Sison, Olivia T.

Institute of Clinical Epidemiology
Email Address: 
otsison@up.edu.ph
Contact Number: 
(02) 522-8380
Research Areas: 
Biostatistics
Epidemiology
HIV prevention
Sexual and gender minority communities
Stigma
Olivia Sison is a Research Assistant Professor at the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila. She also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology, UP College of Medicine. She received her ScM Epidemiology degree from Brown University School of Public Health. She also holds a Master of Science in Public Health (Biostatistics) from the University of the Philippines Manila. She has more than 15 years of experience leading and coordinating public health research investigations and in data management and analysis in several nationwide projects in the Philippines. She was selected as a trainee of Brown’s Fogarty HIV International Training Program where she received advanced training at Brown University School of Public Health in complex and applied epidemiological methods, with specific emphasis on HIV prevention-care and research involving sexual and gender minority communities. As a research faculty member at UPM, she trained and led the team of data management staff in conducting data quality assurance activities. She conducted field monitoring visits nationwide for complex public health programs and have led the troubleshooting of data quality problems while survey teams are implementing fieldwork and research protocols. In 2016, she was the Assistant Head of the Data Management Unit of the 2016 National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey (NTPS) funded by the Philippines Department of Health (DOH), a large nationwide public health investigation involving more than 46,000 participants. She co-authored the final report of this survey, specifically focusing on the methodological, data analytic, and other technical components of this national policy report. As a UPM faculty member, she was involved in campus wide UPM training and research initiatives, including providing biostatistical consultations and analysis of research projects for fellows, residents, and researchers from various training hospitals and universities in the Philippines. She is also a co-investigator of a multi-country community-engaged cohort study entitled “LIFE course study in CARdiovascular disease Epidemiology (LIFECARE)”. LIFECARE is a community-based prospective cohort study to determine the effects of socioeconomic factors, psychosocial stress, and lifestyle factors in the development of cardiovascular disease in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Relevant Publications: 
  1. Ladia, Mary Ann J., Olivia T. Sison, Nina T. Castillo-Carandang, Rody G. Sy, Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Felicidad V. Velandria, and Wilbert Allan G. Gumatay. "Community Health Workers’ Concept and Understanding of Diabetes: A Qualitative Study." Acta Medica Philippina (2023).
  2. Restar, Arjee, Ma Irene Quilantang, Jeffrey Wickersham, Alex Adia, John Guigayoma, Amiel Nazer Bermudez, Omar Galarraga, Dalmacio Dennis Flores, Susan Cu-Uvin, Jennifer Nazareno, Operario, Don, Sison, Olivia T. (in press). “Predictors of PrEP Awareness, PrEP Discussion, and Interest in Long-Acting Injectable PrEP among Filipiina Transfeminine Adults.” Journal of the International AIDS Society (2023).
  3. Sison, Olivia T., Emmanuel S. Baja, Amiel Nazer C. Bermudez, Godofreda V. Dalmacion, Ernest G. Guevarra, Rhoda Myra Garces-Bacsal, Charlotte Hemingway, Miriam Taegtmeyer, Don Operario, Katie B. Biello, "Association of anticipated HIV testing stigma and provider mistrust on preference for HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men in the Philippines." BMC Public Health 22, 2362 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14834-x
  4. Belizario Jr, Vicente Y., John Paul Caesar R. delos Trinos, Olivia T. Sison, Raul V. Destura, John Robert Medina, April Joy E. Gigataras, Joy Ann G. Petronio-Santos, and Adrian B. Abarientos. "Evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in detecting Schistosoma japonicum in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, the Philippines." Acta Tropica 228 (2022): 106306.
  5. Francisco, Christian, Eddieson Gonzales, Marc Gregory Yu, Edsel Maurice Salvaña, Cybele Abad, Paul Ferdinand Reganit, Patricia Maningat, Olivia Sison, and Marissa Alejandria. "Metabolic Profile of People Living with HIV in a Treatment Hub in Manila, Philippines." Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 37, no. 1 (2022).
  6. Molina, Victorio, Olivia Sison, John Robert Medina, Carlo Lumangaya, Cyrille Nahla Ayes, Joseph Aaron Joe, and Vicente Belizario Jr. "Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in the Philippines: Meeting National and Global Targets at the Local Level." Journal of Environmental Science and Management 24, no. 1 (2021).
