Caroline Barakat
BSc (Hon), MES, PhD

Research and expertise

• Background and interests

  Dr. Caroline Barakat is an Associate Professor specializing in Environmental/Occupational Health at Ontario Tech University. She previously worked as an Assistant Professor and a Discipline Representative for Health Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough and an Assistant Professor at Zayed University, Dubai. 

  Her research endeavours lie in exploring the links between environments and health, health across the life course, spatial patterns of health and health care, environmental epidemiology, and population health. Dr. Barakat has also contributed to environmental health equity research and the social and environmental determinants of adolescent health. 

  Her research experience focuses on air pollution and health, particularly the long-term health effects of childhood exposure to ambient air quality. She designed and developed a longitudinal study of the Hamilton Children Cohort Study (n=3,202, established in 1975). She designed and developed a large database on environmental exposures, health behaviours, and health measures for a sample of approximately 60,000 residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She was also involved in a national Canadian project that systematically reviews the literature on risk factors related to the onset and progression of 14 priority neurological conditions. She has completed several tri-council funded projects on sport participation for females, active living, and toxin exposure reduction. 

  Dr. Barakat is currently involved in several research projects including:

  • Exploring parental perception in relation to sport participation for girls.
  • Designing and evaluating the effectiveness of an ‘app’ to reduce exposure from parabens.
  • Examining women’s knowledge, perception, and behaviour in relation to toxin exposure from personal care and household products.
  • Assessing the potential relationship between childhood exposure to air pollution and log-term health.
  • Exploring social and physical determinants of health across the life course.
• Education
  • PhD in Medical Geography, Environmental Health, McMaster University, 2008
  • MES in Environmental Studies, York University, 2003
  • BSc (Honours) in Environmental Sciences, Biology, Mathematical Sciences, University of Toronto, 1993
• Courses taught

  Courses taught (past and present) at the undergraduate level:

  • Plagues, People, and Pandemics
  • Fundamentals of Sustainability II: Health and Social Sciences
  • Public Health I
  • Research methods for Health Professionals
  • Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health Promotion and Healthy Active Living
  • Introduction to Epidemiology
  • Epidemiology II
  • Issues in Child Health and Development
  • Patterns of Health, Disease, and Injuries
  • Health Research Seminar
  • Health Research Methodology
  • Geography of Health and Health Care
  • Places and People
  • Plagues and People
  • Directed Readings in Health Studies
  • Monitoring and Risk Assessment
  • Health and Social Policy
  • Capstone Research Projects
  • Introduction to Environmental Sciences
  • Case Studies in Environmental Hazards
  • Water and Solid Waste Management
  • The World of Health
  • Environment and Health
  • Water and the Environment

   Courses taught (past and present) at the graduate level:

  • Environmental Determinants of Health
  • Applied Biostatistics in Health Sciences
  • Special Topics in Health Sciences Research: Systematic Review Methodology
• Publications

  For a comprehensive list of publications, visit PubMed. 

  Peer-reviewed publications (in the past 5 years)

