Dr. Turnwait Michael | Regulatory Affairs | Best Researcher Award
University of Johannesburg | South Africa
Dr. Turnwait Michael is a distinguished social scientist and public health researcher whose work bridges sociology, demography, and epidemiology to address some of the most pressing health challenges across Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology with a specialization in Medical Demography from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, an MPH in Epidemiology and Medical Statistics from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, an MSc in Sociology/Demography, and a BSc in Sociology from Niger Delta University. His robust academic foundation is further strengthened by specialized certifications and global training in family planning, public health nutrition, implementation research, antimicrobial resistance, and project management from international institutions in the USA, Canada, Malaysia, and Nigeria.Dr. Michael currently serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, where he conducts advanced research on social determinants of health, reproductive and adolescent health, gender norms, and health systems strengthening. His postdoctoral work extends to collaborative projects supported by competitive international grants such as the EU Intra-Africa Mobility Grant and the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) Grant. In this role, he also mentors postgraduate students, contributes to academic publications, and engages in interdisciplinary fundraising efforts for health research and policy innovation.Before joining the University of Johannesburg, Dr. Michael served as Lecturer II in Medical Sociology and Demography at Hallmark University, Nigeria, where he taught and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research on applied demography, health sociology, social statistics, and research methods. He has also contributed to national policy through his role as a Technical Analyst with the Presidential Health Sector Committee in Nigeria, where he worked on health policy memoranda, pharmaceutical regulations, and universal health coverage frameworks. His consultancy experience with the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) spans reproductive rights, gender-based violence, climate change, child marriage, migration, and digital education initiatives.
Profile: Google Scholar
Featured Publications
Michael, T. O., & Odeyemi, M. A. (2017). Nigeria’s population policies: Issues, challenges and prospects. Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences.
Michael, T. O., Ojo, T. F., Ijabadeniyi, O. A., Ibikunle, M. A., Oni, J. O., & Agboola, A. A. (2024). Prevalence and factors associated with contraceptive use among sexually active adolescent girls in 25 sub-Saharan African countries. PLOS ONE..
Michael, T. O., Agbana, R. D., Ojo, T. F., Kukoyi, O. B., Ekpenyong, A. S., & Ukwandu, D. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic and unmet need for family planning in Nigeria. Pan African Medical Journal.
Agbana, R. D., Michael, T. O., & Ojo, T. F. (2023). Family planning method discontinuation among Nigerian women: Evidence from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences.
Michael, T. O., Nwokocha, E. E., & Agbana, R. D. (2023). Issues in antenwatal care services utilization among unmarried adolescents in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Journal of Population and Social Studies.
Michael, T. O., & Scent, G. A. T. (2017). Correlates of contraceptive use and the desire for fewer children in Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology.
Ekpenyong, A. S., & Turnwait, M. O. (2016). Social media and sexual reproductive health behaviour among adolescents in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. American International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.