Realist Lab
Current PhD projects
Houssynatou Sy. Engaging vulnerable people in health interventions in fragile settings – a realist research in Mali. Promotors: Dimitri Renmans (ULB), Bruno Marchal (ITM)
Djibrine Diallo. Performance-based financing and health workers' motivation in low and middle-income countries' healthcare settings, adopting a realist evaluation approach. Promotors: Prof. Zakaria Belrhiti (Université Mohammed 6, Morocco), Bruno Marchal (ITM), Prof. Dimitri Renmans (ULB)
Sana Contractor. Claiming Citizenship: A Study of How Adolescent Muslim Girls and Young Women Negotiate Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Rights in Urban India. Promotors: Prof. Ana Lorena Ruano (Dpartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Facility of Medicine, University of Bergen), Sara Van Belle (ITM), Bruno Marchal (ITM)
Tom Cornu. Nature on prescription to increase the resilience of the elderly: exploring causal pathways using realist methodology. Supervisors: Prof Hans Keune (UA) and Bruno Marchal (ITM)
Virginia Plezeguelo. A qualitative study to investigate the use of complex perspectives in policy evaluation in public health. Promotors: Prof Mark Petticrew (LSHTM), Bruno Marchal (ITM)
Past PhD projects
View past PhD projects
Christelle Boyi. Advancing the Implementation of Facility-based Maternal Death Reviews in Benin using realist evaluation. VU Amsterdam/ promotor: Prof. M. Zweekhorst (VU Amsterdam), B. Marchal, T. Delvaux, E-M Ouendo. Defended Jan. 2026.
Monika Martens. Scaling up chronic care in Cambodia, Belgium and Slowakia, University of Antwerp. Promotors: Prof. E. Wouters (UA), Prof. J. Van Olmen (UA), S. Van Belle (ITM), W. Van Damme (ITM). Defended Dec. 2025
Samuel Bosongo. Le renforcement des capacités des équipes cadres des districts sanitaires à l’ère de la réforme de l’administration sanitaire provinciale en République Démocratique du Congo : une évaluation réaliste. Promotors: Prof. Y. Coppieters (ULB), Prof. F. Chenge (Université de Kisangani), B. Marchal (ITM). Defended June 2025.
Okikolu Badejo. Understanding how and why adolescent- friendly conditions of health services affect outcomes among adolescents and young people living with HIV in Nigeria. University of Antwerp. Promotors: Prof. E. Wouters, C. Nöstlinger (ITM), S. Van Belle (ITM), M. Laga (ITM) Defended Oct. 2024
Ibiloye Olujuwon. Performance of community-based ART programmes for key populations in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, University of Antwerp. Promotors: Prof. J. Van Olmen (UA) , Sara Van Belle (ITM), Defended Dec. 2024
Jean-Paul Dossou. Implementation of the user fee exemption policy for caesarean sections in Benin: A realist evaluation. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, VUB. Promotors: W. Van Damme (VUB-ITG), B. Marchal (ITM),S. Adisso S (Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC) Benin). Van Belle (ITM). Defended Dec 2022
Zakaria Belhriti. Unravelling the role of leadership in motivation of health workers in four Moroccan hospitals : A realist multiple embedded case study. Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, VUB. Promotors: W. Van Damme (VUB-ITG), B. Marchal (ITM). Defended Oct. 2020
Ferdinand Mukumbang. A realist evaluation of the antiretroviral treatment adherence club programme in the metropolitan area of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. University of the Western Cape. Promotors: Prof. B. van Wyk (UWC), B. Marchal (ITM) and S. Van Belle (ITM). Defended: 2018
Gaelle Vareilles. Comprendre la performance des volontaires de santé communautaire : une évaluation réaliste en lien avec la Fédération internationale des Sociétés de la Croix Rouge et du Croissant Rouge. Promotors: B. Marchal (ITM)