BWALYA BUPE BWALYA | Lecturer I

Bwalya Bupe Bwalya

bwalya1983@gmail.com

Career Profile

Bwalya is an esteemed academic, consultant and researcher. He is a senior lecturer of Demography at Mulungushi University and a Senior Research Fellow in Demography and Population Studies at the University of Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, Department of Demography and Population Studies, Johannesburg, South Africa. Holding a BA in Demography (Major) and Economics (Minor), and a MA in Population Studies - Child Health (Nutrition), his research encompasses sexual reproductive health, fertility, maternal and child health, early marriage, menstrual hygiene, and nutrition.

Whilst at Mulungushi University, he has been instrumental in introducing two Bachelors Degree Programmes in Demography namely: Bachelor of Science in Demography and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Demography (Major) and Economics (Minor). Further, he served as the first Research Coordinator under the Directorate of Research and Postgraduate Studies (DRPS) between 2020 – 2022 leading and participating in various initiatives for the smooth running of the directorate such as MU ever university ranking, development of the research reporting system on the MU website, Mulungushi University Multidisciplinary Journal, MU Research Fund to mention but a few.

A recipient of the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) fellowship from ICF-International and facilitator of the 2017 DHS fellowship program, he has also provided consultancy services to organisations such as CARE International – Zambia and Research Triangle Initiative – Zambia.

Furthermore, Bwalya has contributed to governmental initiatives, notably the Post-Enumeration Survey of the 2022 Census of Population and Housing for the Zambia Statistics Agency, and as a member of the Zambia Vulnerability Assessment Committee for the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit under the Vice Presidents Office (2008 – 2011).

Prior to his academic appointment at Mulungushi University in 2014, his professional experience includes roles as a Statistician at the National Food and Nutrition Commission of Zambia, a Research Manager at the Society for Family Health, a Social Economic Planner at Chipata Municipal Council, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Millennium Development Goal Initiative Programme, a joint undertaking by the European Union, the United Nations-Zambia, and the Government of the Republic of Zambia (EU/UN/GRZ).

Bwalya is a Member of the Monitoring and Evaluation Association of Zambia (ZaMEA), Union for African Population Studies and the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP).

Education Background

Senior research fellow in Demography and Population Studies at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg – South Africa from 2023 to date

MA in Population Studies – UNZA (2010-2012)

BA in Demography (Major) and Economics (Minor) - UNZA (2007)

Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation – UNZA

Publications

  1. Bwalya, BB, & Odimegwu, C (2025). Decoding fertility behaviour of married women in Zambia: A multipronged analysis of bio-demographic, socio-economic and intermediate factors. PLOS Global Public Health, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004088

  2. Bwalya, BB, Mwansa, A, Amanzi, P, Ngongola, C, & ... (2025). A comparative study of menstrual poverty among urban and rural female learners in government schools of Zambia. BMC Women's Health, 25, 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03542-w

  3. Chanda, W, Hamooya, BM, Bwalya, BB, & ... (2024). Correlates of retinopathy in persons living with type 2 diabetes at a clinic in Zambia. The Pan African Journal, https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.83.43657

  4. Bwalya, B. B., Kasonde, M. E., Mulenga, J. N., Mapoma, C. C., Wamunyima, N., Siamianze, B., & Onukogu, O. (2023). The association between contraceptive use and desired number of children among sexually active men in Zambia. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1833. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16750-0

  5. Kasonde, M. E., Bwalya, B. B., Nyirenda, E. T., Mapoma, C. C., Sikaluzwe, M., Chimpinde, K., & Songolo, G. I. (2022). Association between sexual violence and unintended pregnancy among married women in Zambia. BMC public health, 22(1), 1491. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13881-8

  6. Yusuf, U.A., Kafula, F., Kaimba, K., Kalipenta, W., Kabwe, H., Mulemena, J.A., Kamvuma, K.M., Phiri, S.B., Miyoba, M., Mesole, B.S. and Phiri, A. Bwalya, B.B., and Zimba W. (2022). The Role of an Aqueous Extract of Cactus on Histopancreatic Architecture in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Wistar Rats. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2(2), pp.11-16. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejpharma.2022.2.2.30

  7. Yusuf UA, Kabwe H, Kafula F, Kalipenta W, Mulemena J, Phiri SB, Miyoba M, Phiri A, Bwalya B.B., Luambia IN, Simushi P. (2022). Streptozotocin and diabetes: Modulatory role of an aqueous extract of cactus on kidney histo-architecture of model. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 12(2):164-72.

