Rachel Burger
Faces Research Coordinator
Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Sciences
School of Medicine

Rachel Burger has over 10 years of experience conducting public health research in East Africa. Her research focus includes the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, the integration of HIV and reproductive health services, and the integration of livelihood interventions to improve health outcomes among People Living with HIV.

Education & Training

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• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training University of California 02/2020
• MHS International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2004
• BA Molecular & Cell Biology University of California, Berkeley 2002

Publications (38)

Top publication keywords:
Contraception BehaviorAnti-Retroviral AgentsMass ScreeningDelivery of Health Care, IntegratedAgricultureKenyaHealth Plan ImplementationCommunity Health CentersInfectious Disease Transmission, VerticalStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticFood SupplyHIV InfectionsFamily Planning ServicesWidowhoodPrenatal Care

• Spillover Effects of an Agricultural Livelihood Intervention Among People Living with HIV on Community Empowerment in Kenya.
  AIDS and behavior 2025 Chi V, Weke E, Cohen C, Burger R, Baylen C, Wekesa P, Bukusi EA, Dworkin SL, Butler L, Weiser SD
• Preference of mHealth versus in-person treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in Kenya: demographic and clinical characteristics.
  BMJ open 2024 Meffert S, Mathai M, Neylan T, Mwai D, Onyango DO, Rota G, Otieno A, Obura RR, Wangia J, Opiyo E, Muchembre P, Oluoch D, Wambura R, Mbwayo A, Kahn JG, Cohen CR, Bukusi D, Aarons GA, Burger RL, Jin C, …
• "The peace that I wanted, I got": Qualitative insights from patient experiences of SMART DAPPER interventions for major depression and traumatic stress disorders in Kenya.
  PLOS global public health 2024 Getahun M, Mathai MA, Rota G, Allen A, Burger RL, Opiyo E, Oluoch D, Wangia J, Wambura R, Mbwayo A, Muchembre P, Obura RR, Neylan TC, Aarons GA, Ongeri L, Meffert SM
• Defining a screening tool for post-traumatic stress disorder in East Africa: a penalized regression approach.
  Frontiers in public health 2024 Meffert SM, Mathai MA, Ongeri L, Neylan TC, Mwai D, Onyango D, Akena D, Rota G, Otieno A, Obura RR, Wangia J, Opiyo E, Muchembre P, Oluoch D, Wambura R, Mbwayo A, Kahn JG, Cohen CR, Bukusi DE, Aarons …
• An agricultural livelihood intervention is associated with reduced HIV stigma among people with HIV.
  AIDS (London, England) 2024 Weiser SD, Sheira LA, Weke E, Zakaras JM, Wekesa P, Frongillo EA, Burger RL, Mocello AR, Thirumurthy H, Dworkin SL, Tsai AC, Kahn JG, Butler LM, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR

