Peter Rockers | Profiles RNS

Peter Rockers, ScD

Assistant Professor

Boston University School of Public Health

Dept of Global Health

MPH, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
DSc, Harvard University

Dr. Rockers is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health at the Boston University School of Public Health, where he is also the Director of the Monitoring and Evaluation Certificate program. His research is primarily concerned with evaluating the impacts of health system strengthening interventions and policies in low- and middle-income countries using experimental methods. He is particularly interested in interventions that aim to improve early childhood development outcomes in high poverty settings. Dr. Rockers is currently Co-Principal Investigator for a large cluster-randomized trial in South Africa evaluating the feasibility and impact of an innovative package of early childhood interventions delivered by community health workers. Dr. Rockers is involved in several projects focused on access to medicines. He is Co-Principle Investigator for a project developing a framework for evaluating pharmaceutical industry-led access to medicines programs. He is also Co-Investigator for a cluster-randomized trial in Kenya evaluating the impact of a medicine access program on the availability and price of NCD medicines.

BU Sponsored Research

Integrating a Package of Home-Based Early Childhood Interventions into Existing CHW Protocols in South Africa
03/22/2016 - 08/17/2020 (PI)
WITS Health Consortium (PTY) LTD Bill & Melinda Gates

IFPMA SOW 2
04/01/2017 - 03/31/2020 (Co-PI)
PI: Richard Laing, MBChB, MSc (CHDC) MD
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association

Novartis Access Initiative Task Order 2
04/29/2016 - 02/28/2018 (Co-PI)
PI: Richard Laing, MBChB, MSc (CHDC) MD
Sandoz International GmbH

IFPMA SOW 1
08/01/2016 - 12/30/2017 (Co-PI)
PI: Richard Laing, MBChB, MSc (CHDC) MD
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association

Novartis Access Initiative Task Order 1
12/01/2015 - 04/30/2017 (Co-PI)
PI: Richard Laing, MBChB, MSc (CHDC) MD
Sandoz International GmbH

Follow up study assessing impact of a mother-groups based intervention for early childhood on nutritional status and child neurocognitive and social development
03/01/2016 - 03/31/2017 (PI)
Department for International Development (United Kingdom)

Use of MHealth by Ward-Based Outreach Teams in South Africa
07/01/2014 - 06/30/2016 (PI)
The Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO) USAID

Improving Early Child Development in Zambia
12/01/2014 - 11/30/2015 (PI)
Zambia Centre for Applied Health Research Development Dept for Intl Dev-UK

Health Management Improvement Program
07/01/2014 - 09/30/2015 (PI)
The Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO) USAID

Saving Brains: Improving Early Childhood Development in Zambia
04/01/2014 - 09/30/2015 (PI)
Zambia Centre for Applied Health Research Development Grand Challenges Can

