Alison Comfort, PhD

Title(s)Assistant Professor, Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Sciences
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address550 16th Street, #3737
San Francisco CA 94158
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    Alison Comfort is an Assistant Professor at UCSF in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. Trained as a health economist, she seeks to identify individual and social network factors affecting care-seeking decisions and health outcomes, both here in the United States and in countries including Uganda and Madagascar. She has evaluated the role of social networks related to health knowledge and behaviors including infant HIV testing, anti-retroviral therapy adherence, contraceptive decision-making, COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and antenatal care-seeking. Ultimately, her research aims to inform the design of social network-informed interventions to ensure access to reproductive health care and HIV treatment and prevention especially in low-resource settings.

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    Understanding individual- and social network-level factors affecting infant HIV testing to design social network interventions to increase testing of HIV-exposed infants
    NIH K01HD105521Jul 1, 2021 - Jun 30, 2026
    Role: Principal Investigator

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    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the 10-Item HIV Stigma Scale for Adolescents and Youth Living with HIV in Rural, Southwestern Uganda. AIDS Behav. 2025 Jun 03. Ashaba S, Favina A, Baguma C, Tushemereirwe P, Nansera D, Comfort A, Perkins JM, Samuel M, Zanoni BC, Tsai AC. PMID: 40457090.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    2. Delayed pregnancy disclosure, attributed social factors and implications for antenatal care initiation: a qualitative study among Ugandan women and their partners. Reprod Health. 2025 May 23; 22(1):90. Nalubwama H, El Ayadi AM, Harper CC, Byamugisha J, Walker D, Tsai AC, Erhardt-Ohren B, Senoga U, Krezanoski PJ, Camlin CS, Comfort AB. PMID: 40410763; PMCID: PMC12102790.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    3. A qualitative study of abortion decision-making trajectories among pregnant women at their first antenatal care visit in Kampala, Uganda. J Glob Health. 2025 Apr 11; 15:04125. Erhardt-Ohren B, El Ayadi AM, Nalubwama H, Camlin CS, Walker D, Byamugisha J, Tsai AC, Senoga U, Krezanoski PJ, Harper CC, Comfort AB. PMID: 40208799; PMCID: PMC11984614.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. "I am putting my fear on them subconsciously": a qualitative study of contraceptive care in the context of abortion bans in the U.S. Reprod Health. 2024 Nov 24; 21(1):171. Zia Y, Somerson E, Folse C, Alvarez A, Albergate Davis K, Comfort AB, Brown K, Brandi K, Moayedi G, Harper CC. PMID: 39581967; PMCID: PMC11587542.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Misperception of Norms About Intimate Partner Violence as a Driver of Personal IPV Attitudes and Perpetration: A Population-Based Study of Men in Rural Uganda. J Interpers Violence. 2025 Feb; 40(3-4):803-827. Perkins JM, Nyakato V, Kakuhikire B, Sriken J, Schember CO, Baguma C, Namara EB, Ahereza P, Ninsiima I, Comfort AB, Audet CM, Tsai AC. PMID: 38842209; PMCID: PMC11657416.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Social networks and HIV treatment adherence among people with HIV initiating treatment in rural Uganda and peri-urban South Africa. SSM Popul Health. 2024 Mar; 25:101593. Comfort AB, Asiimwe S, Amaniyre G, Orrell C, Moody J, Musinguzi N, Bwana MB, Bangsberg DR, Haberer JE, Tsai AC, META Study Investigators. PMID: 38292051; PMCID: PMC10825562.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    7. Provision of DMPA-SC for self-administration in different practice settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: Data from providers across the United States. Contraception. 2024 03; 131:110360. Comfort AB, Alvarez A, Goodman S, Upadhyay U, Mengesha B, Karlin J, Karlin J, Shokat M, Blum M, Harper CC. PMID: 38158075; PMCID: PMC11024673.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    8. Male circumcision uptake and misperceived norms about male circumcision: Cross-sectional, population-based study in rural Uganda. J Glob Health. 2023 Dec 20; 13:04149. Perkins JM, Kakuhikire B, Baguma C, Jeon S, Walker SF, Dongre R, Kyokunda V, Juliet M, Satinsky EN, Comfort AB, Siedner MJ, Ashaba S, Tsai AC. PMID: 38112224; PMCID: PMC10731132.