Nina R. Brooks

Assistant Professor

Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health

About me

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. My research interests lie at the intersection of environment, health, and development economics. My current research examines the environmental and health consequences of brick manufacturing in Bangladesh, how extreme heat affects fertility in sub-Saharan Africa, and the impacts of abortion policies on women’s health and economic outcomes. My research employs a range of disciplinary approaches from economics, demography, data science, geography, and epidemiology.

I am currently a section editor for the Data Science section at Current Environmental Health Reports.

Before joining BUSPH, I was an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut. I completed my PhD at Stanford University in the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. I also hold an MA in Economics from Stanford University, a Master of Public Policy from Duke University, with a certificate in International Development, and a BA in International Political Economy from UC Berkeley. Previously, I worked as a Senior Research Analyst at NORC at the University of Chicago and Manager of Global Affairs for Global Footprint Network.

Education

PhD in Environment and Resources, 2020

Stanford University
MA in Economics, 2019

Stanford University
Master of Public Policy, 2014

Duke University
BA in Political Economy, 2009

UC Berkeley

Publications

Building blocks of change: The energy, health, and climate co-benefits of more efficient brickmaking in Bangladesh

We employed a multiphase, interdisciplinary, mixed-methods approach to identify solutions. In this paper, we first summarize past approaches and discuss the key barriers we identified to improving the industry, then we present the design, and results of a randomized pilot energy efficiency intervention designed to overcome barriers to improved kiln operation.

N. Brooks, D. Biswas, S. Maithel, S. Kumar, M. Uddin, S. Ahmed, M. Mahzab, G. Miller, M. Rahman, S. Luby

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Building blocks of change: The energy, health, and climate co-benefits of more efficient brickmaking in Bangladesh

Reproductive and Social Policies, Sociopolitical Stress, and Implications for Maternal and Child Health Equity

We use rich, spatially referenced data from the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) individual surveys with detailed information on childbearing preferences and family planning decisions. Building on recent advances in remote monitoring of seasonal agriculture, we construct multiple vegetation measures capturing different dimensions of growing season conditions across varying time frames. Overall, our findings suggest that, in some settings, women strategically respond to growing season conditions by adjusting fertility aspirations or family planning use.

S. Eick, J. Eatman, M. Chandler, N. Brooks

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Reproductive and Social Policies, Sociopolitical Stress, and Implications for Maternal and Child Health Equity

U.S. global health aid policy and family planning in sub-Saharan Africa

Existing evidence suggests that abortion rates rise under the MCP, but the direct effect of U.S. funding restrictions on supply and use of family planning has received less attention. By studying PLGHA’s impact on health service delivery providers and women in eight sub-Saharan African countries, we are able to fill this gap. We find that health facilities provide fewer family planning services, including emergency contraception, and that women are less likely to use contraception and more likely to have given birth recently under the policy.

N. Brooks, M. Gunther, E. Bendavid, E. Boyle, K. Grace, G. Miller

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U.S. global health aid policy and family planning in sub-Saharan Africa

Health consequences of small-scale industrial pollution: Evidence from the brick sector in Bangladesh

The adverse health impacts of air pollution have been widely documented, yet there is little empirical evidence on the externalities of the brick manufacturing industry industry. We conducted a field study in Bangladesh to quantify the contribution of brick kilns to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and respiratory health. We exploit variation in the timing of brick production, seasonal wind direction, and household proximity to kilns to isolate the effects of brick manufacturing from other sources of air pollution. Our findings suggest that existing regulations, which require that kilns be at least 1–2 km from residential areas, schools, and health facilities, are inadequate to protect nearby communities from the substantial health burden brick manufacturing imposes.

N. Brooks, D. Biswas, R. Hossin, A. Yu, S. Saha, S. Saha, S. Saha, S. Luby

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Health consequences of small-scale industrial pollution: Evidence from the brick sector in Bangladesh

See all publications

Current Projects

Improving Brick Kiln Technology to Reduce Climate and Health Impacts

Steady economic growth and large working-age populations are driving demand for bricks to support a decades long construction boom across South Asian countries. Coal-burning traditional brick kilns that operate in the informal sector produce the majority of these bricks and contribute substantially to global climate change and worsen local air quality.

Reducing Emissions Working Paper Work Conditions Working Paper

Women's Autonomy and Abortion Decision-Making

Even when abortion is legal, women face numerous barriers to access, such as proximity, stigma and, crucially, affordability. We investigate the determinants of young women’s autonomy in abortion decision-making. We develop a model that accounts for bargaining over parental support.

Working Paper

Remote Sensing, Heat, Maternal and Child Health

Extreme heat in combination with land-cover/land-use change (LCLUC) poses significant challenges for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Climate change is increasing the duration, intensity, and frequency of extreme heat events throughout the region.

Remote Sensing, Heat, Maternal and Child Health