Yr	Title	Project-Sub Proj	Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

Chernyak N, Harvey T, Tarullo AR, Rockers PC, Blake PR. Varieties of Young Children's Prosocial Behavior in Zambia: The Role of Cognitive Ability, Wealth, and Inequality Beliefs. Front Psychol. 2018; 9:2209. PMID: 30505288; DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02209;.
Scott NA, Henry EG, Kaiser JL, Mataka K, Rockers PC, Fong RM, Ngoma T, Hamer DH, Munro-Kramer ML, Lori JR. Factors affecting home delivery among women living in remote areas of rural Zambia: a cross-sectional, mixed-methods analysis. Int J Womens Health. 2018; 10:589-601.View Related Profiles.
Hamer, Davidson
Scott, Nancy
Rockers, Peter
PMID: 30349403.
Syed N, Rockers PC, Vian T, Onyango M, Laing RO, Wirtz VJ. Access to Antihypertensive Medicines at the Household Level: A Study From 8 Counties of Kenya. Glob Heart. 2018 12; 13(4):247-253.e5.View Related Profiles.
Onyango, Monica
Rockers, Peter
Laing, Richard
Vian, Taryn
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 30245176.
Onyango MA, Vian T, Hirsch I, Salvi DD, Laing R, Rockers PC, Ashigbie PG, Wirtz VJ. Perceptions of Kenyan adults on access to medicines for non-communicable diseases: A qualitative study. PLoS One. 2018; 13(8):e0201917.View Related Profiles.
Onyango, Monica
Rockers, Peter
Laing, Richard
Vian, Taryn
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 30142218.
Scott NA, Kaiser JL, Vian T, Bonawitz R, Fong RM, Ngoma T, Biemba G, Boyd CJ, Lori JR, Hamer DH, Rockers PC. Impact of maternity waiting homes on facility delivery among remote households in Zambia: protocol for a quasiexperimental, mixed-methods study. BMJ Open. 2018 Aug 10; 8(8):e022224.View Related Profiles.
Hamer, Davidson
Biemba, Godfrey
Scott, Nancy
Rockers, Peter
Bonawitz, Rachael
Vian, Taryn
PMID: 30099401; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022224;.
Rockers PC, Reich MR, Kettler H, Wirtz VJ. Commitment to Impact: Strengthening Measurement of Industry-Led Access-to-Medicines Programs. Health Syst Reform. 2018; 4(3):188-193.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 30060703.
Rockers PC, Laing RO, Wirtz VJ. Equity in access to non-communicable disease medicines: a cross-sectional study in Kenya. BMJ Glob Health. 2018; 3(3):e000828.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Laing, Richard
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 29989082.
Wirtz VJ, Turpin K, Laing RO, Mukiira CK, Rockers PC. Access to medicines for asthma, diabetes and hypertension in eight counties of Kenya. Trop Med Int Health. 2018 Aug; 23(8):879-885.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Laing, Richard
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 29808960; DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13081;.
Barakat D, Rockers PC, Vian T, Onyango MA, Laing RO, Wirtz VJ. Access to asthma medicines at the household level in eight counties of Kenya. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 May 01; 22(5):585-590.View Related Profiles.
Onyango, Monica
Rockers, Peter
Laing, Richard
Vian, Taryn
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 29663966.
Rockers PC, Zanolini A, Banda B, Chipili MM, Hughes RC, Hamer DH, Fink G. Two-year impact of community-based health screening and parenting groups on child development in Zambia: Follow-up to a cluster-randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med. 2018 04; 15(4):e1002555.View Related Profiles.
Hamer, Davidson
Rockers, Peter
PMID: 29689045.

