Amy Conroy, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
Medicine
School of Medicine

My research is grounded in theory from the field of relationship science, and employs mixed-methods and dyadic analysis techniques to understand couple-level health behavior. The majority of my research takes place in southern Africa with heterosexual couples affected by HIV/AIDS. The first two studies aim to develop and evaluate couple-based approaches to reduce heavy alcohol use in South Africa and in Malawi. The third study is an observational cohort study in Malawi with couples living with HIV and cardiometabolic disorders to inform a model of multimorbidity disease management. I am also involved in other global health projects including an RCT of a couple-based intervention to increase engagement in HIV treatment in South Africa, and an investigation in Kenya on breakthrough HIV infections among people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Finally, my research leverages data from the Women's Interagency HIV/AIDS Study (now called the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study) to examine how gender-based violence impacts food insecurity and HIV treatment outcomes. My program of research is funded by a diverse set of NIH institutes including the NIMH, NIAAA, NHLBI, and NIAID, and has led to over 50 publications in top journals.

• Links between Household-Level Income-Generating Agricultural Intervention and the Psychological Well-Being of Adolescent Girls in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Affected Households in Southwestern Kenya: A Qualitative Inquiry.
  The Journal of nutrition 2023 Onono MA, Frongillo EA, Sheira LA, Odhiambo G, Wekesa P, Conroy AA, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Weiser SD
• Supportive couple relationships buffer against the harms of HIV stigma on HIV treatment adherence.
  BMC public health 2023 Gutin SA, Ruark A, Darbes LA, Neilands TB, Mkandawire J, Conroy AA
• Efficacy of alcohol reduction interventions among people with HIV as evaluated by self-report and a phosphatidylethanol (PEth) outcome: protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.
  BMJ open 2023 Kane JC, Allen I, Fatch R, Scheffler A, Emenyonu N, Puryear SB, Chirayil P, So-Armah K, Kahler CW, Magidson JF, Conroy AA, Edelman EJ, Woolf-King S, Parry C, Kiene SM, Chamie G, Adong J, Go VF, Cook …
• Longitudinal Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Engagement in Care, and ART Adherence Among US Women Living with HIV.
  AIDS and behavior 2023 Palar K, Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, Kushel M, Wilson TE, Conroy AA, Adedimeji A, Merenstein D, Cohen MH, Wentz EL, Adimora AA, Ofotokun I, Metsch LR, Turan JM, Tien PC, Weiser SD
• Development of an Economic and Relationship-Strengthening Intervention for Alcohol Drinkers Living with HIV in Malawi.
  AIDS and behavior 2022 Conroy AA, Tebbetts S, Darbes LA, Hahn JA, Neilands TB, McKenna SA, Mulauzi N, Mkandawire J, Ssewamala FM
• Abstract 10263: “High Blood Pressure Comes From Thinking Too Much”: Health Beliefs Among Couples With Cardiometabolic Disorders and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  Circulation 2022 Amy A Conroy, Julie T Bidwell, Allison Ruark, Rita Butterfield, Torsten Neilands, Sheri Weiser, Nancy Mulauzi, James Mkandawire, Jacqueline Huwa
• Abstract 12908: Primary Partners Provide Key Social Support for the Management of Cardiometabolic Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  Circulation 2022 Allison Ruark, Julie T Bidwell, Rita Butterfield, Torsten Neilands, Sheri Weiser, Nancy Mulauzi, James Mkandawire, Jacqueline Huwa, Amy Conroy
• "I Would Absolutely Need to Know That My Partner Is Still Going to be Protected": Perceptions of HIV Cure-Related Research Among Diverse HIV Serodifferent Couples in the United States.
  AIDS research and human retroviruses 2022 Dubé K, Agarwal H, Stockman JK, Auerbach JD, Sauceda JA, Conroy AA, Johnson MO
• Mechanisms linking gender-based violence to worse HIV treatment and care outcomes among women in the United States.
  AIDS (London, England) 2022 Jain JP, Sheira LA, Frongillo EA, Neilands TB, Cohen MH, Wilson TE, Chandran A, Adimora AA, Kassaye SG, Sheth AN, Fischl MA, Adedimeji AA, Turan JM, Tien PC, Weiser SD, Conroy AA
• "It comes altogether as one:" perceptions of analytical treatment interruptions and partner protections among racial, ethnic, sex and gender diverse HIV serodifferent couples in the United States.
  BMC public health 2022 Campbell DM, Dubé K, Cowlings PD, Dionicio P, Tam RM, Agarwal H, Stockman JK, Auerbach JD, Sauceda JA, Conroy AA, Johnson MO
• Relationship Dynamics are Associated with Self-Reported Adherence but not an Objective Adherence Measure in Malawi.
