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Rainier Masa

Associate Professor

Rainier Masa, Ph.D.

Contact

Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building

402-L

325 Pittsboro Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27599

rmasa@email.unc.edu

O: 919-962-6531

https://gsdi.unc.edu/

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Dr. Rainier (Rain) Masa is an associate professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work. He is a lead researcher with the Global Social Development Innovations Center and a research fellow at the Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg. He is also a faculty affiliate of the UNC African Studies Center and a member of the UNC Center for AIDS Research.

Dr. Masa’s research focuses on the economic and social aspects of health in low-resource communities. He conducts research on the intersection of economic security and HIV among adolescents and young adults. He examines how food access, economic vulnerability, and stigma affect risk for HIV transmission and progression along the HIV care continuum, particularly among key populations.

Degrees and Licenses

Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MSW, Washington University in St. Louis
BA, University of Santo Tomas (Manila, Philippines)

Certifications

Safe Zone
Haven

Research and Professional Interests

HIV Prevention and Treatment
Food Security
Stigma
Adolescents and Young Adults
Positive Youth Development

Principal Investigator

A Feasibility Study of Umwini, an Asset-Based Intervention for Young People Living with HIV in Zambia
Intersectional Stigma and Resilience among Young Latino Sexual Minority Men to Improve HIV Testing and PrEP Use

Co-Investigator

Siyakha Youth Assets and Employability Project (South Africa)

Recent Publications

Masa, R. & Chowa, G. (2020). Household food insecurity and educational outcomes in school-going adolescents in Ghana. Public Health Nutrition. doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020001974

Masa, R., Bates, C., & Chowa, G. (2020). Direct and indirect associations of food insecurity, adolescent-parent relationship, and adolescent future orientation. Journal of Family Issues. doi.org/10.1177/0192513X20942807

Masa, R., Khan, Z., & Chowa, G. (2020). Youth food insecurity in Ghana and South Africa: Prevalence, socioeconomic correlates, and moderation effect of gender. Children and Youth Services Review, 116. doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105180

Masa, R., Baca-Atlas, S., & Hangoma, P. (2021). Walking and perceived lack of safety: Correlates and association with health outcomes for people living with HIV in rural Zambia. Journal of Transport and Health, 22, 101140. doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2021.101140

Masa, R. & Sharma, A. (2021). Invariance of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale across different groups of adolescents and young adults. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. doi.org/10.1177/03795721211019634

Masa, R., Shangani, S., & Operario, D. (2021). Socioeconomic status and psychosocial resources mediate racial/ethnic differences in psychological health among gay and bisexual men: A longitudinal analysis using structural equation modeling. American Journal of Men’s Health. doi.org/10.1177/15579883211001197

Courses

SOWO 510

Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice and Program Evaluation

Spring 2017-2018, 2020

MSW

SOWO 530

Foundations of Social Welfare and Social Work

Fall 2015-2016, 2018-2019

MSW

SOWO 793

Asset Development Practice and Policy

Spring 2016, 2019

MSW, CMPP

SOWO 834

Advanced Policy Practice

Spring 2018, Fall 2018-2020

MSW, CMPP

SOWO 835

Poverty Policy

Spring 2014-2020

MSW, CMPP

SOWO 910

Research Methods in Social Intervention

Doctoral Program