Showing 10 of 48 results. Show More

Yan LD, Mwale J, Straitz S, Biemba G, Bhutta Z, Ross JF, Mwananyanda L, Nambao M, Ngwakum P, Genovese E, Banda B, Akseer N, Yeboah-Antwi K, Rockers PC, Hamer DH. Equity dimensions of the availability and quality of reproductive, maternal and neonatal health services in Zambia. Trop Med Int Health. 2018 04; 23(4):433-445.View Related Profiles.
Hamer, Davidson
Biemba, Godfrey
Yeboah-Antwi, Kojo
Mwananyanda, Lawrence
Yan, Lily
Rockers, Peter
Bhutta, Zulfiqar
PMID: 29457318.
Rockers PC. Methods commentary: quasi-experimental studies in health systems evidence. In Evidence Synthesis for Health Policy and Systems: A Methods Reader. Editors: E. Akl, K. Daniels, E. Langlois. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2018.
Hailu S, Rockers PC, Vian T, Onyango M, Laing R, Wirtz VJ. Access to diabetes medicines at the household level in eight counties of Kenya. Journal of Diabetology. 2018; 9:45-55.
Stokes A, Berry KM, Mchiza Z, Parker WA, Labadarios D, Chola L, Hongoro C, Zuma K, Brennan AT, Rockers PC, Rosen S. Prevalence and unmet need for diabetes care across the care continuum in a national sample of South African adults: Evidence from the SANHANES-1, 2011-2012. PLoS One. 2017; 12(10):e0184264.View Related Profiles.
Brennan, Alana
Stokes, Andrew
Rockers, Peter
Rosen, Sydney
PMID: 28968435.
Fink G, Levenson R, Tembo S, Rockers PC. Home- and community-based growth monitoring to reduce early life growth faltering: an open-label, cluster-randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 Oct; 106(4):1070-1077. PMID: 28835364.
Bärnighausen T, Røttingen JA, Rockers P, Shemilt I, Tugwell P. Quasi-experimental study designs series-paper 1: introduction: two historical lineages. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Sep; 89:4-11. PMID: 28694121.
Walsh FJ, Musonda M, Mwila J, Prust ML, Vosburg KB, Fink G, Berman P, Rockers PC. Improving Allocation And Management Of The Health Workforce In Zambia. Health Aff (Millwood). 2017 May 01; 36(5):931-937. PMID: 28461362; DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0679;.
Rockers PC, Tugwell P, Røttingen JA, Bärnighausen T. Quasi-experimental study designs series-paper 13: realizing the full potential of quasi-experiments for health research. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Sep; 89:106-110. PMID: 28390896; DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.03.016;.
Rockers PC, Wirtz VJ, Umeh CA, Swamy PM, Laing RO. Industry-Led Access-To-Medicines Initiatives In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Strategies And Evidence. Health Aff (Millwood). 2017 Apr 01; 36(4):706-713.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Laing, Richard
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 28373337; DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1213;.
Bärnighausen T, Tugwell P, Røttingen JA, Shemilt I, Rockers P, Geldsetzer P, Lavis J, Grimshaw J, Daniels K, Brown A, Bor J, Tanner J, Rashidian A, Barreto M, Vollmer S, Atun R. Quasi-experimental study designs series-paper 4: uses and value. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Sep; 89:21-29.View Related Profiles.
Bor, Jacob
Rockers, Peter
PMID: 28365303; DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.03.012;.
Bärnighausen T, Oldenburg C, Tugwell P, Bommer C, Ebert C, Barreto M, Djimeu E, Haber N, Waddington H, Rockers P, Sianesi B, Bor J, Fink G, Valentine J, Tanner J, Stanley T, Sierra E, Tchetgen ET, Atun R, Vollmer S. Quasi-experimental study designs series-paper 7: assessing the assumptions. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Sep; 89:53-66.View Related Profiles.
Bor, Jacob
Rockers, Peter
PMID: 28365306; DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.02.017;.
Rockers PC, Tugwell P, Grimshaw J, Oliver S, Atun R, Røttingen JA, Fretheim A, Ranson MK, Daniels K, Luiza VL, Bärnighausen T. Quasi-experimental study designs series-paper 12: strengthening global capacity for evidence synthesis of quasi-experimental health systems research. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Sep; 89:98-105. PMID: 28363733; DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.03.034;.
Rockers PC, McConnell M. Child Gender and Parental Reporting of Illness Symptoms in Sub-Saharan Africa. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Apr; 96(4):994-1000. PMID: 28138051; DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0249;.
