Dr Charné Petinger
PhD (Public Health)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Project Manager
E: cpetinger@uwc.ac.za
Dr Charné Petinger is a public health researcher whose work focuses on adolescent HIV, transition to adult care, adolescent-responsive health systems, digital health interventions, peer navigation, and implementation science. Her research centres on strengthening adolescent and youth-friendly services through participatory and evidence-based approaches.
Charné is currently an NRF-funded Postdoctoral Research Fellow at SOPH, where her work focuses on adolescent HIV, implementation science, peer navigation, and adolescent-responsive health systems. She also serves as a Project Coordinator and Manager on adolescent HIV and implementation science-focused projects at SOPH. Her work includes coordinating research activities, supporting stakeholder engagement, facilitating postgraduate student support initiatives, and contributing to adolescent-responsive intervention development and implementation. She has additionally contributed to postgraduate academic support activities, including writing bootcamps, peer learning initiatives, and student engagement platforms within the School.
Beyond SOPH, Charné is actively engaged in adolescent and youth health research networks and collaborates with researchers, healthcare workers, and policymakers working in HIV and adolescent health in South Africa and internationally. She is affiliated with the PATC3H-IN network, AHI(SA)², and the INSPIRE programme, which focuses on strengthening implementation science and adolescent health research capacity across Africa. Her work is closely linked to implementation-focused adolescent HIV initiatives, including the ATTUNE project, which explores peer navigation and adolescent-friendly HIV service delivery. She also contributes to community-engaged and youth-participatory approaches in health research and intervention development.
Her recent awards and achievements include the National Research Foundation (NRF) Postdoctoral Fellowship, the 2026 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) Travel Award, and winning the INSPIRE Designathon in Nigeria as part of a multidisciplinary team focused on innovative adolescent health solutions. She has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on adolescent HIV, transition to adult care, digital health interventions, qualitative evidence synthesis, and adolescent-responsive health systems.
Core thematic interests: adolescent HIV; adolescent-responsive health systems; transition to adult care; peer navigation; digital health interventions; implementation science; participatory and youth-centred research; psychosocial support for adolescents and young people living with HIV.
Realted projects:
- The ATTUNE Project (NIH-Funded) –