  7. Lansang, Mary Ann D., Marissa M. Alejandria, Irwin Law, Noel R. Juban, Maria Lourdes E. Amarillo, Olivia T. Sison, Jose Rene B. Cruz et al. "High TB burden and low notification rates in the Philippines: The 2016 national TB prevalence survey." Plos one 16, no. 6 (2021): e0252240.
  8. Restar, Arjee J., Aaron S. Breslow, Harry Jin, Ma Irene Quilantang, Olivia Sison, Amiel Nazer Bermudez, Maylin Palatino et al. "Transgender-specific developmental milestones and associated experiences of violence, discrimination, and stigma among Filipinx transgender women who are sexually active with men." PLoS one 16, no. 3 (2021): e0248248.
  9. Belizario Jr, Vicente, John Paul Caesar Robles Delos Trinos, Olivia Sison, Esther Miranda, Victorio Molina, Agnes Cuayzon, Maria Epifania Isiderio, and Rodel Delgado. "High burden of soil-transmitted helminth infections, schistosomiasis, undernutrition, and poor sanitation in two Typhoon Haiyan-stricken provinces in Eastern Philippines." Pathogens and Global Health (2021): 1-11.
  10. Tan‐Lim, Carol Stephanie C., Natasha Ann R. Esteban‐Ipac, Jacinto Blas V. Mantaring III, Edwin Chan Shih Yen, Marysia Stella T. Recto, Olivia T. Sison, and Marissa M. Alejandria. "Comparative Effectiveness of Probiotic Strains for the Treatment of Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta‐analysis." Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (2020).
  11. Delos Trinos, John Paul Caesar, Olivia T. Sison, Maria Reiza C. Anino, Jana Denise M. Lacuna, Manuel C. Jorge, and Vicente Y. Belizario. "Identification of suspected paragonimiasis-endemic foci using a questionnaire and detection of Paragonimus ova using the Ziehl–Neelsen technique in Zamboanga Region, the Philippines." Pathogens and Global Health 114, no. 3 (2020): 127-135.
  12. Sison, Olivia, Nina Castillo-Carandang, Mary Ann Ladia, Rody Sy, Felix Eduardo Punzalan, Elmer Jasper Llanes, Paul Ferdinand Reganit, Felicidad Velandria, and Wilbert Allan Gumatay. "Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Community Health Workers in Selected Villages in the Philippines." Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 34, no. 2 (2019): 171-179.
  13. Delos Trinos, John Paul Ceasar R., Vicente Y. Belizario Jr., Olivia T. Sison, Jonathan Neil Erasmo, Marie Jocelyn Te, Marie Cris Modequillo. “Child development center-based sentinel surveillance of soil-transmitted helminthiases in preschool-age children in selected local government units in the Philippines.” Acta Tropica (2019).
  14. Ladia, Mary Ann J., Olivia T. Sison, Cora A. Añonuevo, and Marissa M. Alejandria. "Community-based recruitment for clinical trials poses the need for social and ethical considerations." Journal of clinical epidemiology 102 (2018): 78-86.
  15. Castillo-Carandang, Nina T., Olivia T. Sison, Rody G. Sy, Hwee-Lin Wee, Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Allan Wilbert G. Gumatay, Felicidad V. Velandria, E Shyong Tai. “Establishing validity of EQ-5D-3L (Tagalog) to measure health-related quality of life states among adult Filipinos (20-50 years old).” Acta Medica Philippina 52, no. 5 (2018): 397-403.
  16. Ladia, Mary Ann J., Olivia T. Sison, Nina T. Castillo-Carandang, Rody G. Sy, Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, Wilbert Allan G. Gumatay, Felicidad V. Velandria. “Prevalence and associations for complementary and alternative medicine use among apparently healthy individuals in the Philippine LIFECARE cohort.” Acta Medica Philippina 52, no. 5 (2018): 404-410.
  17. Gervacio, Giselle G., Jaime Alfonso M. Aherrera, Rody G. Sy, Lauro L. Abrahan IV, Michael Joseph Agbayani, Felix Eduardo Punzalan, Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Olivia T. Sison, E. Shyong Tai, Felicidad V. Velandria, Wilbert Allan G. Gumatay, Nina T. Castillo-Carandang   "Cardiac events occurred commonly among apparently healthy Filipinos with the Brugada ECG pattern in the LIFECARE cohort." Heart Asia 10, no. 2 (2018): e010969.