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. "She should support me, she's my doctor:" Patient perceptions of agency in contraceptive decision-making in the clinical encounter in Northern California. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2023 06; 55(2):94-103. Rao L, Rocca CH, Muñoz I, Chambers BD, Devaskar S, Asiodu IV, Stern L, Blum M, Comfort AB, Harper CC. PMID: 37216964; PMCID: PMC10537387.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Perceived norms about male circumcision and personal circumcision status: a cross-sectional, population-based study in rural Uganda. medRxiv. 2023 Apr 26. Perkins JM, Kakuhikire B, Baguma C, Jeon S, Walker SF, Dongre R, Kyokunda V, Juliet M, Satinsky EN, Comfort AB, Siedner M, Ashaba S, Tsai AC. PMID: 37163008; PMCID: PMC10168507.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    11. The role of informational support from women's social networks on antenatal care initiation: qualitative evidence from pregnant women in Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Sep 16; 22(1):708. Comfort AB, El Ayadi AM, Camlin CS, Tsai AC, Nalubwama H, Byamugisha J, Walker DM, Moody J, Roberts T, Senoga U, Krezanoski PJ, Harper CC. PMID: 36114484; PMCID: PMC9479405.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Telehealth for Contraceptive Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Provider Perspectives. Womens Health Issues. 2022 Sep-Oct; 32(5):477-483. Rao L, Comfort AB, Dojiri SS, Goodman S, Yarger J, Shah N, Folse C, Blum M, Hankin J, Harper CC. PMID: 35691762; PMCID: PMC9110325.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    13. Assessing differences in contraceptive provision through telemedicine among reproductive health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Reprod Health. 2022 Apr 22; 19(1):99. Comfort AB, Rao L, Goodman S, Raine-Bennett T, Barney A, Mengesha B, Harper CC. PMID: 35459218; PMCID: PMC9026031.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    14. Social and provider networks and women's contraceptive use: Evidence from Madagascar. Contraception. 2021 08; 104(2):147-154. Comfort AB, Harper CC, Tsai AC, Moody J, Perkins JM, Rasolofomana JR, Alperin C, Ranjalahy AN, Heriniaina R, Krezanoski PJ. PMID: 33901430; PMCID: PMC8541759.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Mental health among outpatient reproductive health care providers during the US COVID-19 epidemic. Reprod Health. 2021 Feb 24; 18(1):49. Comfort AB, Krezanoski PJ, Rao L, El Ayadi A, Tsai AC, Goodman S, Harper CC. PMID: 33627155; PMCID: PMC7903398.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    16. The association between men's family planning networks and contraceptive use among their female partners: an egocentric network study in Madagascar. BMC Public Health. 2021 01 25; 21(1):209. Comfort AB, Harper CC, Tsai AC, Perkins JM, Moody J, Rasolofomana JR, Alperin C, Schultz M, Ranjalahy AN, Heriniaina R, Krezanoski PJ. PMID: 33494746; PMCID: PMC7831255.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Implementation science: Scaling a training intervention to include IUDs and implants in contraceptive services in primary care. Prev Med. 2020 12; 141:106290. Harper CC, Comfort AB, Blum M, Rocca CH, McCulloch CE, Rao L, Shah N, Oquendo Del Toro H, Goodman S. PMID: 33096126; PMCID: PMC8032203.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    18. Improving Capacity at School-based Health Centers to Offer Adolescents Counseling and Access to Comprehensive Contraceptive Services. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2021 Feb; 34(1):26-32. Comfort AB, Rao L, Goodman S, Barney A, Glymph A, Schroeder R, McCulloch C, Harper CC. PMID: 32730800; PMCID: PMC7385555.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    19. The impact of pill counting on resource-limited health facilities: a thematic qualitative analysis in eSwatini. Health Policy Plan. 2020 May 01; 35(4):452-460. Krezanoski JD, Matshotyana K, Nxumalo N, Comfort AB, Khumalo P, Krezanoski PJ. PMID: 32073622.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Comparison of traditional methods versus SAFEcount for filling prescriptions: A pilot study of an innovative pill counting solution in eSwatini. PLoS One. 2019; 14(12):e0224323. Krezanoski PJ, Krezanoski JD, Nxumalo N, Gabert R, Comfort AB, Khumalo P, Matshotyana K. PMID: 31800584; PMCID: PMC6892485.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Do home pregnancy tests bring women to community health workers for antenatal care counselling? A randomized controlled trial in Madagascar. Health Policy Plan. 2019 Oct 01; 34(8):566-573. Comfort AB, Juras RC, Bradley SEK, Ranjalahy Rasolofomanana J, Noeliarivelo Ranjalahy A, Harper CC. PMID: 31408150.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Extending health insurance coverage to the informal sector: Lessons from a private micro health insurance scheme in Lagos, Nigeria. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2018 Apr 15. Peterson L, Comfort A, Hatt L, van Bastelaer T. PMID: 29658152.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    
