Charles Newton
MBChB (UCT), MA (Oxford), MRCP (London), MD (UCT), FRCPCH
Cheryl & Reece Scott Professor of Psychiatry
I examine the epidemiology and behavioural consequences of children experiencing a range of adversities in the low-income countries of insults, in particular the association of autism and developmental disorders with infections of the central nervous system (including malaria, HIV and bacterial meningitis). I am conducting research on genetics of autism, epilepsy and psychosis in sub-Saharan Africa. I also conduct research on the epidemiology and psychiatric co-morbidity of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa, examining interventions to reduce the treatment gap and stigma associated with these disorders. I examine the neurocognitive consequences of sickle cell disease in Africa. This research has led to an interest to the mental health of children from immigrant populations in the UK and Europe. My research in Oxford focuses on autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, particular the causes and consequences of these conditions in Europe.
Recent publications
Modelling seizure-related predictors of epilepsy diagnostic gap in two urban informal settlements of Nairobi using machine learning.
Journal article
Mwanga D. et al, (2026), Global epidemiology, 11
The prevalence and determinants of epilepsy in Ghana: A population-based study in two districts using a three-stage approach.
Journal article
Darkwa EK. et al, (2026), Epilepsia
Global, regional, and national burden of meningitis, its risk factors, and aetiologies, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Journal article
GBD 2023 Meningitis & Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators ., (2026), The Lancet. Neurology, 25, 451 - 468
Accuracy of epilepsy screening tools in community and primary care settings across countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Journal article
Darkwa EK. et al, (2026), BMJ open, 16
Validation of the International League Against Epilepsy ( ILAE ) Risk of Bias Tool against the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale in epilepsy research
Journal article
Kwon C. et al, (2026), Epilepsia