William Rudgard

William Rudgard

Senior Postdoctoral Researcher

Posts by Collection

portfolio

Quantifying child climate risk and resilience across Africa

I have been leading the integration of nationally representative child development data (MICS & DHS), with gridded population counts (WorldPop), and satellite-based climate observations (Google Earth Engine) to generate subnational estimates of the number of children exposed to floods, droughts, and heatwaves, as well as those who simultaneously lack access to improved water and sanitation, are undernourished, and unvaccinated.

Modelling the short- and long-term impacts of adolescent social interventions across Africa

I have been leading research to simulate the impacts, economic returns, and cost-effectiveness of scaling up evidence-based social interventions for adolescent wellbeing in collaboration with Governments in Kenya and Nigeria supported by the Gates Foundation and Wellspring Foundation.

In Kenya, This research has supported the design of a new adolescent cash ‘plus’ programme to be integrated within the national safety net system, Inua Jamii.

In Nigeria, this research is linked to informing the state-level adoption of an evidence-based economic support ‘plus’ safe spaces intervention for adolescent girls across the North of the country, focused on delaying child marriage and reducing its associated health consequences, including intimate partner violence and adolescent pregnancy.

Portfolio Image

publications

The Utility of Blood Culture Fluid for the Molecular Diagnosis of Leptospira: A Prospective Evaluation

Published in American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2016

Recommended citation: Dittrich S, Rudgard WE, Woods KL, Silisouk J, Phuklia W, Davong V, Vongsouvath M, Phommasone K, Rattanavong S, Knappik M, Craig SB, Weier SL, Tulsiani SM, Dance DAB, Newton PN (2016) The Utility of Blood Culture Fluid for the Molecular Diagnosis of Leptospira: A Prospective Evaluation. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Download Paper

Comparison of two cash transfer strategies to prevent catastrophic costs for poor tuberculosis-affected households in low- and middle-income countries: An economic modelling study

Published in PLoS Medicine, 2017

Recommended citation: Rudgard WE, Evans CA, Sweeney S, Wingfield T, Lönnroth K, Barreira D, Boccia D (2017) Comparison of two cash transfer strategies to prevent catastrophic costs for poor tuberculosis-affected households in low- and middle-income countries: An economic modelling study. PLoS Medicine.
Download Paper

Uptake of governmental social protection and financial hardship during drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Published in European Respiratory Journal, 2018

Recommended citation: Rudgard WE, Chagas NS, Gayoso R, Barreto ML, Boccia D, Smeeth L, Rodrigues LC, Lönnroth K, Williamson E, Maciel ELN (2018) Uptake of governmental social protection and financial hardship during drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. European Respiratory Journal.
Download Paper

Accelerating progress towards improved mental health and healthy behaviours in adolescents living in adversity: findings from a longitudinal study in South Africa

Published in Psychology, Health & Medicine, 2022

Recommended citation: Du Toit S, Haag K, Skeen S, Sherr L, Orkin M, Rudgard WE, Marlow M, Mehbratu H, Roberts KS, Tomlinson M (2022) Accelerating progress towards improved mental health and healthy behaviours in adolescents living in adversity: findings from a longitudinal study in South Africa. Psychology, Health & Medicine.
Download Paper

Can a combination of interventions accelerate outcomes to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals for young children? Evidence from a longitudinal study in South Africa and Malawi

Published in Child: Care, Health and Development, 2022

Recommended citation: Mebrahtu H, Skeen S, Rudgard WE, Du Toit S, Haag K, Roberts KJ, Gordon SL, Orkin M, Cluver L, Tomlinson M, Sherr L (2022) Can a combination of interventions accelerate outcomes to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals for young children? Evidence from a longitudinal study in South Africa and Malawi. Child: Care, Health and Development.
Download Paper

Multiple Impacts of Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programme on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing: a Quasi-Experimental Study 2002-2013

Published in Journal of Adolescent Health, 2022

Recommended citation: Rudgard WE, Dzumbunu SP, Yates R, Toska E, Stockl H, Hertzog L, Emaway D, Cluver LD (2022) Multiple Impacts of Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programme on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing: a Quasi-Experimental Study 2002-2013. Journal of Adolescent Health 2(71): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.04.010
Download Paper

