University of Zimbabwe/ Stellenbosh University  

Michelle Farirai Dube is a Consultant Psychiatrist who holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree and a Masters degree in Medicine (Psychiatry) from the University of Zimbabwe. She is currently a doctoral fellow at the Stellenbosch University funded by the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI).

Michelle’s main area of interest is community psychiatry. She was a community psychiatry fellow in the IMHERZ programme during her Masters training and recently she was involved in a programme to improve integration of mental health care into primary care clinics. Michelle has also been involved in training of primary nurses to provide mental health services using the MH-Gap intevention guide.

Her doctoral research is focusing on alcohol and drug use among school going adolescents. She intends to determine the psychometric properties of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test for school-going adolescents (aged 13 – 19 years). This research will also explore the experiences and perceptions of key stakeholders on adolescent drug use. The data from these studies will form the preliminary work for future AOD use interventions for adolescents in Zimbabwe.

Michelle has co-authored articles in the field of medical education and HIV and alcohol use. Her published articles include:

1.       Simulation-based learning in psychiatry for undergraduates at the University of Zimbabwe medical school.” BMC Medical Education, 15, 23. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-015-0291-8

2.       A cluster randomised controlled trial protocol of an adapted intervention for alcohol use disorders in people living with HIV and AIDS: impact on alcohol use, general functional ability, quality of life and adherence to HAART”. BMC Psychiatry, 17, 44. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1208-3.

Supervisors:

Prof Ashraf Kagee

Co-Supervisor: Prof Katherine Sorsdahl

Co-Supervisor: Prof Dickson Chibanda