Department of Health and Kinesiology
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Titilayo A. Okoror
Assistant Professor
| Education: | Ph.D. (2006), The Pennsylvania State University Department of Biobehavioral Health, State College B.A. (2001), The Pennsylvania State University Department of English Studies, State College |
| Office: | LAMB 111B |
| Office Phone: | (765) 49-69490 |
| Office Fax: | (765) 49-61239 |
| Email: | |
| Website: | MPH Program -- http://www.cla.purdue.edu/hk/mph |
| Specializations: | Public Health and African American Studies |
| Courses: | IDIS 271H - Introduction to African American Studies IDIS 371C - Issues in African American Health HK 225 - Human Sexuality and Health HK 365 - Introduction to Principles of Community Health HK 490 - Independent Inquiry into HIV/AIDS Research HK 590D - Diversity and Health |
Academic Appointments:
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Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology & African American Studies Research Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2006-present)
Research Interests:
Dr. Okoror’s work focuses on the role of culture in health. She is interested in the influence of culture in health decisions and behaviors, specifically sexual health and disease prevention. She explores how these decisions and behaviors are further impacted by historical, social and political contexts. Her research interests include HIV/AIDS, Sexual Health, Minority Health and Health Disparities. She works with minority populations in the U.S., and is also involved in international research on HIV/AIDS, with the goal of designing, implementing and evaluating culturally appropriate health prevention and intervention programs. Dr. Okoror has examined cultural influences in a variety of populations including youths, adults and special populations, such as people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
Memberships in Professional Organizations:
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American Public Health Association
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Society for Public Health Education
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Society for Behavioral Medicine
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Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Recent Publications:
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Airhihenbuwa C.O, Okoror, T.A, Shefer T, Brown DC, Iwelunmor J, Smith E, Adam M, Simbayi L, Zungu N, Dlakulu R, Shisana O. (2009). Stigma, Culture, and HIV and AIDS in the Western Cape, South Africa: An Application of the PEN-3 Cultural Model for Community Based Research. Journal of Black Psychology, first published on February 2, 2009 as doi:10.1177/0095798408329941.
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Okoror, T.A., Burton, E.T., Saur, S. & Coleman, J. (2008). Heterosexual Anal Sex among Minority Students – Results from a Community Needs Assessment. American Journal of Health Studies, 23(3): 136-142.
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Okoror, T.A. & & Airhihenbuwa, C.O., Shisana, O., Zungu-Dirwayi, N., Smith, E., Brown, D., & Louw J. (2008). “My mother told me I must not cook anymore” - Food, Culture, and the Contexts of HIV and AIDS related Stigma in Three Communities in South Africa. International Quarterly of Community Health Education, 28(3): 201-213.
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Iwelunmor, J., Airhihenbuwa, C.O., Okoror, T.A., Brown, D.C., & BeLue, R. (2007). Family Systems and HIV/AIDS in South Africa. International Quarterly for Community Health Education 27(4): 321-335.
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Airhihenbuwa, C.O. & Okoror, T.A. (2007) Toward Evidence-Based and Culturally Appropriate Models for Reducing Global Health Disparities: An Africanist Perspective, In Wallace, B.C., From Health Inequity to Equity in Health: A new Global Approach to Health Disparities (Springer Publications).
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Airhihenbuwa, C.O. Webster, J.D., Oladosu Okoror, T., Shine, R., & Smith-Bankhead, N. (2003). HIV/AIDS and the African American community: Disparities of policy and identity. Phylon, 50 (1-2): 23-46.
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Airhihenbuwa, C.O., Webster, J.D., & Oladosu, T. (2003). Transforming structural barriers to improve the health of African Americans. In I.L. Livingston (ed.), Handbook of Black American Health. Westport, CT: Greenwood.