  AIDS and behavior 2022 Conroy AA, McKenna S, Ruark A, Neilands TB, Spinelli M, Gandhi M
• Parent-adolescent agreement in reported moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  BMC public health 2022 Nagata JM, Cortez CA, Iyer P, Dooley EE, Ganson KT, Conroy AA, Pettee Gabriel K
• Mental Health Mediates the Association Between Gender-Based Violence and HIV Treatment Engagement in US Women.
  Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2022 Conroy AA, Jain JP, Sheira L, Frongillo EA, Neilands TB, Cohen MH, Wilson TE, Chandran A, Adimora AA, Kassaye S, Sheth AN, Fischl MA, Adedimeji A, Turan JM, Tien PC, Weiser SD
• Parent-Adolescent Discrepancies in Adolescent Recreational Screen Time Reporting During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.
  Academic pediatrics 2021 Nagata JM, Cortez CA, Iyer P, Ganson KT, Chu J, Conroy AA
• The role of food security in increasing adolescent girls' agency towards sexual risk taking: qualitative findings from an income generating agricultural intervention in southwestern Kenya.
  BMC public health 2021 Onono MA, Odhiambo G, Sheira L, Conroy A, Neilands TB, Bukusi EA, Weiser SD
• Development and Validation of the Couple Sexual Satisfaction Scale for HIV and Sexual Health Research.
  Archives of sexual behavior 2021 Conroy AA, Ruark A, Neilands TB, Darbes LA, Johnson MO, Tan JY, Mkandawire J
• Intersections of food insecurity, violence, poor mental health and substance use among US women living with and at risk for HIV: Evidence of a syndemic in need of attention.
  PloS one 2021 Leddy AM, Zakaras JM, Shieh J, Conroy AA, Ofotokun I, Tien PC, Weiser SD
• "I Found Out I was Pregnant, and I Started Feeling Stressed": A Longitudinal Qualitative Perspective of Mental Health Experiences Among Perinatal Women Living with HIV.
  AIDS and behavior 2021 Tuthill EL, Maltby AE, Odhiambo BC, Akama E, Pellowski JA, Cohen CR, Weiser SD, Conroy AA
• Bidirectional Violence Is Associated with Poor Engagement in HIV Care and Treatment in Malawian Couples.
  Journal of interpersonal violence 2020 Conroy AA, Leddy AM, Darbes LA, Neilands TB, Mkandawire J, Stephenson R
• The Unaddressed Needs of Alcohol-Using Couples on Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi: Formative Research on Multilevel Interventions.
  AIDS and behavior 2020 Conroy AA, Ruark A, McKenna SA, Tan JY, Darbes LA, Hahn JA, Mkandawire J
• A Dyadic Investigation of Relationship Dynamics and Depressive Symptoms in HIV-Affected Couples in Malawi.
  AIDS and behavior 2019 Tuthill EL, Neilands TB, Johnson MO, Sauceda J, Mkandawire J, Conroy AA
• Re-conceptualising gender and power relations for sexual and reproductive health: contrasting narratives of tradition, unity, and rights.
  Culture, health & sexuality 2019 Conroy AA, Ruark A, Tan JY
• Mechanisms and perceived mental health changes after a livelihood intervention for HIV-positive Kenyans: Longitudinal, qualitative findings.
  Transcultural psychiatry 2019 Hatcher AM, Lemus Hufstedler E, Doria K, Dworkin SL, Weke E, Conroy A, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Weiser SD
• Food insecurity and intimate partner violence among married women in Nepal.
  Journal of global health 2019 Diamond-Smith N, Conroy AA, Tsai AC, Nekkanti M, Weiser SD
• Food insecurity and violence in a prospective cohort of women at risk for or living with HIV in the U.S.
  PloS one 2019 Conroy AA, Cohen MH, Frongillo EA, Tsai AC, Wilson TE, Wentz EL, Adimora AA, Merenstein D, Ofotokun I, Metsch L, Kempf MC, Adedimeji A, Turan JM, Tien PC, Weiser SD
• Leveraging Power in Intimate Partner Relationships: A Power Basis Perspective. In C. Agnew & J. Harman (Eds.), Power in Close Relationships (Advances in Personal Relationships, pp. 72-85)
  2019 Tan, J. Pratto, F. Conroy, A. Lee, I.
• Couple Interdependence Impacts Alcohol Use and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi.
  AIDS and behavior 2019 Conroy AA, McKenna SA, Ruark A
• Alcohol use and relationship quality among South African couples.
  Substance use & misuse 2018 Woolf-King SE, Conroy AA, Fritz K, Johnson MO, Hosegood V, van Rooyen H, Darbes L, McGrath N
• Couple-Level Dynamics and Multilevel Challenges Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Framework of Dyadic HIV Care.
