University of Malawi

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Mr. Tawonga Welson Mwase-Vuma

RESEARCH FELLOW
Centre for Social Research

Research Areas

Public Health; Physical Activity Epidemiology,

Profile

Tawonga Mwase-Vuma is a Research Fellow based at the University of Malawi’s Centre for Social Research (CSR). He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from The University of Nottingham (UK), and he is currently pursuing a PhD in Physical Activity for Health and Public Health at the University of Strathclyde (UK). His research mainly focuses on public health, but he has also been involved in gender and disability studies. Tawonga has designed, supported, and led the implementation of various research and consultancy projects in Malawi for both local and international organisations and institutions, including the Ministry of Health, UNICEF Malawi, Plan International Malawi, Data for Impact (at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), USAID/Malawi, University of Wollongong, and Durham University. In addition, I have collaborated with community leaders, Malawi government officials, and policymakers to disseminate research findings in order to promote evidence-based policy and programming in Malawi. Tawonga Mwase-Vuma boasts expertise in public health, epidemiology, (bio)statistics, mixed-methods research, quantitative data analysis using Stata, qualitative data analysis supported by NVivo and Dedoose, and measurement of 24-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) in the early years. He is currently the Lead Investigator for two international collaborative research projects funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in Malawi: 1) International Surveillance Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years: The SUNRISE Malawi Study (https://sunrise-study.com); and 2) The Development and Validation of a Global Adolescent and Children Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ): The GAC-PAQ Malawi Study (https://gac-paq.com/).

