About Me
I am an Assistant Professor of GeoHealth in the Department of Earth Observation Science at the Faculty ITC, University of Twente. My research focuses on water- and health-related infrastructure, knowledge and behaviour.
I consider water and health challenges, such as water-related infectious disease exposure and provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, from a broader nexus perspective. That includes, for example, implications of inequality, extreme weather events, education and cultural context. I am interested in local knowledge, perspectives and perceptions of water- and health-related challenges and in understanding how such local and contextualized knowledge can be used to inform public health planning, decision-making and interventions.
I conduct empirical mixed methods research from local to global level, across different sectors and with different stakeholders, and collaborate with international organizations, governments and research institutes globally. My regional focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa (esp. Kenya, Namibia), South Pacific (esp. Fiji, Solomon Islands) and Latin America (esp. Brazil, Peru).
Expertise
Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Department of Earth Observation Science (EOS)Research
My research focuses on water- and health-related infrastructure, knowledge and behaviour. I consider water and health challenges, such as
- water-related infectious disease exposure and prevention;
- provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH);
- impact of flooding on WASH, disease exposure and healthcare service provision
from a broader nexus perspective. That includes, for example, implications of inequality, extreme weather events, education and cultural context. I am interested in local knowledge, perspectives and perceptions of water- and health-related challenges and in understanding how such local and contextualized knowledge can be used to inform public health planning, decision-making and interventions.
Publications
Selected publications
Anthonj, C., Githinji, S., Höser, C., Stein, A., Blanford, J., Grossi, V., 2021. Kenyan school book knowledge for water, sanitation, hygiene and health education interventions: Disconnect, integration or opportunities? International Journal for Hygiene and Environmental Health 235, 113756.
Manga, M., Camargo-Valero, M.A., Anthonj, C., Evans, B.E., 2021. Fate of faecal pathogen indicators during faecal sludge composting with different bulking agents in tropical climate. International Journal for Hygiene and Environmental Health 232, 113670.
Anthonj, C., Setty, K.S., Ezbakhe, F., Manga, M., Hoeser, C., 2020. A systematic review of water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental health among Roma communities in Europe: Situation analysis, cultural context, and obstacles to improvement. International Journal for Hygiene and Environmental Health 226 (113506).
Cori, L., Bianchi, F., Cadum, E., Anthonj, C., 2020. Risk Perception and COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17(9), 3114.
Anthonj, C., Tracy, J.W., Fleming, L., Shields, K.F., Tikoisuva, W.M., Kelly, E.R., Thakkar, M.B., Cronk, R.D., Overmars, M., Bartram, J., 2020. Geographical inequalities in drinking water in the Solomon Islands. Science of the Total Environment 712, 135241.
Fleming, L., Anthonj, C., Thakkar, M.B., Tikoisuva, W.M., Cronk, R. Kelly, E., Shields, K.F., Manga, M., Howard, G., Overmars, M., Bartram, J., 2019. Urban and rural sanitation and hygiene in the Solomon Islands: resilient to extreme weather events? Science of the Total Environment 683, 331-340.
Anthonj, C., Falkenberg, T., 2019. Thirst World? Linking Water and Health in the Context of Development. Book chapter in: Blue Space, Health and Wellbeing: Hydrophilia Unbounded. Routledge. 167-189.
Anthonj, C., Diekkrüger, B., Borgemeister, C., Kistemann, T., 2019. Health risk perceptions and local knowledge of water-related infectious disease exposure among Kenyan wetland communities. International Journal for Hygiene and Environmental Health 222 (1), 34-48.
Anthonj, C., Fleming, L., Cronk, R., Godfrey, S., Ambelu, A., Bevan, J., Sozzi, E., Bartram, J., 2018. Improving monitoring and water point functionality in rural Ethiopia. Water 10 (11), 1591.
Anthonj, C., Githinji, S., Kistemann, T., 2018. The impact of water on health and ill-health in a sub- Saharan African wetland: Exploring both sides of the coin. Science of the Total Environment 624, 1411-1420.
Anthonj, C., Rechenburg, A., Höser, C., Kistemann, T., 2017. Contracting Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan African Wetlands: A Question of Use? A Review. International Journal for Hygiene and Environmental Health 220, 1110-1123
Anthonj, C., Rechenburg, A., Kistemann, T., 2016. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Wetlands. The Case of Ewaso Narok Swamp, Kenya. International Journal for Hygiene and Environmental Health 219 (7), 606-616.
Anthonj, C., Nkongolo, O.T., Schmitz, P., Hango, J.N., Kistemann, T., 2015. The Impact of Flooding on People living with HIV: a case study from Ohangwena Region, Namibia. Global Health Action 8, 26441.
UT Research Information System
Google Scholar Link
Affiliated Study Programmes
Master
Courses Academic Year 2022/2023
Courses Academic Year 2021/2022
In the press
2021
Carmen Anthonj studies the links between water and health
https://www.utwente.nl/en/research/researchers/featured-scientists/anthonj
Research story: Water security, global health and policymaking
https://www.itc.nl/news/2021/12/300734/research-story-water-security-global-health-and-policymaking
Research story: Why we have to learn about WASH in schools
https://www.itc.nl/news/2021/9/93214/research-story-why-we-have-to-learn-about-wash-in-schools#covid-19-and-wash-in-schools-implications-challenges-and-solutions
Addressing global GeoHealth challenges with local actions at ITC
https://www.itc.nl/news/2021/6/1097984/addressing-global-geohealth-challenges-with-local-actions-at-itc
2020
The time and space of water and health: an interview with Carmen Anthonj, PhD
https://www.cawst.org/blog/bydate/2020/10/the-time-and-space-of-water-and-health/
Roofs, rain and life: How to incentivize and implement rainwater harvesting https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/roofs-rain-and-life-how-incentivize-and-implement-rainwater-harvesting
Roofs, rain and life: Rainwater harvesting for safe water supply and sustainable co-benefits
https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/roofs-rain-and-life-rainwater-harvesting-safe-water-supply-and-sustainable-co-benefits
2019
Water Institute uses data to strengthen WaSH systems in Pacific Island countries
https://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/water-institute-uses-data-to-strengthen-wash-systems-in-pacific-island-countries
Tweets
Contact Details
Visiting Address
University of Twente
Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation
ITC
(building no. 75), room 2-134
Hengelosestraat 99
7514AE Enschede
The Netherlands
Mailing Address
University of Twente
Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation
ITC
2-134
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands