Asif Khowaja, PhD.

Assistant Professor

Asif Kowaja

STH 304

Extension: x3868

akhowaja@brocku.ca

Google Scholar

My work focuses on the application of health economics modelling and mixed-methods research to inform policy decisions about resource allocation in healthcare. Specific areas I have researched include the economic impact of quality improvement initiatives in acute care facilities and long-term care homes, the cost-effectiveness of community-based interventions for maternal and newborn health, cost-efficacy of newborn screening, vaccine effectiveness, and patient-oriented research for measuring societal costs. I completed a Postdoc and a PhD at the University of British Columbia in Health Economics and Reproductive Health.  

Research Interests

  • Health technology assessment and cost-effectiveness modelling  
  • Health system’s response to pandemics and societal impacts 
  • Quality improvement in health care  
  • Maternal and newborn health  

Professional affiliations and accreditation/certification

  • Canadian Health Economics Association  
  • Health Technology Assessment International  

Publications

Khowaja, A., Krause, C., Kennedy, C., Ridout, R., Mitton, C. (2020). Cost-effectiveness of a provincial quality Improvement initiative for reducing inappropriate antipsychotic use in long-term care [Manuscript submitted for publication]. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia.  

Khowaja, A., Willms, A., Krause, C., Carriere, S., Ridout, R., Kennedy, C.,… & Sweet, D. (2020). A return on investment of British Columbia Sepsis Network [Manuscript submitted for publication]. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia.   

Khowaja, A., Krause, C., Kennedy, C., Ridout, B., & Mitton, C. (2020). Economic evaluation of quality improvement interventions targeting elderly population in long-term care: A scoping review. BMC Geriatrics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-79312/v1  

Bone, J. N., Khowaja, A., Vidler, M., Payne, B. A., Bellad, MB., Goudar, S. S., … & Frederix, G. (2020). Economic analysis of the CLIP Trials in India, Pakistan and Mozambique. Journal of Implementation Science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-60194/v2  

Fatima, T., Rais, A., Khan, E., Hills, S. L., Chambers, T. V., Hotwani, A., … & Khowaja, A. (2020). Investigation of Japanese encephalitis virus as a cause of acute encephalitis in southern Pakistan, April 2015–January 2018. Plos one, 15(6), e0234584. 

 Fox, D. A., Ronsley, R., Khowaja, A., Haim, A., Vallance, H., Sinclair, G., & Amed, S. (2020). Clinical impact and cost efficacy of newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The Journal of Pediatrics.   

Shaw, G., Smith, N., Khowaja, A., Mitton, C., Denis, J. L., & Lovato, C. (2019). Strategies to increase physician engagement in acute care settings: a scoping review. Journal of Health Organization and Management.  

Nemetchek, B., Khowaja, A., Kavuma, A., Kabajaasi, O., Owilli, A. O., Ansermino, J. M., … & Wiens, M. O. (2019). Exploring healthcare providers’ perspectives of the paediatric discharge process in Uganda: a qualitative exploratory study. BMJ open, 9(9), e029526.  

Khowaja, A., Mitton, C., Qureshi, R., Bryan, S., Magee, L. A., von Dadelszen, P., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2018). A comparison of maternal and newborn health services costs in Sindh Pakistan. PloS one, 13(12), e0208299.  

Humayun, K. N., Qamar, F. N., Saeed, S., Memon, F., & Khowaja, A. (2018). Process evaluation of introducing online faculty evaluation by residents at a tertiary care hospital in pakistan. J Postgrad Med Edu Res, 52(1), 16-21.  

Khowaja, A., Mitton, C., Qureshi, R., Bryan, S., Magee, L. A., von Dadelszen, P., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2017). Societal perspective on cost drivers for health technology assessment in Sindh, Pakistan. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 33(2), 192-198.  

Shafiq, Y., Khowaja, A., Yousafzai, M. T., Ali, S. A., Zaidi, A., & Saleem, A. F. (2017). Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to tetanus toxoid vaccination in women of childbearing age: A cross-sectional study in peri-urban settlements of Karachi, Pakistan. Journal of infection prevention, 18(5), 232-241.  

