Publications & Research
Dr. Ruth Gibson • Stanford Postdoctoral Fellow
Research on the intersection of geopolitics, sanctions, and global health,
with focus on maternal and child health in conflict-affected settings.
Featured Publication
The impact of aid sanctions on maternal and child mortality, 1990–2019: a panel analysis
The Lancet Global Health (2025) • Volume 13, Issue 3
First global study to assess the impact of aid sanctions on human health, finding that long-term sanctions significantly reverse progress in maternal and child mortality across 140+ countries from 1990-2019.
Key Findings
- 64% reduction in maternal mortality progress when aid sanctions last 5+ years
- 29% setback for infant mortality rates from sustained sanctions
- 26% regression for under-5 child mortality in low-resource countries
- Effects peak after 4-5 years of sustained aid restrictions
Recent Publications
Academics can aid sanctions design to minimize humanitarian impact
The Lancet Commentary (2025)
Calls for mandatory humanitarian clauses in sanctions regimes; reviews 40 years of evidence showing aid halts exacerbate famine in 70% of cases.
How Foreign Aid Sanctions Affect Global Health and Security
Freeman Spogli Institute Report (2025)
Synthesizes data on USAID cuts' ripple effects; estimates millions of preventable deaths in sanctioned low-income states.
Parental investment in child health in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-national analysis
Royal Society Open Science (2016)
Cross-national analysis examining factors influencing parental health investment decisions across sub-Saharan African countries.
Effects of restrictions to Income Support on health of lone mothers in the UK
The Lancet Public Health (2018)
Examines health impacts of welfare policy changes on vulnerable populations in the UK, with implications for social policy design.
Academic Profiles & Databases
"My research seeks to bridge the gap between foreign policy and public health, providing evidence-based insights to minimize humanitarian harm while maintaining effective governance and security frameworks."