Researcher

Jillian A.
Emerson, PhD

Maternal Health Research

Advancing evidence-based practice in maternal and child nutrition, mental health, and global health through rigorous research and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Research at a glance

12
Peer-Reviewed Publications
10
Presentations
6+
Countries of Research
View Publications Get in Touch
About

Driven by outcomes
for mothers and families

Dr. Emerson's research focuses on maternal and child nutrition, maternal mental health, and global health systems — with field experience spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Mexico, Burkina Faso, and the United States.

Her work examines how maternal psychological wellbeing shapes feeding practices and child nutritional outcomes, and how large-scale nutrition programs can be strengthened through formative research, community engagement, and health provider capacity building.

Publications

Selected works

12 peer-reviewed publications across global nutrition, maternal mental health, and child health.

2023
Suplementos de micronutrimentos múltiples: Una solución costo efectiva para las deficiencias maternas de vitaminas y nutrimentos inorgánicos Journal
Rios EE, Emerson JA, Carrera L
Cuadernos de Nutrición, 46(4)
2023
An Assessment of Barriers and Enablers to Uptake and Adherence of UNIMMAP MMS for Pregnant Women in Haiti Report
Dacius M, Mahone-Pierre J, Alfred C, King SE, Emerson J, Harvey Q, Hurley KM, Fox M
Sight & Life Special Report: Focusing on Multiple Micronutrient Supplements in Pregnancy, 2nd Edition, 83–88
2021
Global Mental Health and Nutrition: Moving Toward a Convergent Research Agenda Journal
Sparling TM, Cheng B, Deeney M, Santoso MV, Pfeiffer E, Emerson JA, Amadi FM, Mitu K, Corvalan C, Verdeli H, Araya R, Kadiyala S
Frontiers in Public Health, 9:722290
2021
Mothers' and health workers' exposure to breastmilk substitutes promotions in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire Journal
Emerson JA, Kouassi F, Kouamé R, Damey F, Cissé A, Tharaney M
Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17(4), e13230
2020
Maternal mental health symptoms are positively associated with child dietary diversity and meal frequency but not nutritional status in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Journal
Emerson JA, Caulfield L, Musafiri Kishimata E, Nzanzu J, Doocy S
Public Health Nutrition, 23(10): 1810–1819
2020
Mental health symptoms and their relations with dietary diversity and nutritional status among mothers of young children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Journal
Emerson JA, Caulfield LE, Kisimata EM, Nzanzu J, Doocy S
BMC Public Health, 20(225)
2019
Evaluating interventions to improve child nutrition in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Journal
Doocy S, Emerson JA, Colantouni E, Strong J et al
Public Health Nutrition, 22(1): 3–24
2018
Improving household food security in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: a comparative analysis of four interventions Journal
Doocy S, Emerson JA, Colantouni E, Strong J et al
Food Security, 10(3): 649–660
2017
Food Security and Nutrition Outcomes of Farmer Field Schools in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Journal
Doocy S, Cohen S, Emerson JA, Menakuntuala J et al
Global Health: Science and Practice, 5(4): 630–643
2017
Maternal Psychological Distress and Perceived Impact on Child Feeding Practices in South Kivu, DR Congo Journal
Emerson JA, Tol W, Caulfield LE, Doocy S
Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 38(3): 319–337
2017
Maternal mental health symptoms are positively related to emotional and restrained eating attitudes in a statewide sample of mothers participating in a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and young children Journal
Emerson JA, Hurley KM, Caulfield LE, Black MM
Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(1): e12247
2016
A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators to Optimal Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo Journal
Burns J, Emerson JA, Amundson K, Doocy S, Caulfield LE, Klemm RD
Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 37(2): 119–131
Presentations

Talks & conferences

Oral presentations and posters at international conferences across 5 countries.

Poster
Participatory Formative Research to Improve Complementary Feeding Practices in Oaxaca, Mexico
23rd International Congress of Nutrition (IUNS)
Paris, France · 2025
Poster
Barriers and Facilitators to Optimal Complementary Feeding Practices in Mexico
Micronutrient Forum 6th Global Conference
The Hague, Netherlands · 2023
Poster
Monitoring to Improve Service Delivery in Large-scale Micronutrient Supplementation Programs
Micronutrient Forum 6th Global Conference
The Hague, Netherlands · 2023
Oral Presentation
Improving Maternal Nutrition in the Context of Antenatal Care: Strengthening Health Provider Capacity through CME
FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Paris, France · 2023
Oral Presentation
Development of a CME Course for Improving Health Providers' Capacity in Maternal Nutrition
International Congress of Nutrition
Tokyo, Japan · 2022
Oral Presentation
Maternal Mental Health and Maternal and Child Nutrition in Eastern DR Congo: A Mixed Methods Study
Sub-Saharan Africa Caregiver Mental Health Knowledge Sharing Series
Online · 2020
Oral Presentation
De la recherche à l'action: Utiliser les techniques de recherche formative participative pour développer les activités des programmes de nutrition au Burkina Faso
Sommet Francophone pour le Changement Social et de Comportement
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire · 2019
Poster
Maternal Mental Health and Child Feeding Practices in Eastern Congo: A Qualitative Study
American Society for Nutrition · Experimental Biology
Chicago, IL · 2017
Poster
Women's Empowerment, PROMIS, and Agriculture Interventions Improved Household Dietary Diversity and Food Security in South Kivu, DR Congo
American Society for Nutrition · Experimental Biology
Chicago, IL · 2017
Poster
Maternal Mental Health Symptoms are Positively Associated with Disordered Eating Attitudes in a Statewide Sample of WIC Participants
American Society for Nutrition · Experimental Biology
Boston, MA · 2015
Let's connect on maternal health research
emerson.jillian@gmail.com
Send an Email →