Understanding accelerators to improve SDG-related outcomes for adolescents—An investigation into the nature and quantum of additive effects of protective factors to guide policy making

Published in PLOS ONE, 2023

Recommended citation: Sherr L, Haag K, Tomlinson M, Rudgard WE, Skeen S, Meink F, Du Toit SM, Steventon Roberts KJ, Gordon SL, Desmond C, Cluver L (2023) Understanding accelerators to improve SDG-related outcomes for adolescents—An investigation into the nature and quantum of additive effects of protective factors to guide policy making. PLOS ONE.
Download Paper

Protective factors for adolescent sexual risk behaviours and experiences linked to HIV infection in South Africa: a three-wave longitudinal analysis of caregiving, education, food security, and social protection

Published in BMC Public Health, 2023

Recommended citation: Rudgard WE, Saminathen MG, Orkin M, Banougnin BH, Toska E (2023) Protective factors for adolescent sexual risk behaviours and experiences linked to HIV infection in South Africa: a three-wave longitudinal analysis of caregiving, education, food security, and social protection. BMC Public Health 23(1452): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16373-5
Download Paper

Assessing the cost-effectiveness of economic strengthening and parenting support for preventing violence against adolescents in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: An economic modelling study using non-randomised data

Published in PLOS Global Public Health, 2023

Recommended citation: Rudgard WE, Obiesie S, Desmond C, Casale M, Cluver L (2023) Assessing the cost-effectiveness of economic strengthening and parenting support for preventing violence against adolescents in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: An economic modelling study using non-randomised data. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(8): e0001666
Download Paper

Identifying potential catalysts to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among adolescents living in Nigeria

Published in Psychology, Health & Medicine, 2024

Recommended citation: Tamambang R, Kusi-Mensah K, Bella-Awusah T, Ogunmola O, Afolayan A, Toska E, Hertzog L, Rudgard WE, Evans R, Omigbodun O (2024) Identifying potential catalysts to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among adolescents living in Nigeria. Psychology, Health & Medicine.
Download Paper

Social protection as a strategy for HIV prevention, education promotion and child marriage reduction among adolescents: a cross-sectional population-based study in Lesotho

Published in BMC Public Health, 2024

Recommended citation: Hertzog L, Cluver L, Banougnin BH, Saminathen MG, Little MT, Mchenga M, Yates R, Rudgard WE, Chiang L, Annor FB, Picchetti V, Masetti G, Foraci M, Sanaha R, Toska E (2024) Social protection as a strategy for HIV prevention, education promotion and child marriage reduction among adolescents: a cross-sectional population-based study in Lesotho. BMC Public Health.
Download Paper

Healthcare provisions associated with multiple HIV-related outcomes among adolescent girls and young women living with HIV in South Africa: a cross-sectional study

Published in Journal of the International AIDS Society, 2024

Recommended citation: Toska E, Zhou S, Laurenzi CA, Saal W, Rudgard WE, Wittesaele C, Langwenya N, Jochim J, Banougnin BH, Gulaid L, Armstrong A, Sherman G, Edun O, Sherr L, Cluver L (2024) Healthcare provisions associated with multiple HIV-related outcomes among adolescent girls and young women living with HIV in South Africa: a cross-sectional study. Journal of the International AIDS Society.
Download Paper

Accelerators to reduce violence, HIV risk, and early pregnancy among adolescents and young people in Namibia: A cross-sectional analysis of the Violence Against Children & Youth Survey

Published in PLOS Global Public Health, 2025

Recommended citation: Little MT, Hertzog L, Rudgard WE, Toska E, Banougnin B, Yates R, Chipanta D, Annor FB, Chiang L, Cluver L (2025) Accelerators to reduce violence, HIV risk, and early pregnancy among adolescents and young people in Namibia: A cross-sectional analysis of the Violence Against Children & Youth Survey. PLOS Global Public Health.
Download Paper

talks

teaching

Validity and Bias

MSc in Evidence Based Social Interventions and Social Policy Evaluation, University of Oxford, 2022–2025

Structural Interventions

MSc in Evidence Based Social Interventions and Social Policy Evaluation, University of Oxford, 2021–2025