Mukta Gundi
Areas of Interest & Expertise
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Social determinants of Health
- Health Communication
- Mental Health
- Mixed methods Research
Biography
I am a public health researcher interested in exploring how social conditions influence health. I am especially interested in understanding how social and gender inequalities intersect to impact adolescents’ health indicators.
Most recently, I worked as a Technical Specialist with the Population Council, New Delhi. I co-led baseline data collection for a community-based evaluation for a programme aimed at skilling the in-school and out-of-school adolescent girls to reduce the incidence of child marriage in Rajasthan. My research work included contributing to an evidence synthesis of experimental studies from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa that were aimed at delaying marriage, reducing teenage pregnancies, and improving labour force participation among adolescent girls and young women. I also co-authored research briefs, analyzed data, designed research tools, and supervised data collection.
I have earned my doctoral degree in Public Health from the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar [December 2014-August 2020]. My doctoral research focused on understanding the social determinants of menstrual health among adolescents across urban, rural and tribal settings in Nashik district, Maharashtra. My doctoral study on menstrual health included both adolescent girls as well as boys as I explored how gender itself acts as a social determinant to influence adolescents’ knowledge, beliefs, and communication regarding menstruation using a mixed-methods approach. Prior to my doctoral journey, I worked with IIT Gandhinagar as a Research Associate.
I completed my master’s degree in Public Health from Indiana University Bloomington [2011 – 2013] and a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences [2004 – 2008]. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I worked at the Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health [SEARCH, Gadchiroli] as a fellow. I look forward to expanding my work on school climate and its impact on various adolescent health indicators.
Besides work, I love Indian classical dance and enjoy reading Marathi literature.
Courses
Programme Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
To get a conceptual understanding the context, assumptions, and overall framework/political economy of public health.
Perspective of Mental Health & Illness
Explore the notions of mental health and well-being.
Publications
Journal articles:
- Gundi, M., & Subramanyam, M. A. (2019). Menstrual health communication among Indian adolescents: A mixed-methods study. PLOS ONE, 14(10), e0223923. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223923
- Gundi, M., & Subramanyam, M. A. (2020). Curious eyes and awkward smiles: Menstruation and adolescent boys in India. Journal of adolescence, 85, 80 – 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.09.013
- Gundi, M., & Subramanyam, M. A. (2020). Gender as a social determinant of menstrual health: a mixed methods study among Indian adolescent girls and boys. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.04.20167924
Under review journal articles/submitted:
- Dayal R. & Gundi M. Quality of sexual and reproductive health services delivered to adolescents at Ujala Clinics in Rajasthan, India. [Under review, PLoS ONE Special issue]
- Zahra F., Austrian K., Gundi M., Psaki S., Ngo T. Drivers of Marriage and Health Outcomes Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Journal of Adolescent Health. [Under Review]
- Kumar, S., Gundi, M., Atre, S., Ngoc, L., Thieng, N. & Rammohan, A. “Social, economic, and demographic determinants of recorded and unrecorded alcohol consumption in Vietnam” [Submitted: Journal of Substance Use]
Policy Briefs:
- Gundi, M., K.G. Santhya, N. Haberland, A. J. F. Zavier and S. Rampal. (2020). The increasing toll of mental health issues among adolescents and youth in Bihar. Policy Brief. New Delhi: Population Council. https://www.projectudaya.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Mental-Health-Brief_Bihar.pdf
- Gundi, M., K.G. Santhya, N. Haberland, A. J. F. Zavier and S. Rampal. 2020. The increasing toll of mental health issues among adolescents and youth in Uttar Pradesh. Policy Brief. New Delhi: Population Council. https://www.projectudaya.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Mental-Health-Brief_U.P.pdf
Research report:
- Samanta T., Jolad S., Gundi M., & Subramanyam M. (2015). Ahmedabad District Human Development Report. Government of Gujarat. https://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/library/hdr/human-development-reports/district-human-development-reports.html
- Kumar, Subramanyam, Atre & Gundi (2015): Report on a survey of unrecorded alcohol in five states of India, International Center for Alcohol Policy, USA. http://iardwebprod.azurewebsites.net/getattachment/fdd90791-41cb-4bd3-98f0-555fbf9818f8/unrecorded-alcohol-in-india.pdf
Online/Print magazine or newspaper article:
- Gundi, M. (2017, August 12). First day of period leaves are a great first step. But offices need to become more period-friendly. Scroll. https://scroll.in/pulse/846959/first-day-of-period-leaves-are-a-great-first-step-but-offices-need-to-become-more-period-friendly
- Samanta T. & Gundi M. (2018, February 28). Padman, Patriarchy and the Poor Man’s Innovation. Kafila. https://kafila.online/2018/02/28/padman-patriarchy-and-the-poor-mans-innovation-tannishta-samantha-and-mukta-gundi/
- Atre S. & Gundi M. (2020, March 16). The message needs to be clear: Coronavirus has no face and no race. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/the-message-needs-to-be-clear-coronavirus-has-no-face-and-no-race-6316821/
- Gundi, M. & Atre, S. (2017). “Arogyam Jansampada”. Loksatta Marathi Daily. https://www.loksatta.com/chaturang/arogya-jansanpada/ [Public health-related fortnightly column for a year].
Published interview:
Broadening understanding about menstruation: Talk openly to both girls and boys. The Logical Indian. (2019, March 24). https://thelogicalindian.com/story-feed/awareness/world-menstruation-day