
Dr. Atika Khalaf is an accomplished educator, researcher, and healthcare professional specializing in maternal health. She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences/Global Public Health from the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Sweden, alongside dual master’s degrees and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Dr. Khalaf is a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, and Nurse Practitioner in Sweden. With a distinguished career spanning several countries, Dr. Khalaf has made significant contributions to higher education and multidisciplinary research. She has extensive experience in teaching, supervision, and research leadership, mentoring students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Her expertise covers Public Health, Integrative Health Science, Nursing, and Midwifery programs at renowned institutions such as Kristianstad University and Örebro University in Sweden, Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, as well as MBRU and the Nebras national mentoring program in the UAE. Dr. Khalaf’s research focuses on maternal health, maternal mental health, and body image, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and advanced statistical analyses. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed international publications, reflecting her commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in her field. Through her scholarly work and leadership, Dr. Khalaf is dedicated to enhancing maternal healthcare practices and developing culturally sensitive interventions, making her a valuable asset to any collaborative project or academic initiative.
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor - Adult Nursing
Hind Bint Maktoum College of Nursing and Midwifery, MBRU, Dubai, UAE.
Associate Professor
Fatima College of Health Sciences, UAE.
Assistant Professor
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
Associate Professor
Kristianstad University, Sweden.
Clinical lecturer
King Khaled University, Saudi Arabia.
Professional Education
Master of Science Degree in Midwifery
University of Borås, Sweden
Ph.D. in Nursing
Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN)
Kristianstad University, Sweden
Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)
Malmö University, Sweden,
Teaching
- Specialty I: Women’s health & antenatal care
- Specialty II: Labor and obstetric emergencies
- Specialty III: Postnatal care and community midwifery
- Health promotion and health education
- Maternal health nursing clinical
- Advanced clinical nursing
- Research methodology
- Nursing research, theory, and method
- Applied statistics in health sciences
- Qualitative research methods in health sciences
- Pediatric nursing theory
- Pediatric nursing clinical
- Adult medical surgical nursing theory
- Scientific methods II – epidemiology and quantitative approach
- Global health
- International health
- Advanced medical nursing care
Honors and Awards
Co-PI, awarded 33 000 OMR for the project “FamCe-HLP – Family-centered obesity management program in primary care settings”
Strategic Research Programme, Oman.
PI, awarded 3000 OMR for the project “Breastfeeding Transition in Oman, a Trend Shift, or a Product of Social Development? - A Qualitative Study on Three Generations of Omani Mothers,”
Deanship of Research, Oman.
Co-Investigator, awarded 3000 OMR for the project “Maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19: A multi-center case-control international study in seven Arabic countries,”
Deanship of Research, Oman.
Co-Investigator, awarded 301 794 Euro for the project “Body Confident Mums”
Erasmus + Strategic Partnership Vocational Training, Sweden.
Publications
Membership of Professional Bodies
- Chair and Member of different academic committees
- Clinical Assessment, Research and Education, PRO-CARE, Kristianstad University, Sweden.
- The research group “Global health, nursing and sustainable development”, Karolinska Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Sweden
- Association of Middle East Children and Youth Studies, USA
- Children’s and Young People’s Health in Social Context – CYPHiSCO, Kristianstad University, Sweden
Research Interests
- Clinical Nursing
- Midwifery
- Women’s Health
- Youth Health
- Global Public Health
- Body Image
- Psychometric Measurements
Clinical Community
- 2021, Work-life balance for pregnant working women – a public life-sent lecture in the community activity “Supporting Mums through Difficult Times” – timing with the World Maternal Mental Health Awareness, Oman.
- 2020, “Empowering Psychological Wellbeing of Adolescents”, Oman.
- 2020, “Demystifying Breastfeeding Myths during COVID” pledged with World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), Oman.
- 2019, “Rise up and Run”, physical activity for children, Oman.
- 2019, “First Aid Management for Children”, Oman.
- 2015–2019, a number of interviews in newspapers, radio, and public lectures, all in Sweden.
- 2018–2019, registered midwife, delivery unit, Kristianstad, Sweden.
- 2004–2008, registered nurse, emergency care unit, Malmö, Sweden.