  18.  Salvana, Edsel Maurice, Katerina Leyritana, Marissa Alejandria, Raul Destura, Patrick Ching, Richmond Duque, Richelle Duque, Crizan Amor, Olivia Sison, and Jodor Lim. "Predictors of Mortality in Persons Living with HIV in the Philippines: The Impact of Widespread Antiretroviral Therapy and the Case for Early Treatment." In Open Forum Infectious Diseases, vol. 2, no. suppl_1, p. 412. Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2015. (Abstract only)
  19. Olivia T. Sison, Queenie Ngalob, Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, Nina T. Castillo-Carandang, Paulette D. Nacpil-Dominguez, Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Felicidad V. Velandria, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Wilbert Allan G. Gumatay, Rody G. Sy. “Who we are: Demographic and stress profile of the Philippine LIFECARE Cohort.” Acta Medica Philippina 48, no. 2 (2014): 41-46.
  20. Llanes, Elmer Jasper B., Paulette D. Nacpil-Dominguez, Rody G. Sy, Nina T. Castillo-Carandang, Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Wilbert Allan G. Gumatay, Olivia T. Sison, Queenie G. Ngalob, and Felicidad V. Velandria. "Where We Are: Socio-Ecological and Health Profile of the Philippine LIFEcourse study in CARdiovascular disease Epidemiology (LIFECARE) Study Sites." Acta Medica Philippina 48, no. 2 (2014): 47-55.
  21. Castillo-Carandang, Nina T., Olivia T. Sison, Felicidad V. Velandria, Rody G. Sy, Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Wilbert Allan G. Gumatay, and Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan. "“You Are What You Eat:” Self-Reported Preferences for Food Taste and Cooking Methods of Adult Filipinos (20-50 years old)." Acta Medica Philippina 48, no. 2 (2014): 56-61.                                                           
  22. Punzalan, Felix Eduardo R., Rody G. Sy, Olivia T. Sison, Nina T. Castillo-Carandang, Wilbert Allan G. Gumatay, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Paulette D. Nacpil-Dominguez, Queenie G. Ngalob, Felicidad V. Velandria, and Elmer Jasper B. Llanes. "Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in relation to Socio-demographic profile of the Life Course Study in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology Study (LIFECARE) Philippine Cohort." Acta Medica Philippina 48, no. 2 (2014): 62-69.
  23. Lam, Hilton Y., Vicente Y. Belizario, Noel R. Juban, Marissa M. Alejandria, Nina Castillo-Carandang, Elizabeth Arcellana-Nuqui, Ma Angelina Mirasol, Cynthia P. Cordero, Olivia T. Sison, and Adovich S. Rivera. "Assessing the residual risk for transfusion-transmitted infections in the Philippine blood supply." The Yale journal of biology and medicine 87, no. 3 (2014): 299. 
  24. Sy, Rody G., Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit, Nina Castillo-Carandang, Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, Olivia T. Sison, Nang Ei Ei Khaing, Richie Poulton, Mark Woodward, and E. Shyong Tai. "Socio-demographic factors and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Filipinos from the LIFECARE cohort." Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis 21, no. Supplement1 (2014): S9-S17.
  25. Castillo-Carandang, Nina T., Olivia T. Sison, Mary Lenore Grefal, Rody G. Sy, Oliver C. Alix, Elmer Jasper B. Llanes, Paul Ferdinand M. Reganit et al. "A community-based validation study of the short-form 36 version 2 Philippines (Tagalog) in two cities in the Philippines." PloS one 8, no. 12 (2013): e83794.
  26. Lam, Hilton Y., Vicente Y. Belizario, Noel R. Juban, Marissa M. Alejandria, Nina C. Carandang, Elizabeth Arcellana-Nuqui, Ma Angelina Mirasol, Cynthia P. Cordero, Olivia T. Sison, and Lotgarda Tayao. "Current Practices of Blood Service Facilities in the Philippines." Philippine Journal of Health Research and Development 17 (2013): 18.
  27. Torell, Elin, Colleen A. Redding, Cerissa L. Blaney, Enrique Hernandez, Olivia Sison, Juma Dyegula, and Donald D. Robadue Jr. "Population, health, and environment situational analysis for the Saadani National Park Area, Tanzania." Ocean & coastal management 66 (2012): 1-11.
  28. Quilantang, Ma Irene, Olivia Sison, Bernadette Madrid, Laurie Ramiro, Don Operario. “Association of cyberviolence and health risk behaviors among a representative sample of Filipino youth.” Submitted to PLOS Global Public Health (March 2022).