Khowaja, A., Qureshi, R. N., Sheikh, S., Zaidi, S., Salam, R., Sawchuck, D., … & Bhutta, Z. (2016). Community’s perceptions of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Sindh Pakistan: a qualitative study. Reproductive health, 13(1), 39-44.  

Khowaja, A., Qureshi, R. N., Sawchuck, D., Oladapo, O. T., Adetoro, O. O., Orenuga, E. A., … & Munguambe, K. (2016). The feasibility of community level interventions for pre-eclampsia in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed-methods design. Reproductive Health, 13(1), 1-15. 

Qureshi, R. N., Sheikh, S., Khowaja, A., Hoodbhoy, Z., Zaidi, S., Sawchuck, D., … & von Dadeslzen, P. (2016). Health care seeking behaviours in pregnancy in rural Sindh, Pakistan: a qualitative study. Reproductive health, 13(1), 75-81.  

Sheikh, S., Qureshi, R. N., Khowaja, A., Salam, R., Vidler, M., Sawchuck, D., … & CLIP Working Group. (2016). Health care provider knowledge and routine management of pre-eclampsia in Pakistan. Reproductive health, 13(2), 104.  

Salam, R. A., Qureshi, R. N., Sheikh, S., Khowaja, A., Sawchuck, D., Vidler, M., … & Bhutta, Z. (2016). Potential for task-sharing to Lady Health Workers for identification and emergency management of pre-eclampsia at community level in Pakistan. Reproductive health, 13(2), 107.  

Khowaja, Y., Karmaliani, R., Hirani, S., Khowaja, A., Rafique, G., & McFarlane, J. (2016). A pilot study of a 6-week parenting program for mothers of pre-school children attending family health centers in Karachi, Pakistan. International journal of health policy and management, 5(2), 91.  

Khowaja, A., Mitton, C., Bryan, S., Magee, L. A., Bhutta, Z. A., & von Dadelszen, P. (2015). Economic evaluation of Community Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) in South Asian and African countries: a study protocol. Implementation Science, 10(1), 76.  

Khowaja, A., Zaman, U., Feroze, A., Rizvi, A., & Zaidi, A. K. (2015). Routine EPI coverage: subdistrict inequalities and reasons for immunization failure in a rural setting in Pakistan. Asia pacific journal of public health, 27(2), NP1050-NP1059.  

Khowaja, A., Sheikh, S., Saleem, A. F., & Zaidi, A. K. (2015). Parental awareness and coverage of mass measles vaccination drive 2011: cross-sectional survey in the metropolitan city of Karachi, Pakistan. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 27(2), NP2749-NP2756.  

Riaz, A., Zaidi, S., & Khowaja, A. (2015). Perceived barriers to utilizing maternal and neonatal health services in contracted-out versus government-managed health facilities in the rural districts of Pakistan. International journal of health policy and management, 4(5), 279.  

Sachwani, S., Karmaliani, R., Hirani, S. A. A., Khowaja, A., & Lalwani, E. (2015). Association between Breast Feeding and Childhood Obesity among School-going Children, 5–16 years of Age in Karachi, Pakistan. International Journal of Nursing Education, 7(2), 244-249.  

Sachwani, S., Karmaliani, R., Hirani, S. A. A., Khowaja, A., & Lalwani, E. (2015). Whether maternal factors are associated with childhood obesity: a matched case-control study. International Journal of Nursing Education, 7(2), 269-273. 

Teaching

  • Economic Evaluation in Public Health  
  • Health Economics  
  • Public Health and Society  
  • Health Administration  

Academic Distinctions and Awards

  • 2020 Brock University Research Initiative Award  
  • 2018 CIHR Health System Impact Postdoctoral Fellowship 
  • 2017 Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Rising Star Award 
  • 2015 Warren George Povey Award in Global Health, University of British Columbia