Iringa Field Work

Funded by the UF Summer Undergraduate International Research Program, the National Science Foundation, and the Chi Omega Humphreys Study Abroad Scholarship, I am currently spending two months in Iringa, Tanzania, conducting medical anthropology research at Tosamaganga Regional Referral Hospital. My project focuses on pain management and palliative care practices in clinical and cultural contexts.

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I am using ethnographic fieldwork methods—including participant observation and semi-structured interviews with patients, families, and healthcare providers—to explore how pain and end-of-life care are understood and addressed in this setting. I will analyze my data using MAXQDA qualitative coding software, with plans to publish and present my findings in Spring 2026.

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In addition to my core research, I am also keeping a journal to document observations related to the ongoing defunding of USAID programs and its impact on healthcare delivery in this region. You can find my running reflections and field notes below.