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• Impact of a livelihood intervention on gender roles and relationship power among people with HIV.
  AIDS (London, England) 2023 Sheira LA, Wekesa P, Cohen CR, Weke E, Frongillo EA, Mocello AR, Dworkin SL, Burger RL, Weiser SD, Bukusi EA
• Comparing the effect of a multisectoral agricultural intervention on HIV-related health outcomes between widowed and married women.
  Social science & medicine (1982) 2023 Odhiambo JA, Weiser SD, Frongillo EA, Burger RL, Weke E, Wekesa P, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR
• Perceived impacts of a pilot agricultural livelihood and microfinance intervention on agricultural practices, food security and nutrition for Kenyans living with HIV.
  PloS one 2022 Nicastro TM, Pincus L, Weke E, Hatcher AM, Burger RL, Lemus-Hufstedler E, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Weiser SD
• Effect of a Multisectoral Agricultural Intervention on HIV Health Outcomes Among Adults in Kenya: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.
  JAMA network open 2022 Cohen CR, Weke E, Frongillo EA, Sheira LA, Burger R, Mocello AR, Wekesa P, Fisher M, Scow K, Thirumurthy H, Dworkin SL, Shade SB, Butler LM, Bukusi EA, Weiser SD
• Relationship Power, Antiretroviral Adherence, and Physical and Mental Health Among Women Living with HIV in Rural Kenya.
  AIDS and behavior 2022 Burger RL, Cohen CR, Mocello AR, Dworkin SL, Frongillo EA, Weke E, Butler LM, Thirumurthy H, Bukusi EA, Weiser SD
• The Impact of Land Tenure Security on a Livelihood Intervention for People Living with HIV in Western Kenya.
  AIDS and behavior 2022 Daniel AK, Dworkin SL, McDonough A, Hatcher AM, Burger RL, Weke E, Wekesa P, Bukusi EA, Owino G, Odhiambo G, Thirumurthy H, Getahun M, Weiser SD, Cohen CR
• Water Insecurity is Associated with Lack of Viral Suppression and Greater Odds of AIDS-Defining Illnesses Among Adults with HIV in Western Kenya.
  AIDS and behavior 2021 Nagata JM, Miller JD, Cohen CR, Frongillo EA, Weke E, Burger R, Wekesa P, Sheira LA, Mocello AR, Otieno P, Butler LM, Bukusi EA, Weiser SD, Young SL
• Household Water and Food Insecurity Are Positively Associated with Poor Mental and Physical Health among Adults Living with HIV in Western Kenya.
  The Journal of nutrition 2021 Miller JD, Frongillo EA, Weke E, Burger R, Wekesa P, Sheira LA, Mocello AR, Bukusi EA, Otieno P, Cohen CR, Weiser SD, Young SL
• Presence of Older Adolescents in the Household is Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Women Living with HIV in Kenya.
  AIDS and behavior 2020 Nagata JM, Anicete LM, Cohen CR, Frongillo EA, Burger RL, Wekesa P, Weke E, Weiser SD, Bukusi EA
• Food Insecurity and Intimate Partner Violence Among HIV-Positive Individuals in Rural Kenya.
  American journal of preventive medicine 2020 Hatcher AM, Weiser SD, Cohen CR, Hagey J, Weke E, Burger R, Wekesa P, Sheira L, Frongillo EA, Bukusi EA
• "When I Eat Well, I Will Be Healthy, and the Child Will Also Be Healthy": Maternal Nutrition among HIV-Infected Women Enrolled in a Livelihood Intervention in Western Kenya.
  Current developments in nutrition 2020 McDonough A, Weiser SD, Daniel A, Weke E, Wekesa P, Burger R, Sheira L, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR
• Implementation research for public sector mental health care scale-up (SMART-DAPPER): a sequential multiple, assignment randomized trial (SMART) of non-specialist-delivered psychotherapy and/or medication for major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (DAPPER) integrated with outpatient care clinics at a county hospital in Kenya.
  BMC psychiatry 2019 Levy R, Mathai M, Chatterjee P, Ongeri L, Njuguna S, Onyango D, Akena D, Rota G, Otieno A, Neylan TC, Lukwata H, Kahn JG, Cohen CR, Bukusi D, Aarons GA, Burger R, Blum K, Nahum-Shani I, McCulloch CE, …
• HIV Testing and Treatment with the Use of a Community Health Approach in Rural Africa.
  The New England journal of medicine 2019 Havlir DV, Balzer LB, Charlebois ED, Clark TD, Kwarisiima D, Ayieko J, Kabami J, Sang N, Liegler T, Chamie G, Camlin CS, Jain V, Kadede K, Atukunda M, Ruel T, Shade SB, Ssemmondo E, Byonanebye DM, …
• High CD4 counts associated with better economic outcomes for HIV-positive adults and their HIV-negative household members in the SEARCH Trial.
  PloS one 2018 Jakubowski A, Snyman K, Kwarisiima D, Sang N, Burger R, Balzer L, Clark T, Chamie G, Shade S, Cohen C, Bukusi E, Charlebois E, Kamya M, Petersen M, Havlir D, Thirumurthy H
• Erratum to: A Qualitative Investigation of the Impact of a Livelihood Intervention on Gendered Power and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among HIV-Positive Adults in Rural Kenya.
  Archives of sexual behavior 2017 Zakaras JM, Weiser SD, Hatcher AM, Weke E, Burger RL, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Dworkin SL
• Integration of family planning services into HIV care clinics: Results one year after a cluster randomized controlled trial in Kenya.
  PloS one 2017 Cohen CR, Grossman D, Onono M, Blat C, Newmann SJ, Burger RL, Shade SB, Bett N, Bukusi EA
• Changes in Health and Antiretroviral Adherence Among HIV-Infected Adults in Kenya: Qualitative Longitudinal Findings from a Livelihood Intervention.
