My overarching research goal is to understand more fully the role of communication in enhancing health actions—preventive and curative—and health outcomes in communities around the world. In particular, I strive to incorporate phenomenology, cultural studies, and critical theory into research designs to gain a deeper understanding of how social norms, social ties, and social structures affect health.

A key aspect of my work is to translate theory and research findings into workable programmatic recommendations, with particularly attention to achieving gender equity.

gender and culture, health communication, health literacy,Muslim world & Islamic thought, family planning and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention; adolescent health,qualitative and participatory research methods, Persian (Farsi, Dari, Tajiki) speaker

Underwood C and Jabre B. (In press) Enabling Women's Agency: Arab Women Speak Out. Journal of Communication for Development and Social Change.

Underwood C, Serlemitsos ET, Mubiana Macwag’ni M. 2007. Health communication in multilingual contexts: A study of reading preferences, practices and proficiencies among literate adults in Zambia. Journal of Health Communication, 12 (4): 317-337.

Underwood C, Hachonda H, Serlemitsos E, Bharath U. 2006. Reducing the risk of HIV transmission among adolescents in Zambia: Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of viewing a risk-reduction media campaign. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(1).

Underwood C. 2004. Islam and Health Policy: A Study of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islam and Social Policy. S. Heyneman, editor. Nashville, TN:Vanderbilt University Press.

Underwood C and Jabre B. 2003. Arab Women Speak Out: Strategies for Self-Empowerment in Video Power: Images that Transform, and Empower. Shirley White, editor. Sage Publications.

Underwood C. 2002. Belief and Attitude Change in the Context of Sustainable Human Development. In Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), Human Development Theme. Paris & London: UNESCO-EOLSS. [Also available on the Internet].

Underwood C. 2000. Islamic Precepts and Family Planning: Contrasting the Perceptions of Jordanian Religious Leaders and Their Constituents. International Family Planning Perspectives, 26 (3): 110-117 & 136.