Rockers PC, Wirtz VJ, Vian T, Onyango MA, Ashigbie PG, Laing R. Study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial of an NCD access to medicines initiative: evaluation of Novartis Access in Kenya. BMJ Open. 2016 Nov 25; 6(11):e013386.View Related Profiles.
Onyango, Monica
Rockers, Peter
Laing, Richard
Vian, Taryn
Wirtz, Veronika
PMID: 27888177; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013386;.
Rockers PC, Fink G, Zanolini A, Banda B, Biemba G, Sullivan C, Mutembo S, Silavwe V, Hamer DH. Impact of a community-based package of interventions on child development in Zambia: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BMJ Glob Health. 2016 Nov; 1(3):e000104.View Related Profiles.
Hamer, Davidson
Biemba, Godfrey
Rockers, Peter
PMID: 28588962.
Fink G, Rockers PC. Financial Incentives, Targeting, and Utilization of Child Health Services: Experimental Evidence from Zambia. Health Econ. 2017 Oct; 26(10):1307-1321. PMID: 27620009; DOI: 10.1002/hec.3404;.
Larson BA, Rockers PC, Bonawitz R, Sriruttan C, Glencross DK, Cassim N, Coetzee LM, Greene GS, Chiller TM, Vallabhaneni S, Long L, van Rensburg C, Govender NP. Screening HIV-Infected Patients with Low CD4 Counts for Cryptococcal Antigenemia prior to Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy: Cost Effectiveness of Alternative Screening Strategies in South Africa. PLoS One. 2016; 11(7):e0158986.View Related Profiles.
Larson, Bruce
Long, Lawrence
Rockers, Peter
Bonawitz, Rachael
PMID: 27390864; PMCID: PMC4938608; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158986;.
Rockers PC, Røttingen JA, Shemilt I, Tugwell P, Bärnighausen T. Inclusion of quasi-experimental studies in systematic reviews of health systems research. Health Policy. 2015 Apr; 119(4):511-21. PMID: 25776033; DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2014.10.006;.
Fink G, Rockers PC. Childhood growth, schooling, and cognitive development: further evidence from the Young Lives study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Jul; 100(1):182-8. PMID: 24808488; DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.113.080960;.
Rockers PC, Jaskiewicz W, Kruk ME, Phathammavong O, Vangkonevilay P, Paphassarang C, Phachanh IT, Wurts L, Tulenko K. Differences in preferences for rural job postings between nursing students and practicing nurses: evidence from a discrete choice experiment in Lao People's Democratic Republic. Hum Resour Health. 2013; 11(1):22. PMID: 23705805; PMCID: PMC3671159; DOI: 10.1186/1478-4491-11-22;.
Rockers PC, Bärnighausen T. Interventions for hiring, retaining and training district health systems managers in low- and middle-income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013; 4:CD009035. PMID: 23633365; DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009035.pub2;.
Rockers PC, Jaskiewicz W, Wurts L, Kruk ME, Mgomella GS, Ntalazi F, Tulenko K. Preferences for working in rural clinics among trainee health professionals in Uganda: a discrete choice experiment. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012; 12:212. PMID: 22824497; PMCID: PMC3444383; DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-12-212;.
Rockers PC, Feigl AB, Røttingen JA, Fretheim A, de Ferranti D, Lavis JN, Melberg HO, Bärnighausen T. Study-design selection criteria in systematic reviews of effectiveness of health systems interventions and reforms: A meta-review. Health Policy. 2012 Mar; 104(3):206-14. PMID: 22325150; DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2011.12.007;.
Rockers PC, Kruk ME, Laugesen MJ. Perceptions of the health system and public trust in government in low- and middle-income countries: evidence from the World Health Surveys. J Health Polit Policy Law. 2012 Jun; 37(3):405-37. PMID: 22323234; DOI: 10.1215/03616878-1573076;.
Kruk ME, Rockers PC, Varpilah ST, Macauley R. Which doctor?: Determinants of utilization of formal and informal health care in postconflict liberia. Med Care. 2011 Jun; 49(6):585-91. PMID: 21422954; DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e31820f0dd4;.
Kruk ME, Rockers PC, Tornorlah Varpilah S, Macauley R. Population preferences for health care in liberia: insights for rebuilding a health system. Health Serv Res. 2011 Dec; 46(6pt2):2057-78. PMID: 21517835; DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01266.x;.
