Prof. Paul Nyongesa

MBChB, MMed (ObGyn), PhD (Anthropology), Cert. Maternal Health

Associate Professor of Maternal Health & Consultant Obstetrician-Gynaecologist

Department of Reproductive Health, Moi University School of Medicine; Directorate of Reproductive Health, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital

Volunteer role — ALMACH has no paid staff

Paul J. O. Nyongesa is Associate Professor of Maternal Health in the Department of Reproductive Health at Moi University School of Medicine, and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with clinical duties in the Directorate of Reproductive Health at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. He qualified as a medical doctor (MBChB, University of Nairobi, 1983) and as an obstetrician-gynaecologist (MMed ObGyn, University of Nairobi, 1991), earned a Certificate in Maternal Health from Uppsala University, Sweden (1997), and holds a PhD in Anthropology from Moi University's School of Arts and Social Sciences (2022). He joined Moi University in 1992 after serving as a Senior Medical Officer with Kenya's Ministry of Health, was Senior Lecturer until September 2023, and was appointed Associate Professor in October 2023. He is the department's Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coordinator and leads curriculum development in Reproductive Health, having helped establish the Master of Medicine in Reproductive Health and the clinical fellowships in Gynaecologic Oncology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine run jointly with the University of Toronto. He has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles and supervised 30 postgraduate students to graduation, with three more nearing completion.

Areas of expertise

Obstetrics and gynaecologyMaternal and newborn healthMaternal-fetal medicineMaternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR)Medical anthropology of maternal healthClinical pastoral education and spiritual care in maternity

Grants & funding experience

Co-Investigator at Kenya Site 12 of the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research Consortium (funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) from 2010 to November 2025. Co-Investigator on the A-PLUS intrapartum azithromycin trial (NCT03871491, USD 1,350,000, 2020–2023), the ASPIRIN trial (NCT02409680, USD 750,000, 2016–2019) and the Antenatal Corticosteroids Trial (NCT01084096, USD 450,000, 2011–2014), all NICHD-funded through the Global Network; Co-PI on 'Hospital-based Spiritual Care of Kenyan Mothers: the Role of Chaplaincy' (approximately USD 100,000, 2015–2017); Co-Investigator on the AIM WELL project on African identities, moralities and wellbeing (EUR 35,190, 2020–2021).

Current ongoing work

Departmental Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies and Curriculum Development in Reproductive Health; Coordinator of Behavioural Sciences in Moi University's College of Health Sciences; COBES Coordinator for community-based research training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Coordinator of Assisted Vaginal Delivery training at Riley Mother and Baby Hospital with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Currently involved in two ongoing research grants, and co-author on 2025–2026 Global Network publications covering intrapartum azithromycin timing, postpartum antibiotic use, aspirin adherence in pregnancy, and hydrops fetalis outcomes. Member of the Eldoret Clinical Pastoral Education Planning Committee, which established a National Chaplaincy Training Centre for hospital chaplains.

Honors & awards

Kenya Medical Association Lifetime Achievement Award (April 2024); KOGS-Community Presidential Award from the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society for curriculum development in Gynaecologic Oncology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowships (February 2020); letter of commendation from the CEO of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for exemplary clinical performance (April 2021); Moi University Long Service Awards for 10 years (2007) and 30 years (July 2024) of distinguished service.

Publications & articles

Prediction of Outcomes in Infants with Hydrops Foetalis by Mode of Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Study from a Low-Resource Setting

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Eastern and Central Africa · 2026

Non-study post-partum antibiotics use and risk of maternal and neonatal infection: A secondary analysis of the A-PLUS randomized controlled trial

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics · 2026

Does Adherence Modify Low-Dose Aspirin Effects in Pregnancy? Post Hoc Analysis From a Multi-Centre Trial

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology · 2026

Timing of prophylactic intrapartum azithromycin administration and efficacy in prevention of maternal and infant infections: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology · 2026

Cost-effectiveness of intrapartum azithromycin to prevent maternal infection, sepsis, or death in low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling analysis

The Lancet Global Health · 2025

Effectiveness of intrapartum azithromycin to prevent infections in planned vaginal births in low-income and middle-income countries: a post-hoc analysis

The Lancet Global Health · 2025

PRIORITY Trial – Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia Post-Delivery: a randomized controlled trial comparing single-dose intravenous iron with oral iron in postpartum women

VeriXiv · 2025

Effects on maternal and pregnancy outcomes of first-trimester malaria infection among nulliparous women from Kenya, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo↗

PLOS ONE · 2024

Improving health equity through sustained academic partnership: development of a maternal-fetal medicine fellowship training program in Western Kenya↗

AJOG Global Reports · 2024

Antibiotic use in infants in the 6 weeks after delivery in seven low- and middle-income countries: findings from the A-PLUS trial

Paediatrics and International Child Health · 2024

Azithromycin to Prevent Sepsis or Death in Women Planning a Vaginal Birth (A-PLUS Trial)↗

New England Journal of Medicine · 2023

The Impact of Risk Factors on Aspirin's Efficacy for the Prevention of Preterm Birth

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · 2023

The User-Side Perspective in Leadership and Organization of Maternal and Newborn Healthcare in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Research Developments in Medicine and Medical Science, Vol. 5 (book chapter) · 2023

Strengthening Weak Healthcare Systems for Maternal and Neonatal Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The Missing Link

Advances in Sexual Medicine · 2021

Low-dose oxytocin as an adjunct to Foley catheter for cervical ripening in nulliparous women at MTRH, Eldoret, Kenya: A randomized controlled trial

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics · 2021

Safety of Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Use During Pregnancy in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries

AJOG Global Reports · 2021

Low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preterm delivery in nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy (ASPIRIN): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

The Lancet · 2020

Maternal mortality in six low and lower-middle income countries from 2010 to 2018: risk factors and trends

Reproductive Health · 2020

Integrating Spiritual Care into Maternity Care at a University Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya: Challenges, Lessons and Way Forward↗

Health and Social Care Chaplaincy · 2020

Antenatal corticosteroids to reduce preterm deaths in low-income settings↗

The Lancet Global Health · 2014

More from the team

Ms. Carolyne Chemweno

Board Secretary & CEO, ALMACH

Prof. Fabian Esamai

Professor of Paediatrics

Prof. Irene Marete

Senior Lecturer, Paediatrics & Child Health

Prof. Paul Nyongesa

MBChB, MMed (ObGyn), PhD (Anthropology), Cert. Maternal Health

Associate Professor of Maternal Health & Consultant Obstetrician-Gynaecologist

Department of Reproductive Health, Moi University School of Medicine; Directorate of Reproductive Health, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital

Volunteer role — ALMACH has no paid staff