and supports girls to stay in school through payment of fees and other forms of assistance.