Dr. Magna Aidoo
Staff details
Position
Lecturer in Community and Social Work
Department
Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies
M.aidoo (@gold.ac.uk)
Magna Aidoo has worked in academia and policy development in UK and internationally, particularly in the Commonwealth
My experience and expertise spans the public health sector where I worked for over two decades. My academic career precedes and extends beyond my practice and leadership experience. My practice and research has involved working with issues including sexual health (including HIV and AIDS), maternal and child health, mental health, and Non-Communicable Diseases. Teaching areas have included global public health, community and youth work and currently social sciences, community development and youth work. I have taught those training to be social workers, youth workers and community development workers both across Africa and the UK. I bring together global experience as an academic, practitioner, leader and consultant and this informs my teaching and research at Goldsmiths.
Academic qualifications
- PhD Public Health 1998
- MSc Sociology of Health, Illness and Society 1990
- BSc Social Sciences 1988
- Diploma Supervision and Counselling 1985
- Certificate Counselling in formal and informal settings 1983
- Certificate (JNC) Youth Work and Community Development 1981
Teaching and supervision
I supervise PhD students in the areas of public health, women in development and projects with focus specifically on young people. I am currently open to new enquires from potential PhD students.
Examples of PhD projects I am currently supervising include:
• Mental Health and Help-Seeking behaviour Among Ghanaian Youth: A Spiritual and Cultural Perspective.
• Autism and Black African Mothers; Navigating Local Authority Educational Services.
- BA Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work
- BA Social and Community Work
- BA Social Work
- MA Applied Anthropology, Community Development and Youth Work
- MPhil/PhD Communities and Social Justice
Research interests
My research interests focus on public health issues including sexual health (including HIV and AIDS), maternal and child health, mental health, and Non-Communicable Diseases. I appreciate the use of qualitative methods to examine how people make sense of themselves, others and how they structure and give meaning to daily lives. Methods used and appreciated are qualitative approaches.
Professional projects
2001-17 Member of Greenwich and Lewisham high level Clinical Commission Group.
2001-16 Chairperson of Bromley and Lewisham Health Watch Committee.
1998-2011 NHS Public Health Specialist- lead for diabetes, sexual health, mental health, children and young people. Assessor for UK Public Health Registry.
2011-16 Head of Health with Commonwealth Secretariat. Led pan-Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Annual Meetings in Geneva, Annual Conference Secretary. Represented Commonwealth Secretariat at World Health Assembly. Led several partnerships, nationally and regionally in member countries on health initiatives such as Non-Communicable Diseases, HIV/AIDs, reviewing health systems and developing national policies. Commissioned researchers in member countries. Liaised with UK-based High Commissioners on national issues e.g. Ebola.
1989-94 Commonwealth Africa Regional Director. Portfolio included Women and Youth health programme, responsible for a Diploma in Youth Work in Africa region.
Conferences and talks
2025:
Empowering Futures: Breaking the Cycles of Violence and Exclusion
Presentation on behalf of the Manju-Shahul-Hameed Foundation to stakeholders in House of Commons