  • Maniyali, F., Sanchez, O., Papaconstantinou, E., & Barakat, C. (2023). Determinants of Health Care Needs in Relation to Vision Correction Among Adolescents in The United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(16), 6547. doi:10.3390/ijerph20166547
  • Mekhuri, S., Quach, S., Barakat, C., Sun, W., & Nonoyama, M.L. (2023). A cross-sectional survey on the effects of ambient temperature and humidity on health outcomes in individuals with chronic respiratory disease. Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy, 59, 256-269. doi:10.29390/001c.90653
  • Barakat, C., & *Konstantinidis, T. A. (2023). A Review of the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status Change and Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(13), 6249. doi:10.3390/ijerph20136249
  • Yousufzai, S., Cole, A., Nonoyama, M., & Barakat, C. (2023). Changes in quantity measures of various forms of cannabis consumption among emerging adults in Canada in relation to policy and public health developments. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(13), 6213. doi:10.3390/ijerph20136213
  • Abuelaish, I., Siddiqua, A., *Yousufzai, S., & Barakat, C. (2023). Exploring the Influence of Perceived Ingroup and Outgroup Threat on Quality of Life in a Region Impacted by Protracted Conflict. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(16), 6599. doi:10.3390/ijerph20166599.
  • Yousufzai, S., Cole, A., Nonoyama, M., & Barakat, C. (2022). Changes in cannabis consumption among emerging adults in relation to policy and public health developments: A cross-sectional exploratory study. Substance Use and Misuse, 57(5), 730-741. doi:10.1080/10826084.2022.2034873
  • Barakat, C., Crighton, E., Cardwell, F., & *Yousufzai, S. (2022). Career aspirations and trajectories of geographies of health and health care graduates: A cross-sectional study. The Canadian Geographer, 66(3), 512-523. doi:10.1111/cag.12745.
  • Klicnic, I., Cullen, JD., Doiron, D., Barakat, C., Ardern, C.I., Rudoler, D., & Dogra, S. (2022). Leisure sedentary time and physical activity are higher in neighborhoods with denser greenness and better built environments: An analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 47(3), 278-286. doi:10.1139/apnm-2021-0438
  • *Klicnik, I., Putman, A., Doiron, D., Barakat, C., Ardern, C., Rudoler, D., & Dogra, S. (2022). Neighborhood greenness, but not walkability, is associated with self-rated measures of health in older adults: An analysis of the CLSA. Preventive Medicine Reports, 30, doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102018.
  • Barakat, C., Dash, S.,* Klicnik, I., *Mohammed, S., & *Yousufzai, S. (2021). A cross-sectional study to examine constraints to sport participation among ethnically diverse female adolescents from Ontario, Canada. International Journal of Sport, Exercise and Health Research 5(2): 68-75. doi:10.31254/sportmed.5209
  • Barakat, C., *Yousufzai, S., Booth, A., & Benova, L. (2021). Prevalence of and risk factors for diabetes mellitus in the school-attending adolescent population of the United Arab Emirates: A large cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 11(9), e046956. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046956.
  • *Klicnik, I., *Mohammed, S., & Barakat, C. (2021). Examining Interactions of Constraints to Sport Participation among Adolescent Girls in Durham Region, Ontario: A Pilot Study. Journal of Health Science & Education, 5(2): 1-10. doi:10.0000/JHSE.1000211.
  • Kayani, K., Sanchez, O., Gamble, B., *Mohammed, S., & Barakat, C. (2021). Prevalence and Predictors of Tonsil Surgery among Adolescents who Reside in the United Arab Emirates. American Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 4(4), 1131.
  • *Klicnik, I., *Mohammed, S,, & Barakat, C. (2021). Development and validation of a survey instrument to build capacity for examining constraints to sport participation. Acta Scientific Women’s Health 3(6). doi:10.31080/ASWH.2021.03.0226
  • Sun, W., Tahsin, F., Abbass Dick, J., Barakat, C., Turner, J., Wilson, D., Reid-Haughian, C., & Ashtarieh, B. (2021). Educating Homecare Nurses about Deprescribing of Medications to Manage Polypharmacy for Older Adults. Western journal of nursing research, 43(11), 193945920982599. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945920982599
  • *Kayani, K., Sanchez, O., Gamble, B., *Mohammed, S., & Barakat, C. (2020). Frequency and Predictors of Tonsil Surgery: A Systematic Review of Evidence. Archives of Health Sciences, 4 (1), 1-11. doi:10.31829/2641-7456/ahs2020-4(1)-147.
  • *Mohammed, S., Kerpan, S., Stanyon, W., & Barakat, C. (2020). Examining Constraints to Sport Participation among Immigrant Adolescent Girls who reside in the Greater Toronto Area. Archives of Health Sciences, 4(1), 145. doi:10.31829/2641-7456/ahs2020-4(1)-145
  • Dghaim, R., Kambris, E.M., & Barakat C. (2020). How Safe are School and Bus Environments? Parents Perceptions of Risks and Hazards in the Emirate of Dubai. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, 18(2), 100-110. doi:1080/14773996.2020.1786993
  • *Theiventhiran, D., Bartfay, W. J., Barakat, C., & Wu, T. (2020). The Digital Divide: Examining the Use and Access to E-Health Based Technologies by Millennials and Older Adults. South Asian Research Journal of Nursing and Healthcare, 2(1). doi:10.36346/sarjnhc.2020.v02i01.005
  • Barakat, C. & *Yousufzai, S. (2020). Green Space and Mental Health for Vulnerable Populations: A Conceptual Review of the Evidence. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 6(S3), 51-57. doi:10.3138/jmvfh-2019-0040

  Edited Books

  • Barakat, C., Al Anouti, F., Dghaim, R. (Eds.) (2022). Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa - An Epidemiological Perspective, Global Perspectives on Health Geography Series (Crooks, V. Senior Ed.), Springer Nature, 199 pages.doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92107-1.
  • Barakat, C. & Al Anouti, F. (Eds.) (2022). Adolescent Mental Health in the Middle East and North Africa, Global Perspectives on Health Geography Series, (Crooks, V. Senior Ed.), Springer Nature 2522-8005, 123 pages.

