Oluwatobi A. Alawode

Education

Ph.D., University of Florida, 2025 (Sociology–Medical Sociology & Demography)

M.Sc., Obafemi Awolowo University, 2018 (Demography with minor in Social Statistics)

B.Sc., Obafemi Awolowo University, 2012 (Demography with minor in Social Statistics)

About Me

Dr. Oluwatobi A. Alawode is an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at Auburn University. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology (Medical Sociology & Demography) from the University of Florida. His research examines the social and structural determinants of health, specifically how factors such as socioeconomic factors, gender, race & ethnicity, migration, and place shape health outcomes, health behaviors, and access to and utilization of healthcare; global health (sexual, reproductive, maternal, and child health) and demographic issues in the United States and across sub-Saharan Africa. He has published widely on these research interests using large-scale survey data and advanced quantitative methods.

Areas of Expertise

Medical Sociology; Demography; Population Health; Research Methods

Research Interests

Social and Structural Determinants of Health (health outcomes, health behaviors, and healthcare access/utilization); Race, Ethnicity, and Migration; Global Health (Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health); Demography

Publications

Hajjar, J.M., Bolarinwa, O., Alawode, O.A., et al. (2026). Determinants of Maternity Services Utilization among Women of Reproductive Age across sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS One, 21(2), e0321521. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321521 

Okeke-Obayemi, D.O., Alawode, O.A., et al. (2026). Prevalence and determinants of HIV testing among adolescent girls and young women in 28 sub-Saharan African countries. BMC Public Health, 26(164). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25828-w

Okunlola, D.A., Alawode, O.A., et al. (2025). Sexual behaviors and self-reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among male and female youths in Nigeria. BMC Infectious Diseases, 25(1515). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11836-z

Alawode, O.A. (2025). Relationship between Educational Assortative Mating and Reproductive Healthcare Utilization in Nigeria. Journal of Biosocial Science, 57(2), 221–238. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002193202500015X

Azubuike, C.D., & Alawode, O.A. (2024). Delayed Healthcare due to Cost among Adults Living with Multimorbidity in the United States. Healthcare, 12(22), 2271. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12222271

Nicholson, H.L., Jr., Alawode, O.A., & Ford, J.A. (2024). Determinants of Prescription Opioid Misuse among Black Americans: Evidence from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Addictive Behaviors, 149, 107890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107890

Alawode, O.A., Bolarinwa, O.A., Hajjar, J.M., et al. (2023). Is Intimate Partner Violence vertically transmitted among women in sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from demographic and health surveys between 2010 and 2019. International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(262). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-02074-3

Alawode, O.A., & Nicholson, H.L., Jr. (2023). Health literacy and uptake of annual physical checkups among emerging adults in the United States: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Sociology Compass, 17(4), e13081. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.13081

Courses Taught

SOCY 1000 – Global Perspectives

SOCY 4200 – Health & Society

SOCY 2100 – Population & Society (Demography)

SOCY 3700 – Research Methods