Ruthfirst E. A. Ayande, PhD, MSc, RD
she/her/hers
Postdoctoral AssociateAbout
Titles
Postdoctoral Associate
Biography
Ruthfirst holds a PhD (Public Health) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she also completed a graduate certificate in feminist studies. She gained an MSc in Dietetics and a BSc in Nutrition and Food Science (combined major) from the University of Ghana, and a Certificate in Nutritional Epidemiology from the German Institute of Human Nutrition (Dife). Ruthfirst conducts interdisciplinary research in maternal and child health. Her research focuses on nutrition interventions to help improve maternal health and health literacy, neonatal outcomes, infant and young child feeding practices, as well as examining structural, economic and sociocultural determinants of health. She is a Registered Dietitian with expertise in both community nutrition and nutrition support therapy in the acute care setting. She continues to work clinically in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Last Updated on July 31, 2024.
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Non Degree Program
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, Feminist Studies (Certificate) (2024)
- PhD
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst , Public Health (2023)
- Dietetic Intern
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2022)
- Dietetic Intern
- Greater Accra Regional (formerly Ridge) Hospital (2016)
- MSc
- University of Ghana, Dietetics (2015)
- Non Degree Program
- German Institute of Human Nutrition (Dife), Nutritional Epidemiology (Certificate) (2014)
- BSc
- University of Ghana, Nutrition and Food Science (2010)
Board Certifications
Dietitian Registered
- Certification Organization
- Commission on Dietetic Registration
- Original Certification Date
- 2023
Research
Publications
2026
Maternal diet and nutritional status during pregnancy and lactation: a review of implications on milk composition and lactation outcomes
Ayande R, Sen S, Robinson D. Maternal diet and nutritional status during pregnancy and lactation: a review of implications on milk composition and lactation outcomes. Seminars In Perinatology 2026, 50: 152273. PMID: 42323262, DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2026.152273.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsA105-06 Prediction of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extremely Premature Infants: Building Upon the Traditional Predictive Model With Novel Social Determinants of Health Covariates
Go M, Ayande R, Gentle S, Taylor S. A105-06 Prediction of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extremely Premature Infants: Building Upon the Traditional Predictive Model With Novel Social Determinants of Health Covariates. American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2026, 212: aamag162.1126. DOI: 10.1093/ajrccm/aamag162.1126.Peer-Reviewed Original Researchprediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasiabronchopulmonary dysplasiaelectronic medical recordscontribution of social determinants of healthsocial determinants of healthdevelopment of bronchopulmonary dysplasiaNational Institutedeterminants of healthEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Healthbronchopulmonary dysplasia riskgrade 3 BPDrace groupsextremely premature infantsbronchopulmonary dysplasia developmentmultivariate logistic regression modelNational Institute of Child HealthInstitute of Child Healthlogistic regression modelsp-valueNational Institutes of HealthSDoH variableseffect of ethnicityhealth covariatesp-value <model fit
2025
Perinatal healthcare access, perceived quality, and preferences among historically underrepresented mother–infant dyads: a mixed methods study
Amodio N, Cueto V, Znamierowski E, Firoz T, Taylor S, Ayande R, Sude L, Rosenberg J. Perinatal healthcare access, perceived quality, and preferences among historically underrepresented mother–infant dyads: a mixed methods study. BMC Pregnancy And Childbirth 2025, 25: 887. PMID: 40859170, PMCID: PMC12379449, DOI: 10.1186/s12884-025-08029-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsmother-infant dyadshealthcare accessperinatal careHeart Health Programresearch team memberspatient-centered perspectiveconstant comparative methodwell-beingmedical clinic visitsmobile medical clinicsmixed-methods studypregnancy-related complicationsmulti-level supportperinatal healthcarepostpartum healthcarehealth equityprovider communicationHispanic/Latina womenprovider engagementin-depth interviewshealth advocacymaternal mortalitycare settingshealthcare prioritieshealth programsA two-day professional development workshop on advanced nutrition support increased Ghanaian nutrition and dietetic professionals’ self-efficacy and practical knowledge of enteral and parenteral nutrition support
Ayande REA., Agordoh P. D, Salino V. J., Webster-Ariyan C., Collier L., Asante M., Carbone E. T. (in press). A Two-Day Professional Development Workshop on Advanced Nutrition Support Increased Ghanaian Nutrition and Dietetic Professional’s Self-Efficacy and Practical Knowledge of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA two-day professional development workshop on advanced nutrition support increased Ghanaian nutrition and dietetic professionals’ self-efficacy and practical knowledge of enteral and parenteral nutrition support
Ayande R, Agordoh P, Salino V, Webster-Ariyan C, Collier L, Asante M, Carbone E. A two-day professional development workshop on advanced nutrition support increased Ghanaian nutrition and dietetic professionals’ self-efficacy and practical knowledge of enteral and parenteral nutrition support. South African Journal Of Clinical Nutrition 2025, 38: 23-30. DOI: 10.1080/16070658.2025.2452705.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Understanding the Weave, Undoing the Seams
Osorio, E. E., Gole, S., Sendroff, L., Luce, J., Ayande, R. E. A., Steinhilber, S., & Cooper, T. (2023). Understanding the Weave, Undoing the Seams. The Massachusetts Review, 64(4), 146–165. https://doi.org/10.1353/mar.2023.a914912Commentaries, Editorials and LettersUnderstanding the Weave, Undoing the Seams
Osorio E, Gole S, Sendroff L, Luce J, Ayande R, Steinhilber S, Cooper T. Understanding the Weave, Undoing the Seams. The Massachusetts Review 2023, 64: 146-165. DOI: 10.1353/mar.2023.a914912.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKnowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered dietitians and nutritionists regarding enteral and parenteral nutrition support in Ghana: a needs assessment study
Ayande R, Agordoh P, Salino V, Webster-Ariyan C, Collier L, Asante M, Carbone E. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered dietitians and nutritionists regarding enteral and parenteral nutrition support in Ghana: a needs assessment study. Frontiers In Nutrition 2023, 10: 1197610. PMID: 37457974, PMCID: PMC10339799, DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1197610.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Two African immigrant graduate students reflect on food access, food (in)security, and community during the pandemic.
Ayande, REA. & Chilufya, J. (2021). Two African immigrant graduate students reflect on food access, food (in)security, and community during the pandemic. Food and Foodways, 29(4), 391–402. https://doi.org/10.1080/07409710.2021.1984531Commentaries, Editorials and LettersTwo african immigrant graduate students reflect on food access, food (in)security, and community during the pandemic
Ayande R, Chilufya J. Two african immigrant graduate students reflect on food access, food (in)security, and community during the pandemic. Food And Foodways 2021, 29: 391-402. DOI: 10.1080/07409710.2021.1984531.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
Get In Touch
Contacts
Lab Number
Mailing Address
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Yale School of Medicine Dept of Pediatrics, 333 Cedar St.
New Haven, CT 06520-8064
United States