  AIDS patient care and STDs 2018 Tan JY, Campbell CK, Conroy AA, Tabrisky AP, Kegeles S, Dworkin SL
• Marital infidelity, food insecurity, and couple instability: A web of challenges for dyadic coordination around antiretroviral therapy.
  Social science & medicine (1982) 2018 Conroy AA, McKenna SA, Comfort ML, Darbes LA, Tan JY, Mkandawire J
• A Conceptual Model of Dyadic Coordination in HIV Care Engagement Among Couples of Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Qualitative Dyadic Analysis.
  AIDS and behavior 2018 Tan JY, Campbell CK, Tabrisky AP, Siedle-Khan R, Conroy AA
• "If She is Drunk, I Don't Want Her to Take it": Partner Beliefs and Influence on Use of Alcohol and Antiretroviral Therapy in South African Couples.
  AIDS and behavior 2017 Conroy AA, McKenna SA, Leddy A, Johnson MO, Ngubane T, Darbes LA, van Rooyen H
• 'I told her this is your life': relationship dynamics, partner support and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among South African couples.
  Culture, health & sexuality 2017 Conroy A, Leddy A, Johnson M, Ngubane T, van Rooyen H, Darbes L
• A longitudinal study of persistent smoking among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men in primary relationships.
  Addictive behaviors 2016 Gamarel KE, Neilands TB, Conroy AA, Dilworth SE, Lisha N, Taylor JM, Darbes LA, Johnson MO
• Partner Reports of HIV Viral Suppression Predict Sexual Behavior in Serodiscordant Male Couples.
  Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2016 Conroy AA, Gamarel KE, Neilands TB, Sauceda JA, Darbes LA, Dilworth SE, Taylor JM, Johnson MO
• Relationship Power and Sexual Violence Among HIV-Positive Women in Rural Uganda.
  AIDS and behavior 2016 Conroy AA, Tsai AC, Clark GM, Boum Y, Hatcher AM, Kawuma A, Hunt PW, Martin JN, Bangsberg DR, Weiser SD
• Relationship Dynamics and Partner Beliefs About Viral Suppression: A Longitudinal Study of Male Couples Living with HIV/AIDS (The Duo Project).
  AIDS and behavior 2016 Conroy AA, Gamarel KE, Neilands TB, Dilworth SE, Darbes LA, Johnson MO
• Power and the association with relationship quality in South African couples: Implications for HIV/AIDS interventions.
  Social science & medicine (1982) 2016 Conroy AA, McGrath N, van Rooyen H, Hosegood V, Johnson MO, Fritz K, Marr A, Ngubane T, Darbes LA
• How reliable are self-reports of HIV status disclosure? Evidence from couples in Malawi.
  Social science & medicine (1982) 2015 Conroy AA, Wong LH
• Male victims of sexual violence in rural Malawi: the overlooked association with HIV infection.
  AIDS care 2014 Conroy AA, Chilungo A
• Marital infidelity and intimate partner violence in rural Malawi: a dyadic investigation.
  Archives of sexual behavior 2014 Conroy AA
• The influence of relationship power dynamics on HIV testing in rural Malawi.
  Journal of sex research 2014 Conroy AA
• 'It means there is doubt in the house': perceptions and experiences of HIV testing in rural Malawi.
  Culture, health & sexuality 2014 Conroy AA
• Programmatic cost evaluation of nontargeted opt-out rapid HIV screening in the emergency department.
  PloS one 2013 Haukoos JS, Campbell JD, Conroy AA, Hopkins E, Bucossi MM, Sasson C, Al-Tayyib AA, Thrun MW, Denver ED HIV Opt-Out Study Group
• Gender, power, and intimate partner violence: a study on couples from rural Malawi.
  Journal of interpersonal violence 2013 Conroy AA
• The social construction of AIDS during a time of evolving access to antiretroviral therapy in rural Malawi.
  Culture, health & sexuality 2013 Conroy A, Yeatman S, Dovel K
• HIV treatment optimism and its predictors among young adults in southern Malawi.
  AIDS care 2012 Yeatman S, Dovel K, Conroy A, Namadingo H
• Routine opt-out rapid HIV screening and detection of HIV infection in emergency department patients.
  JAMA 2010 Haukoos JS, Hopkins E, Conroy AA, Silverman M, Byyny RL, Eisert S, Thrun MW, Wilson ML, Hutchinson AB, Forsyth J, Johnson SC, Heffelfinger JD, Denver Emergency Department HIV Opt-Out Study Group
• Design and implementation of a controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of routine opt-out rapid human immunodeficiency virus screening in the emergency department.
  Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 2009 Haukoos JS, Hopkins E, Byyny RL, Conroy AA, Silverman M, Eisert S, Thrun M, Wilson M, Boyett B, Heffelfinger JD, Denver ED HIV Opt-Out Study Group