Kruk ME, Rockers PC, Mbaruku G, Paczkowski MM, Galea S. Community and health system factors associated with facility delivery in rural Tanzania: a multilevel analysis. Health Policy. 2010 Oct; 97(2-3):209-16.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 20537423; DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.05.002;.
Galea S, Rockers PC, Saydee G, Macauley R, Varpilah ST, Kruk ME. Persistent psychopathology in the wake of civil war: long-term posttraumatic stress disorder in Nimba County, Liberia. Am J Public Health. 2010 Sep; 100(9):1745-51.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 20634461; PMCID: PMC2920997; DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.179697;.
Kruk ME, Rockers PC, Williams EH, Varpilah ST, Macauley R, Saydee G, Galea S. Availability of essential health services in post-conflict Liberia. Bull World Health Organ. 2010 Jul 1; 88(7):527-34.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 20616972; PMCID: PMC2897988; DOI: 10.2471/BLT.09.071068;.
Rockers PC, Kruk ME, Saydee G, Varpilah ST, Galea S. Village characteristics associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in postconflict Liberia. Epidemiology. 2010 Jul; 21(4):454-8.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 20453652; DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181df5fae;.
Kruk ME, Wladis A, Mbembati N, Ndao-Brumblay SK, Hsia RY, Galukande M, Luboga S, Matovu A, de Miranda H, Ozgediz D, Quiñones AR, Rockers PC, von Schreeb J, Vaz F, Debas HT, Macfarlane SB. Human resource and funding constraints for essential surgery in district hospitals in Africa: a retrospective cross-sectional survey. PLoS Med. 2010 Mar; 7(3):e1000242. PMID: 20231869; PMCID: PMC2834706; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000242;.
Galukande M, von Schreeb J, Wladis A, Mbembati N, de Miranda H, Kruk ME, Luboga S, Matovu A, McCord C, Ndao-Brumblay SK, Ozgediz D, Rockers PC, Quiñones AR, Vaz F, Debas HT, Macfarlane SB. Essential surgery at the district hospital: a retrospective descriptive analysis in three African countries. PLoS Med. 2010 Mar; 7(3):e1000243. PMID: 20231871; PMCID: PMC2834708; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000243;.
Kruk ME, Porignon D, Rockers PC, Van Lerberghe W. The contribution of primary care to health and health systems in low- and middle-income countries: a critical review of major primary care initiatives. Soc Sci Med. 2010 Mar; 70(6):904-11. PMID: 20089341; DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.025;.
Danforth EJ, Kruk ME, Rockers PC, Mbaruku G, Galea S. Household decision-making about delivery in health facilities: evidence from Tanzania. J Health Popul Nutr. 2009 Oct; 27(5):696-703.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 19902806; PMCID: PMC2928090.
Mbaruku G, Msambichaka B, Galea S, Rockers PC, Kruk ME. Dissatisfaction with traditional birth attendants in rural Tanzania. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009 Oct; 107(1):8-11.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 19577750; DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.05.008;.
Kruk ME, Mbaruku G, McCord CW, Moran M, Rockers PC, Galea S. Bypassing primary care facilities for childbirth: a population-based study in rural Tanzania. Health Policy Plan. 2009 Jul; 24(4):279-88.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 19304785; DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czp011;.
Kruk ME, Mbaruku G, Rockers PC, Galea S. User fee exemptions are not enough: out-of-pocket payments for 'free' delivery services in rural Tanzania. Trop Med Int Health. 2008 Dec; 13(12):1442-51.View Related Profiles.
Rockers, Peter
Galea, Sandro
PMID: 18983268; DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02173.x;.
Rockers PC, Wilson ML, Mbaruku G, Kruk ME. Source of antenatal care influences facility delivery in rural Tanzania: a population-based study. Matern Child Health J. 2009 Nov; 13(6):879-85. PMID: 18810618; DOI: 10.1007/s10995-008-0412-7;.

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 48 publications over 10 distinct years, with a maximum of 13 publications in 2018

Bar chart showing 48 publications over 10 distinct years, with a maximum of 13 publications in 2018

Year	Publications
2008	2
2009	3
2010	7
2011	2
2012	3
2013	2
2014	2
2016	4
2017	10
2018	13

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