  Book Chapters(in the past 5 years)

  • Barakat, C., *Yousufzai, S., *Mohammed, S., & Dghaim, R. (2022). Physical Activity and Sport Participation among Adolescents from the MENA. In C. Barakat, F. Al Anouti, R. Dghaim (Eds). Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa - An Epidemiological Perspective. Springer Nature.
  • Barakat, C., *Kenaan, M., Al Anouti, F. & Dghaim, R. (2022). Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa: Determinants and Distribution. In C. Barakat, F. Al Anouti, R. Dghaim (Eds). Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa - An Epidemiological Perspective. Springer Nature.
  • Dghaim, R., Muhsineh, S., *Nasser, F. & Barakat, C.(2022). Demographic and Geographic Variations in Respiratory and Allergic Conditions among Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates. In C. Barakat, F. Al Anouti, R. Dghaim (Eds). Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa - An Epidemiological Perspective. Springer Nature.
  • *Yousufzai, S. & Barakat, C. (2022). The Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus among adolescents from the Middle East and North Africa. In C. Barakat, F. Al Anouti, R. Dghaim (Eds). Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa - An Epidemiological Perspective. Springer Nature.
  • Barakat, C. & Al Anouti, F. (2022). Adolescent Mental Health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Where are we and where do we go from here? In C. Barakat & F. AL Anouti (Eds). Adolescent Mental Health in the Middle East and North Africa, Springer Nature.
  • Barakat, C. & *Yousufzai, S. (2020). Health-risk behaviors of adolescents from Arab nations.  Under review. In I. Laher (Eds), Handbook of Healthcare in the Arab World, in Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/F978-3-319-74365-3_24-1.
• Research collaborators
  • S. Elliott
  • E. Papaconstantinou
• Graduate student research
  • ‘Exploring Parental Perceptions in relation to Sport Participation for Girls’ – PhD Student Research.
  • ‘Evaluating the effectiveness of an educational toolkit to reduce exposure to parabens’ – master’s Student Research.
  • ‘An Exploration of Women’s Knowledge, Perceptions and Decision Making When Navigating Harmful Chemicals Commonly Found in Cosmetics’ – master’s Student Research.
  • ‘The Impact of Discrimination on the Well Being of Visible Minorities in large Urban Centres and their Access to Healthcare during COVID-19’ – master’s Student Research
  • ‘Prevalence and Predictors of Vision correction needs among High school Students in the UAE: A Cross-sectional Study’ – master’s Student Research. 
  • 'Tracking the Hamilton Children Cohort’ – master’s Student Research.
• Grants

  (In the past 5 years)

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research Operating Grant: Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts; $100,000; 2024-2025; ‘Tracing and recruiting participants of the Hamilton Children Cohort (1976-1986) using Social Networking Sites’; Co-Investigator
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant; $71,917; 2023-2025; ‘Tracing and recruiting participants of the Hamilton Children Cohort (1976-1986) using Social Networking Sites’; Principal Investigator
  • Discretionary Fund Research Seed 2023, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University; $4,250; 2023-2024; ‘Elements of effective educational toolkits that can facilitate behaviour change on exposures to toxins from personal care products’; Principal Investigator
  • SSHRC Small Grants Program 2023 – Ignite Stream, Ontario Tech University; $14,994; 2023-2025; ‘Creating an evidence‐informed toolkit that exposure reduction to parabens from personal care products’; Principal Investigator
  • Sport Participation Research Initiative (SPRI); $15,000; 2022-2025; ‘Evidence-informed Parental Decision-making in relation to Sport Participation for Girls’; Principal Investigator
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant; $94,827; 2022-2025; ‘Evidence-informed Parental Decision-making in relation to Sport Participation for Girls’; Principal Investigator
  • SSHRC Explore Grant, Ontario Tech University SSHRC Small Grants Program 2021; $7,000; 2022-2023; ‘Effectiveness of Social Networking Sites for Participant Tracing to Facilitate a 43 Year Follow‐up Prospective Study and Future Longitudinal Research’; Principal Investigator
  • Research Seed Grant, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University; $5,000; 2022-2023; ‘Knowledge and Perceptions of Women in Relation to Use and Exposures to Personal and Household Chemical Products’; Principal Investigator
  • CIHR Catalyst Grant: Analysis of Canadian Longitudinal Study in Aging (CLSA) Data; $70,000; 2020-2022; ‘Environmental Features of Age-Friendly, Healthy, Active Cities’; Co-Investigator
  • CIHR Operating Grant: Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts; $75,000; 2020-2022; ‘Environment Features of Age-Friendly, Healthy, Active Cities’; Co-Investigator
  • SSHRC Small Grants (SSG) Program; $14,939; 2017-2018; ‘A Scaling-up Approach to Educating Home Care Nurses about De-prescribing to Promote Safety in Medication Management among Frail Older Adults’; Co-Investigator
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Sport Canada; $84,642; January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2019. ‘Examining and Addressing Constraints to Sport Participation among Ethnically-Diverse Female Adolescents’; Principal Investigator.