    23. Cost-effectiveness analysis and mortality impact estimation of scaling-up pregnancy test kits in Madagascar, Ethiopia and Malawi. Health Policy Plan. 2017 Jul 01; 32(6):869-881. Kolesar RJ, Audibert M, Comfort AB. PMID: 28387867.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. The effect of price on demand for and use of bednets: evidence from a randomized experiment in Madagascar. Health Policy Plan. 2017 03 01; 32(2):178-193. Comfort AB, Krezanoski PJ. PMID: 28207055.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Exploring the use of routinely-available, retrospective data to study the association between malaria control scale-up and micro-economic outcomes in Zambia. Malar J. 2017 01 04; 16(1):15. Comfort A, Leegwater A, Nakhimovsky S, Kansembe H, Hamainza B, Bwalya B, Alilio M, Johns B, Olsho L. PMID: 28052759; PMCID: PMC5209918.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    26. Providing free pregnancy test kits to community health workers increases distribution of contraceptives: results from an impact evaluation in Madagascar. Contraception. 2016 Jan; 93(1):44-51. Comfort AB, Chankova S, Juras R, Hsi CN, Peterson LA, Hathi P. PMID: 26409247.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. A false dichotomy: RCTs and their contributions to evidence-based public health. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2015 Mar; 3(1):138-40. Hatt LE, Chatterji M, Miles L, Comfort AB, Bellows BW, Okello FO. PMID: 25745128; PMCID: PMC4356283.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    28. Association between malaria control and paediatric blood transfusions in rural Zambia: an interrupted time-series analysis. Malar J. 2014 Sep 26; 13:383. Comfort AB, van Dijk JH, Mharakurwa S, Stillman K, Johns B, Hathi P, Korde S, Craig AS, Nachbar N, Derriennic Y, Gabert R, Thuma PE. PMID: 25261276; PMCID: PMC4190292.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    29. Household malaria knowledge and its association with bednet ownership in settings without large-scale distribution programs: Evidence from rural Madagascar. J Glob Health. 2014 Jun; 4(1):010401. Krezanoski PJ, Tsai AC, Hamer DH, Comfort AB, Bangsberg DR. PMID: 24976960; PMCID: PMC4073249.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    
    30. Households with young children and use of freely distributed bednets in rural Madagascar. Int Health. 2014 Mar; 6(1):29-34. Krezanoski PJ, Comfort AB, Tsai AC, Bangsberg DR. PMID: 24366350.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    31. Financial incentives and maternal health: where do we go from here? J Health Popul Nutr. 2013 Dec; 31(4 Suppl 2):8-22. Morgan L, Stanton ME, Higgs ES, Balster RL, Bellows BW, Brandes N, Comfort AB, Eichler R, Glassman A, Hatt LE, Conlon CM, Koblinsky M. PMID: 24992800.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 30     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Effect of health insurance on the use and provision of maternal health services and maternal and neonatal health outcomes: a systematic review. J Health Popul Nutr. 2013 Dec; 31(4 Suppl 2):81-105. Comfort AB, Peterson LA, Hatt LE. PMID: 24992805.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 53     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. Hospitalizations and costs incurred at the facility level after scale-up of malaria control: pre-post comparisons from two hospitals in Zambia. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Jan; 90(1):20-32. Comfort AB, van Dijk JH, Mharakurwa S, Stillman K, Gabert R, Korde S, Nachbar N, Derriennic Y, Musau S, Hamazakaza P, Zyambo KD, Zyongwe NM, Hamainza B, Thuma PE. PMID: 24218409; PMCID: PMC3886421.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. Effect of incentives on insecticide-treated bed net use in sub-Saharan Africa: a cluster randomized trial in Madagascar. Malar J. 2010 Jun 27; 9:186. Krezanoski PJ, Comfort AB, Hamer DH. PMID: 20579392; PMCID: PMC2909249.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
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