Publications

  • Journal Article
    Maddren CI, Dhamrait G, Ghogho M, [...] Lubree H, Mwase-Vuma T, Nusurupia J, et al. Parental Perceptions of Environmental Factors on Preschoolers’ Outdoor Play in 19 Low-Income, Middle-Income, and High-Income Countries. J Phys Act Heal. Published online 2025:1-11. doi:10.1123/jpah.2024-0615 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0615
  • Journal Article
    Togo E, Mwase-Vuma TW, Thakwalakwa C, et al. The thought that i could continue with school got lost: a qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on the education and sexual and reproductive health of Malawi youth. Reprod Health. 2025;22(1):33. doi:10.1186/s12978-025-01972-9 (2025)
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01972-9
  • Journal Article
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, Chong KH, Okely AD, Tremblay MS, Draper CE, Webster EK, Florindo AA, Staiano AE, Pham BN, Tanaka C, Koh D, Guan H, Tang HK, Löf M, Hossain MS, Munambah NE, Cross P, Chathurangana PWP, Reilly JJ. Prevalence and Correlates of Adherence to the Global Total Physical Activity Guideline Based on Step Counting Among 3- to 4-Year-Olds: Evidence From SUNRISE Pilot Studies From 17 Countries. J Phys Act Heal. 2024;21(8):794-801. doi:10.1123/jpah.2023-0711 (2024)
    https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jpah/21/8/article-p794.xml
  • Journal Article
    Larouche R, Rostami Haji Abadi M, Aubert S, [...] Mwase-Vuma TW, et al. Development and validation of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) in 14 countries: study protocol. BMJ Open. 2024;14(7):e082275. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082275 (2024)
    http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/7/e082275.abstract
  • Journal Article
    Chong KH, Suesse T, Cross PL, [...] Mwase-Vuma, et al. Pooled Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Among Children From 33 Countries. JAMA Pediatr. 2024;178(11):1199. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.3330 (2024)
    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2824006
  • Journal Article
    Reilly JJ, Andrew R, Abdeta C, [...] Mwase-Vuma TW, et al. Improving National and International Surveillance of Movement Behaviours in Childhood and Adolescence: An International Modified Delphi Study. Sport Med. Published online October 3, 2024. doi:10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2 (2024)
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2
  • Journal Article
    Zhang Z, Abdeta C, Chelly MS, [...] Mwase-Vuma TW, et al. Geocultural differences in pre-schooler sleep profiles and family practices: an analysis of pooled data from 37 countries. Sleep. Published online December 23, 2024:zsae305. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsae305 (2024)
    https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae305
  • Journal Article
    Ortega FB, Zhang K, Cadenas-Sanchez C, [...] Manyanga T, Mwase-Vuma T, Kidokoro T, et al. The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories. J Sport Heal Sci. Published online 2024:101012. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012 (2024)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, Okely AD, Kayange J, Chong KH, Cross P, Evance S, & Reilly JJ. Examining the prevalence and correlates of meeting the global 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines among young children in low-income African context: The SUNRISE Malawi Study. Society for the Study of Human Biology. 11th – 13th September 2024. University of Porto, Portugal. (2024)
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, Okely AD, Kayange J, Chong KH, Cross P, Evance S, & Reilly JJ. Compliance with the global 24-hour movement guidelines among pre-schoolers in Malawi: The SUNRISE Malawi Study. The 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress. October 23–26, 2022. 28th – 31st October, Palais des Congrùs de Paris, France. (2024)
  • Journal Article
    Rodríguez DC, Balaji LN, Chamdimba E, [...] Mwase-Vuma T, et al. Political economy analysis of subnational health management in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda. Health Policy Plan. 2023;38:631–647. (2023)
    doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czad021
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, Chong KH, Okely AD, Tremblay MS, Draper CE, Webster EK, Florindo AA, Staiano AE, Pham BN, Tanaka C, Koh D, Hongyan G, Tang HK, Löf M, Hossain MS, Munambah NE, Cross P, Chathurangana PWP, Reilly JJ. Examining the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of meeting the WHO total physical activity guideline based on step-counts among young children: The SUNRISE Study. The 8th Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections (SPARC). 8th November 2023, Edinburgh, Scotland. (2023)
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, Evance S, Okely AD, Kayange JJ, Chong KH, Cross P, Reilly JJ. Prevalence and correlates of meeting the global physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and sleep guidelines among 3-4-year-old children in Malawi: The SUNRISE Malawi Study. The 2nd KUHeS Research Dissemination Conference. 30th November to 1st December 2023. Blantyre, Malawi. (2023)
  • Journal Article
