Affiliate Associate Professor, Global Health
Dr. John Kinuthia, MBChB, MMed, MPH, is an Obstetrician Gynecologist and Head of Research and Programs at Kenyatta National Hospital and honorary lecturer, at the University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has been conducting HIV research focusing on PMTCT since 2004 when he took a position as the study physician for a randomized clinical trial that was evaluating viral and immune responses in mother-infant pairs who received either short course zidovudine or maternal HAART. Later in 2006, he was a co-Investigator for a study to determine contraceptive use among HIV-infected women attending comprehensive care centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. He has gained invaluable experience in the conduct of randomized trials in his position as study physician and later as deputy study coordinator of the Nairobi site for the multisite randomized clinical trial evaluating the role of acyclovir to prevent HIV transmission from individuals co-infected with HIV and herpes simplex type 2. In 2007, he enrolled in the MPH program at University of Washington and conducted a study to evaluate barriers (personal, social and institutional) to access and utilization of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV interventions. The study enrolled 2,700 mothers with infants for weekly immunization at six maternal and child health clinics in Nairobi and Western Kenya. In 2010, he was one of the regional directors for the study evaluating the impact of national PMTCT program in Kenya. The study enrolled 13,344 mothers from 304 facilities. Currently, he is the site Principal Investigator for a cohort study that will follow 2,000 women from pregnancy to 9 months postpartum to evaluate factors contributing to HIV acquisition during and after pregnancy. In addition, he is coordinating trainings in implementation science for the Partnership for Innovative Medical Education (Prime K) linked award that is focusing on strengthening maternal, newborn, and child health. He has also been very involved in mentoring and other training activities since 2009 when he was appointed the KNH Site Director for the International AIDS Research and Training Program’s activities in Kenya, including the FIC Research Scholars and Fellows Programs.
Publications
- Hardenbergh, L, Seth, A, Richardson, BA, Farid, S, Udren, JI, Rothschild, CW et al.. Alignment of contraceptive method attribute preferences and use among Kenyan women living with HIV. medRxiv. 2025; :. doi: 10.1101/2025.08.21.25334189. PubMed PMID:40909816 PubMed Central PMC12407609.
- Mohan Kumar, SGK, Kinuthia, JM, Oti, J, Adeleke, BO. Geopolymer Chemistry and Composition: A Comprehensive Review of Synthesis, Reaction Mechanisms, and Material Properties-Oriented with Sustainable Construction. Materials (Basel). 2025;18 (16):. doi: 10.3390/ma18163823. PubMed PMID:40870141 PubMed Central PMC12387169.
- Concepcion, T, Kinuthia, J, Abuna, F, Akim, E, Aketch, H, Gómez, L et al.. Postpartum women's prospective acceptability of long-acting HIV prevention approaches in Kenya: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2025;25 (1):1109. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-13286-4. PubMed PMID:40835934 PubMed Central PMC12366025.
- Diwan, NM, Mbithe, B, Kinuthia, J, Cagle, TJ, Kibaara, C, Adly, AN et al.. Rising maternal obesity and persistent suboptimal gestational weight gain among women living with HIV in Kenya: A retrospective cohort study 2008-2017. Ann Epidemiol. 2025;110 :81-88. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2025.08.001. PubMed PMID:40780399 .
- Peng, J, Wetzler, E, Wandika, B, Kithao, P, Moraa, J, Udren, JI et al.. Associations between text communication engagement and maternal-neonatal outcomes in the Mobile WACh NEO Trial. PLOS Digit Health. 2025;4 (8):e0000968. doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000968. PubMed PMID:40773418 PubMed Central PMC12331090.