Biography
Alex Schaefer is a Technical Project Coordinator on the Primary Data Collection Team. She works to evaluate the impact of the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative (SMI), which seeks to reduce inequalities in and improve maternal and child health in the poorest regions of Central America and Chiapas, Mexico. Her interest in women’s and sexual/reproductive health, along with her skills in fieldwork, survey development, and the Spanish language, contribute to data collection, management, and reporting for SMI.
Originally from Cincinnati, Alex moved to Seattle after receiving her Bachelor of Arts from the Ohio State University. She joined the Institute in 2013.
Hernandez B, Colombara DV, Gagnier MC, Desai SS, Haakenstad A, Johanns C, CR McNellan, Nelson J, Palmisano EB, Ríos-Zertuche D, Schaefer A, Zúñiga-Brenes P, Iriarte E, Mokdad AH. Barriers and facilitators for institutional delivery among poor Mesoamerican women: a cross-sectional study. Health Policy and Planning. 15 Mar 2017. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czx010
Dansereau E, McNellan CR, Gagnier MC, Desai SS, Haakenstad A, Johanns CK, Palmisano EB, Ríos-Zertuche D, Schaefer A, Zúñiga-Brenes P, Hernandez B, Iriarte E, Mokdad AH. Coverage and timing of antenatal care among poor women in 6 Mesoamerican countries. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2016 Aug 19; 16:234. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-016-1018-5
Colombara DV, Hernández B, Schaefer A, Zyznieuski N, Bryant MF, Desai SS, Gagnier MC, Johanns CK, McNellan CR, Palmisano EB, Ríos-Zertuche D, Zúñiga-Brenes P, Iriarte E, Mokdad AH. Institutional Delivery and Satisfaction among Indigenous and Poor Women in Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama. PLoS ONE. 2016 Apr 27; 11(4): e0154388. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154388
Colombara DV, Hernández B, McNellan CR, Desai SS, Gagnier MC, Haakenstad A, Johanns C, Palmisano EB, Ríos-Zertuche D, Schaefer A, Zúñiga-Brenes P, Zyznieuski N, Iriarte E, Mokdad AH. Diarrhea prevalence, care, and risk factors among poor children under 5 years of age in Mesoamerica. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2016 Jan 19. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0750.
Mokdad AH, Gagnier MC, Colson KE, Zúñiga-Brenes P, Ríos-Zertuche D, Haakenstad A, Palmisano EB, Anderson BW, Desai SS, Gillespie CW, Murphy T, Naghavi P, Nelson J, Ranganathan D, Schaefer A, Usmanova G, Wilson S, Hernandez B, Lozano R, Iriarte E. Health and wealth in Mesoamerica: findings from Salud Mesoamérica 2015. BMC Medicine. 2015 Jul 14; 13:164. doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0393-5.
Colombara DV, Hernández B, Gagnier MC, Johanns C, Desai SS, Haakenstad A, McNellan CR, Palmisano EB, Ríos-Zertuche D, Schaefer A, Zúñiga-Brenes P, Zyznieuski N, Iriarte E, Mokdad AH. Breastfeeding practices among poor women in Mesoamerica. The Journal of Nutrition. 2015 Jul 1. doi:10.3945/jn.115.213736.
Mokdad AH, Colson KE, Zúñiga-Brenes P, Ríos-Zertuche D, Palmisano EB, Alfaro-Porras E, Anderson BW, Borgo M, Desai S, Gagnier MC, Gillespie CW, Giron SL, Haakenstad A, López Romero S, Mateus J, McKay A, Mokdad AA, Murphy T, Naghavi P, Nelson J, Orozco M, Ranganathan D, Salvatierra B, Schaefer A, Usmanova G, Varela A, Wilson S, Wulf S, Hernandez B, Lozano R, Iriarte E, Regalia F. Salud Mesoamérica 2015 Initiative: design, implementation, and baseline findings. Population Health Metrics. 2015 Feb 7; 13:3. doi:10.1186/s12963-015-0034-4.