Recent Presentations:
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Okoror*, T.A., Belue, R., Zungu-Dirwayi, N., Mohamed, A. & Airhihenbuwa, C.O. Health Service Delivery Protocols and the Stigmatization of People Living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Presented at 2008 American Public Health Association Annual Conference, San Diego, California, October 25-28, 2008 Poster Presentation
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Okoror*, T.A., E. Thomaseo Burton, Saur, S. & Coleman, J. Heterosexual Anal Sex among College Students – Results from a Needs Assessment. Presented at the 2008 Annual Conference of the American Public Health Association, San Diego, California, October 25th -29th P oster Presentation
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Iwelunmor, J.*, Okoror*, T.A, Zungu-Dirwayi, N, & Airhihenbuwa, C.O. “The first thing that comes to mind is death” – PLWHAs’ Perceptions about HIV/AIDS in Three South African Communities. Presented at 2008 American Public Health Association Annual Conference, San Diego, California, October 25-28, 2008 Poster Presentation
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E. Thomaseo Burton, Okoror, T.A., Saur, S. & Coleman, J. Disparity in Sexual Identity and Actual Sexual Behaviors among College Students: Results from a Community Needs Assessment. Presented at the Society for Public Health Education Midyear Scientific Conference, Chicago, Illinois, on May 25th, 2008 Oral Presentation.
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Saur, S., Okoror, T.A., Butler, S., Burton, E.T., Truesdell, J. & Murray, E. “What is Good Sex? – Socio-Cultural Constructions of Sexual Satisfaction among College Students, presented at Society for Scientific Study of Sexuality Western Conference, San Diego, California, on April 11-13th, 2008 Oral Presentation.
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Saur S., Okoror, T.A., Butler, S., Burton, E.T., Truesdell, J. & Murray, E. “What is Good Sex? – Socio-Cultural Constructions of Sexual Satisfaction among College Students (2008), presented at 2008 Sigma Xi Graduate Student Poster Competition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 Poster Presentation.
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Okoror, T.A. & Airhihenbuwa, C.O. (2007). Socio-cultural contexts of HIV counseling and testing among African American college students, presented at the 2007 CDC/DHPE National Conference & SOPHE Midyear Scientific Conference, Seattle, Washington, June 9th, 2007 Oral Presentation.
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Okoror, T.A. & Airhihenbuwa, C.O., Shisana, O., Zungu-Dirwayi, N., Smith, E., Brown, D., & Louw J. (2007). Food and HIV Stigma – Exploring the Socio-cultural contexts in South Africa, at the Department of Health & Kinesiology Colloquium Series, Spring 2007, April 25th, 2007, Oral Presentation.
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Okoror, T.A. & Airhihenbuwa, C.O., Shisana, O., Zungu-Dirwayi, N., Smith, E., Brown, D., & Louw J. (2006). Food and HIV Stigma – Exploring the Socio-cultural contexts in South Africa, at the 2006 Annual Conference of the American Public Health Association, Boston, 2006 Oral Presentation.
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Okoror, T.A. (2006). The “Feminization of HIV/AIDS” Among Sub-Saharan African Women: Exploring Health Factors through Cultural Models” at the First Annual Health Disparities Conference at Teachers College, Columbia University, March 10th-11th, 2006, Oral Presentation.
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Okoror, T.A. (2006).Cultural Identity and HIV/AIDS among African Women, presented at the 39th Annual Conference of African Heritage Studies Association, “Understanding Health and Well-Being in Africa and its Diasporas,” Tampa Florida, October 19-21, 2006, Oral Presentation
Selected Grants:
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Okoror, T.A. (PI). (2008). Community Health Needs Assessment of Purdue Students. Funded by College of Liberal Arts Faculty Development Fund.
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Okoror, T.A. (PI). (2006). Effect of HIV Risk Reduction Telephone Counseling on Students Testing Negative. Funded by Pennsylvania State University Africana Research Center.
Awards:
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Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Emerging Professional Award (2007)
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College of Liberal Arts Certificate of Recognition, presented by Diversity & Retention Initiatives through Volunteering, Education, and Networking (DRIVEN), Purdue University, West Lafayette (2006)