    Mwase-Vuma, T. W., Janssen, X., Okely, A. D., Tremblay, M. S., Draper, C. E., Antonio, A., Tanaka, C., Koh, D., Hongyan, G., Tang, H. K., Hau, K., Löf, M., Sorowar, M., Cross, P., Chathurangana, P. W. P., & Reilly, J. J. (2022). Validity of low-cost measures for global surveillance of physical activity in pre-school children: The SUNRISE validation study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. (2022)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2022.10.003
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma, T. W., Janssen, X., Okely, A. D., Tremblay, M. S., Draper, C. E., Antonio, A., Tanaka, C., Koh, D., Hongyan, G., Tang, H. K., Hau, K., Löf, M., Sorowar, M., Cross, P., Chathurangana, P. W. P., & Reilly, J. J. Validation of low-cost measure measurement tools for assessing habitual physical activity in pre-schoolers: the SUNRISE study. The 8th International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement (ICAMPAM), USA. (2022)
    https://doi.org/10.1123/jmpb.2022-0032
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma, T. W., Janssen, X., Okely, A. D., Tremblay, M. S., Draper, C. E., Antonio, A., Tanaka, C., Koh, D., Hongyan, G., Tang, H. K., Hau, K., Löf, M., Sorowar, M., Cross, P., Chathurangana, P. W. P., & Reilly, J. J. Validity of step-counting for global surveillance of physical activity in pre-schoolers: the SUNRISE Validation Study. The 9th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress. October 23–26, 2022, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (2022)
  • Conference Papers
    Kayange, JJ, Munthali, AC, Okely, AD, Reilly, JJ, Chunga, JJ, Harawa, K, Evance, S, Xanne Janssen, & Mwase-Vuma, TW. Practical considerations for pre-school-based physical activity research in low-income settings: The SUNRISE Malawi pilot study. The 9th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress. October 23–26, 2022, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (2022)
  • Conference Papers
    Tawonga W. Mwase-Vuma, Xanne Janssen, Kar Hau Chong, Anthony D. Okely, Mark S. Tremblay, Alex Antonio Florindo, Amanda E. Staiano, Bang Nguyen Pham, Catherine E. Draper, Chiaki Tanaka, Denise Koh, E. Kipling Webster, Guan Hongyan, Hong K. Tang, Marie Löf, Mohammad Sorowar Hossain, Nyaradzai Munambah, Penny Cross, PW Prasad Chathurangana, John J. Reilly. Prevalence and correlates of adherence to the total physical activity guideline using step-counting in pre-school children: the SUNRISE study. The International Festival of Sports, Exercise and Medicine Conference (IFSEMC) in Pretoria, South Africa, 29th September to 2nd October 2022. (Oral presentation) (2022)
  • Journal Article
    Hampshire, K., Mwase-Vuma, T., Alemu, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Awoke, T., Mariwah, S., Chamdimba, E., Owusu, S. A., Robson, E., Castelli, M., Shkedy, Z., Shawa, N., Abel, J., & Kasim, A. (2021). Informal mhealth at scale in Africa: Opportunities and challenges. World Development, 140. (2021)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WORLDDEV.2020.105257
  • Journal Article
    Okely, A.D., Reilly, J.J., Tremblay, M.S., Kariippanon, K., Draper, C.E., El Hamdouchi, A., Florindo, A.A., Green, J.P., Guan, H., Katzmarzyk, P.T., Lubree, H., Pham, B.N., Suesse, T., Willumsen, J., Basheer, M., Calleia, R., Chong, K.H., Cross, P.L., Nacher, M., Smeets, L., Taylor, E., Abdeta, C., Aguilar-Farias, N., Baig, A., Bayasgalan, J., Chan, C., Chathurangana, P., Chia, M., Ghofranipour, F., Ha, A., Hossain, M., Janssen, X., Jauregui, A., Katewongsa, P., Kim, D., Kim, T.V, Koh, D., Kontsevaya, A., Leyna, G., Lof, M., Munambah, N., Mwase-Vuma, T., Nusurupia, J., Oluwayomi, A., et al. (2021). Cross-sectional examination of 24-hour movement behaviours among 3- and 4-year-old children in urban and rural settings in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: the SUNRISE study protocol. BMJ Open, 11(10), e049267. (2021)
    https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049267
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Chamdimba E, Munthali AC, Kasim A, & Hamphshire K. Costs of community health workers’ ‘informal’ phone use to support healthcare service delivery in Malawi. 4th annual Africa Interdisciplinary Health Conference (AfIHC). 22nd to 24th September 2021, Kigali, Rwanda (Online oral presentation) (2021)
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Janssen X, & Reilly JJ. Validity of parent-reported level of physical activity among preschool children against accelerometry in 13 countries: evidence from the SUNRISE study. Children’s physical activity – a research area more crucial than ever! 25th August 2021, Odense, Denmark. (Online poster presentation) (2021)
  • Conference Papers
    Munthali AC, Hampshire K, Chamdimba E, Robson E, Mwase-Vuma TW. The use of mobile phones among community health workers: a case study of health surveillance assistants in Malawi. ECAS2019. June 11-14, 2019. Edinburgh, Scotland. (2019)
    https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/ecas2019#7620
  • Conference Papers
    Mwase-Vuma TW, Chamdimba E, Munthali AC, Robson E, Kasim A, & Hamphshire K. Cost of ‘informal’ mobile phone use by community health workers to support primary healthcare service delivery in Malawi. 23rd College of Medicine Research Dissemination Conference. 7th – 8th November 2019. Blantyre, Malawi. (Oral Presentation) (2019)