Haimanot Assefa Returns to Kenya
For Haimanot Assefa ‘26, studying abroad in Kenya during her junior year at Denison became an opportunity to connect her academic interests with meaningful action.
A Global Health Journey Begins
A Global Health major from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Haimanot knew she wanted to study abroad in East Africa due to her Ethiopian background. She was drawn to SIT’s Kenya: Global Health and Human Rights program. This was because of its comprehensive curriculum and the independent study project component. To help ease the financial concerns of OCS, Haimanot applied for and received the Gilman Scholarship, which allowed her to immerse herself fully in her program. While in Kenya, Haimanot chose to focus on endometriosis for her Independent Study Project (ISP) through SIT. This was an area of healthcare that first captured her attention in her global health course at Denison with Dr. Rettig.
Through her research, Haimanot learned that endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause severe pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, infertility, and more. This condition remains under-researched, particularly amongst African women and women of color worldwide.
Understanding Barriers to Care in Kisumu
During her time studying abroad in Kisumu, Haimanot conducted research with rural women experiencing symptoms associated with endometriosis, many of whom had not received a formal diagnosis. Her ISP taught her that limited access to healthcare was only one part of the challenge. Severe pain was often viewed as a “normal” part of menstruation and some women believed hospitals would not be able to help them. Others relied on traditional healing practices or dealt with being misdiagnosed when they went to the hospital to seek treatment.
Through her research project, Haimanot was able to connect with Elsie Wandera of the Endometriosis Foundation of Kenya. Elsie helped Haimanot consider how to approach community conversations respectfully and identify solutions based on the needs of the local women.
Turning Research into Action
After returning to Denison from off-campus study, Haimanot began looking for a way to turn her research into action. She wanted something to come from the research she completed. This led Haimanot to apply for and receive a Projects for Peace grant to develop her project, “Healing in Dignity: A Rural Women’s Endometriosis & Peace Campaign in Kisumu County, Kenya”. Additionally, she applied for and received the Alice Rowan Swanson Fellowship through SIT, which provided additional support for the project.
Haimanot traveled back to Kisumu County for the month of August, where she implemented the campaign alongside local healthcare professionals, community health partners, county representatives, and the Endometriosis Foundation of Kenya. One part of the project focuses on developing practical screening and referral tools. Healthcare workers will receive a detailed resource covering symptoms such as chronic pain and infertility. Additionally, community health partners will use a simplified five question tool to help identify when someone should be referred to a follow up at a health care facility.
The campaign also includes training for community health partners and healthcare workers, along with community conversations about endometriosis. Participants will also receive dignity kits containing reusable menstrual products, hygiene supplies, and accessible information about endometriosis.
Creating a Foundation for Change
Through this work, Haimanot hopes to challenge the belief that women must simply live with severe menstrual pain or that seeking medical care will not help. Her goal is to create resources that remain useful to local health workers and community members in Kisumu, beyond the initial project.
Looking to the future, Haimanot hopes to become a physician assistant or would like to pursue a career in women’s health. She wants to contribute to research on chronic gynecological conditions affecting African women and women of color, with the long term goal of returning to Ethiopia to support women’s health initiatives.
What began in a Denison classroom grew through study abroad, research and community partnership. Now, Haimanot is using her knowledge to educate and inform, strengthen access to care, and to create a foundation for continued change.
For more stories about global experiences at Denison, explore the rest of our Bridging Borders blog.