Department: Community and Behavioral Health

Year of intended graduation: 2026

Previous Education: BSC in Sociology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; MA in Sociology, University of Memphis, TN, USA.

Research Interest: Maternal Mental Health, Reproductive and Child Health, Global Health

Current Activities: Kaniz Fatema is currently focusing on maternal mental health within a global context. Postpartum depression is a serious public health concern in developing countries, with approximately 40 percent of postpartum mothers in Bangladesh experiencing depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. For her dissertation, she intends to examine whether social support from husbands, family members, and friends plays a significant role in reducing postpartum depression among mothers in Bangladesh. Her objective is to generate policy recommendations that government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and public health institutions can use to prioritize social support as a key intervention for improving maternal mental health in developing countries.