  8. Bwalya, B. B., Mapoma, C. C., Phiri, M., Munkombwe, B., & Mulenga, J. N. (2021). Demographic and Socio-economic Correlates of Birth Registration and Having Birth Certificates. Mulungushi University Multidisciplinary Journal, 2(2), 46-60. https://research.mu.ac.zm/research/index.php/mu

  9. Namoobe, S., Bwalya, B. B., Onukogu, O. B., & Kafula, S. (2021). An evaluation of the agro-dealers’ role in enhancing diversification among farmers of Chibombo district of Zambia. Mulungushi University Multidisciplinary Journal, 2(2), 19-33. https://research.mu.ac.zm/research/index.php/mu

  10. Mapoma, C. C., Munkombwe, B., Mwango, C., Bwalya, B. B., Kalindi, A., & Gona, N. P. (2021). Application of verbal autopsy in routine civil registration in Lusaka District of Zambia. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 408. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06427-y

  11. Mwansa, C., Bwalya, B. B., & Mwenya, R. (2021). An assessment of online learning among students of higher learning institution in the midst of COVID-19 lock down: A case study of Levy Mwanawasa Medical University in Lusaka district of Zambia. Mulungushi University Multidisciplinary Journal, 2(2), 1-10. https://research.mu.ac.zm/research/index.php/mu

  12. Mulenga, J. N., Bwalya, B. B., Mulenga, M. C., & Mumba, K. (2020). Determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Zambia. Journal of public health in Africa, 11(1). https://doi.org//10.4081/jphia.2020.1084.

  13. Mulenga, J., Mulenga, M. C., Bwalya, B. B., & Ngongola-Reinke, C. (2018). Too young to be a wife! analysis of the factors influencing child marriages and its influence on the preferred number of children among women in Zambia. African Population Studies, 32(2). https://doi.org/10.11564/32-2-1210

  14. Bwalya, B. B., Mapoma, C. C., & Mulenga, J. N. (2017). Rural-urban differentials in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of child bearing age in Zambian. Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Public Health, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.2427/12247

  15. Mulenga, J. N., Bwalya, B. B., & Kaliba-Chishimba, K. (2017). Determinants and inequalities in access to improved water sources and sanitation among the Zambian households. International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 6(8), 746-762. https://www.academia.edu/download/80770224/ijds-v6n8-16.pdf

  16. Bwalya, B.B., Mulenga, M.C. & Mulenga, J.N. Factors associated with postnatal care for newborns in Zambia: analysis of the 2013-14 Zambia demographic and health survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 17,1-13 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1612-1

  17. Mapoma, C. C., & Bwalya, B. B. (2017). Does circumcision influence risky sexual behaviour among circumcised sexually active men in Zambia? Evidence from the 2013–14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey. Sex Transm Infect, 3(4), 5.

  18. Mulenga, J. N., Bwalya, B. B., & Gebremeskel, Y. (2017). Demographic and socio-economic determinants of maternal health insurance coverage in Zambia. Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Public Health, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.2427/12094

  19. Jere, S., Kasense, B., & Bwalya, B. B. (2017). Univariate Time-Series analysis of second-hand car importation in Zambia. Open Journal of Statistics, 7(4), 718-730. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojs.2017.74050

  20. Bwalya, Bupe B., Mulenga C. Mulenga, and James N. Mulenga. 2016. Factors Associated with Postnatal Care for Newborns in Zambia: Analysis of the 2013-14 Demographic and Health Survey. DHS Working Papers No. 123. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF International.

  21. Bwalya BB, Banda A, Jere S, Amanzi P, Funsani P. (2015). Can HIV/AIDS be fought by targeting youths in Zambia? Analysis of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Sexual Behaviour among youths aged 15–24 years. Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health, 21;12(4). https://doi.org/10.2427/11484

  22. Bwalya, B. B., Lemba, M., Mapoma, C. C., & Mutombo, N. (2015). Factors associated with stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Zambian: evidence from the 2007 Zambia demographic and health survey. Int J Adv Nutr Health Sci, 3(1), 116-31. http://medical.cloud-journals.com/index.php/IJANHS/article/view/Med-210

  23. Bwalya BB. Nutritional status among female adolescents aged (15–19 years) in Zambia: why it matters. Horizon. 2015 Nov;1(1):001-7. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bupe-Bwalya/publication/284615893_Nutritional_Status_Among_Female_Adolescents_Aged_15_-_19_years_in_Zambia_Why_it_Matters/links/5655758a08ae1ef92977208b/Nutritional-Status-Among-Female-Adolescents-Aged-15-19-years-in-Zambia-Why-it-Matters.pdf

  24. Bwalya, B. B., Phiri, M., & Mwansa, C. (2015). Digit preference and its implications on population projections in Zambia: evidence from the census data. Int J Curr Adv Res, 4, 92-97.https://www.researchgate.net/profile/bupe-bwalya/publication/281555418_digit_preference_and_its_implications_on_population_projections_in_zambia_evidence_from_the_census_data/links/55ed944508aeb6516268eca3/digit-preference-and-its-implications-on-population-projections-in-zambia-evidence-from-the-census-data.pdf

  25. Kawana, B. M., Mofu, M. J., Siamusantu, W. S., Kabwe, K. F., Bwalya, B. B., Tembo, G., ... & Banda, L. (2014). Cash or Food? Which Works Better to Improve Nutrition Status and Treatment Adherence for HIV Patients Starting Antiretroviral Therapy. Turning Rapid Growth into Meaningful Growth: Sustaining the Commitment to Nutrition in Zambia, 43.

  26. Bwalya, B. B. (2013). Influence of material characteristics on under-five Nutritional status in Zambia (Masters dissertation). http://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/3031