  AIDS and behavior 2017 Weiser SD, Hatcher AM, Hufstedler LL, Weke E, Dworkin SL, Bukusi EA, Burger RL, Kodish S, Grede N, Butler LM, Cohen CR
• A Qualitative Investigation of the Impact of a Livelihood Intervention on Gendered Power and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among HIV-Positive Adults in Rural Kenya.
  Archives of sexual behavior 2016 Zakaras JM, Weiser SD, Hatcher AM, Weke E, Burger RL, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Dworkin SL
• A hybrid mobile approach for population-wide HIV testing in rural east Africa: an observational study.
  The lancet. HIV 2016 Chamie G, Clark TD, Kabami J, Kadede K, Ssemmondo E, Steinfeld R, Lavoy G, Kwarisiima D, Sang N, Jain V, Thirumurthy H, Liegler T, Balzer LB, Petersen ML, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Kamya MR, Havlir DV, …
• Integrating family planning into HIV care in western Kenya: HIV care providers' perspectives and experiences one year following integration.
  AIDS care 2015 Newmann SJ, Zakaras JM, Tao AR, Onono M, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Steinfeld R, Grossman D
• Shamba Maisha: randomized controlled trial of an agricultural and finance intervention to improve HIV health outcomes.
  AIDS (London, England) 2015 Weiser SD, Bukusi EA, Steinfeld RL, Frongillo EA, Weke E, Dworkin SL, Pusateri K, Shiboski S, Scow K, Butler LM, Cohen CR
• Implementation and Operational Research: Effect of Integration of HIV Care and Treatment Into Antenatal Care Clinics on Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission and Maternal Outcomes in Nyanza, Kenya: Results From the SHAIP Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.
  Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2015 Washington S, Owuor K, Turan JM, Steinfeld RL, Onono M, Shade SB, Bukusi EA, Ackers ML, Cohen CR
• Implementation and Operational Research: Effects of Antenatal Care and HIV Treatment Integration on Elements of the PMTCT Cascade: Results From the SHAIP Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Kenya.
  Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2015 Turan JM, Onono M, Steinfeld RL, Shade SB, Owuor K, Washington S, Bukusi EA, Ackers ML, Kioko J, Interis EC, Cohen CR
• Shamba Maisha: Pilot agricultural intervention for food security and HIV health outcomes in Kenya: design, methods, baseline results and process evaluation of a cluster-randomized controlled trial.
  SpringerPlus 2015 Cohen CR, Steinfeld RL, Weke E, Bukusi EA, Hatcher AM, Shiboski S, Rheingans R, Scow KM, Butler LM, Otieno P, Dworkin SL, Weiser SD
• Integrating family planning and HIV services in western Kenya: the impact on HIV-infected patients' knowledge of family planning and male attitudes toward family planning.
  AIDS care 2015 Onono M, Guzé MA, Grossman D, Steinfeld R, Bukusi EA, Shade S, Cohen CR, Newmann SJ
• Providers' perspectives on male involvement in family planning in the context of a cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating integrating family planning into HIV care in Nyanza Province, Kenya.
  AIDS care 2014 Tao AR, Onono M, Baum S, Grossman D, Steinfeld R, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Newmann SJ
• HIV-positive men's experiences with integrated family planning and HIV services in western Kenya: integration fosters male involvement.
  AIDS patient care and STDs 2014 Patel R, Baum S, Grossman D, Steinfeld R, Onono M, Cohen C, Bukusi E, Newmann S
• Impact of family planning health talks by lay health workers on contraceptive knowledge and attitudes among HIV-infected patients in rural Kenya.
  Patient education and counseling 2013 Onono M, Blat C, Miles S, Steinfeld R, Wekesa P, Bukusi EA, Owuor K, Grossman D, Cohen CR, Newmann SJ
• Cost, cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of integrated family planning and HIV services.
  AIDS (London, England) 2013 Shade SB, Kevany S, Onono M, Ochieng G, Steinfeld RL, Grossman D, Newmann SJ, Blat C, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR
• Integration of family planning services into HIV care and treatment in Kenya: a cluster-randomized trial.
  AIDS (London, England) 2013 Grossman D, Onono M, Newmann SJ, Blat C, Bukusi EA, Shade SB, Steinfeld RL, Cohen CR
• Does integrating family planning into HIV care and treatment impact intention to use contraception? Patient perspectives from HIV-infected individuals in Nyanza Province, Kenya.
  International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 2013 Newmann SJ, Grossman D, Blat C, Onono M, Steinfeld R, Bukusi EA, Shade S, Cohen CR
• Overcoming Barriers to Family Planning through Integration: Perspectives of HIV-Positive Men in Nyanza Province, Kenya.
  AIDS research and treatment 2013 Steinfeld RL, Newmann SJ, Onono M, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Grossman D
• The study of HIV and antenatal care integration in pregnancy in Kenya: design, methods, and baseline results of a cluster-randomized controlled trial.
  PloS one 2012 Turan JM, Steinfeld RL, Onono M, Bukusi EA, Woods M, Shade SB, Washington S, Marima R, Penner J, Ackers ML, Mbori-Ngacha D, Cohen CR