Addis Ababa University

Fentie Ambaw is a Mental Health Epidemiologist and full time lecturer at the School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree (hon) in Nursing from Jimma University, a Masters in Counselling Psychology degree and a Doctoral in Mental Health Epidemiology degree, both attained with Addis Ababa University.  Fentie is currently a post-doctoral fellow at Addis Ababa University funded by the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI).

Fentie's main research interests are in the areas of comorbidity of mental and chronic physical illnesses, intervention development for comorbid depression and health systems research with focus on ways of strengthening mental health services. His previous research experiences include analysing the impact of comorbid depression on the treatment outcomes, quality of life and functioning of people with tuberculosis in a longitudinal study. As a Lecturer Fentie teaches qualitative and mixed design methodologies to graduate students of public health.

Fentie's Post-doctoral research project focuses on exploring why the diagnosis of comorbid depression is missed by health professionals providing tuberculosis care, to determine the effectiveness of group Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and to explore the acceptability and feasibility of IPT in primary care settings. The   findings of this study are expected to be used by non-mental health specialist TB care providers to detect and treat people with depressive symptoms.

Supervisors:

Prof Atalay Alem, Addis Ababa University

Dr Charlotte Hanlon, Addis Ababa University and King's College London.